Uniform Monday Holiday Act
Encyclopedia
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act is an Act of Congress
that amended the federal holiday
provisions of the United States Code
to establish the observance of certain holidays on Mondays. The Act was signed into law on June 28, 1968 and took effect on January 1, 1971.
The Act moved Washington's Birthday
, Memorial Day
, Columbus Day
, and Veterans Day
from fixed dates to designated Mondays. The Act was designed to increase the number of three-day weekends for federal employees. Veterans Day was removed from this list of always-on-Monday holidays when it was moved back to its traditional
date of November 11, by act of Congress in 1975, effective 1978.
Contrary to popular perception, the Act did not officially establish "Presidents' Day", nor did it combine the observance of Lincoln's Birthday
with Washington's Birthday
. The perception stems from the fact that the act placed Washington's "birthday" in the week of February 15 to 21 and, since that week always falls between Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and Washington's (February 22), but never including either date, popular (but unofficial) references have given rise to the title, which recognizes both Presidents.
The Monday holiday dates this act established are:
Though the holiday was not in existence at the time, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (established 1983) is celebrated on the third Monday in January, instead of King's actual birth date, January 15, for the same reasons.
In a coincidence, the law relocated the date of Columbus Day to the same date as Thanksgiving
in Canada
.
Act of Congress
An Act of Congress is a statute enacted by government with a legislature named "Congress," such as the United States Congress or the Congress of the Philippines....
that amended the federal holiday
Federal holiday
In the United States, a federal holiday is a public holiday recognized by the United States federal government. Non-essential federal government offices are closed...
provisions of the United States Code
United States Code
The Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
to establish the observance of certain holidays on Mondays. The Act was signed into law on June 28, 1968 and took effect on January 1, 1971.
The Act moved Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
, Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
, Columbus Day
Columbus Day
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
, and Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Veterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
from fixed dates to designated Mondays. The Act was designed to increase the number of three-day weekends for federal employees. Veterans Day was removed from this list of always-on-Monday holidays when it was moved back to its traditional
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
date of November 11, by act of Congress in 1975, effective 1978.
Contrary to popular perception, the Act did not officially establish "Presidents' Day", nor did it combine the observance of Lincoln's Birthday
Lincoln's Birthday
Lincoln's Birthday is a legal holiday in some U.S. states including California, Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Indiana. It is observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809....
with Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
. The perception stems from the fact that the act placed Washington's "birthday" in the week of February 15 to 21 and, since that week always falls between Lincoln's birthday (February 12) and Washington's (February 22), but never including either date, popular (but unofficial) references have given rise to the title, which recognizes both Presidents.
The Monday holiday dates this act established are:
- Washington's BirthdayWashington's BirthdayWashington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is also commonly known as Presidents Day...
(popularly—but unofficially—known as Presidents' Day): third Monday in February (formerly February 22) - Memorial DayMemorial DayMemorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
: last Monday in May (formerly May 30) - Columbus DayColumbus DayMany countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas, which occurred on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday...
: second Monday in October (formerly observed on October 12) - Veterans DayVeterans DayVeterans Day, formerly Armistice Day, is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. It is a federal holiday that is observed on November 11. It coincides with other holidays such as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other parts of the world and also mark...
: fourth Monday in October (formerly November 11 and subsequently moved back to November 11 effective 1978)
Though the holiday was not in existence at the time, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (established 1983) is celebrated on the third Monday in January, instead of King's actual birth date, January 15, for the same reasons.
In a coincidence, the law relocated the date of Columbus Day to the same date as Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (Canada)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day , occurring on the second Monday in October , is an annual Canadian holiday to give thanks at the close of the harvest season....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
See also
- Happy Monday SystemHappy Monday SystemThe refers to a set of modifications to Japanese law in 1998 and 2001 to move a number of public holidays in Japan to Mondays, creating a three-day weekend for those who normally have a five-day work week.-See also:* Public holidays in Japan* Japanese calendar...
, analogous system in Japan - Republic Act (RA) 9492, Philippine law with a similar intention of providing government and private employees with a three-day extended weekend.
External links
- Presidents' Day: Long-Standing Misnomer, Christian Science Monitor, 1998
- Federal holiday provisions of the United States Code, 5 U.S.C. 6103
- Text of the Act
