Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The day honours Martin Luther King Jr., who was an American a Baptist minister, civil rights leader, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. MLK advocated nonviolent resistance to achieve racial equality in the United States during the 1950s and 60s.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only U.S. national holiday that celebrates an individual who was not president, general, or war hero.

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation declaring Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday. Even though President Reagan signed legislation declaring it as a national holiday, it was not until 2000 that every state recognised this day.

The official name of this holiday is “Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr”, but the day is often just referred to as "MLK Day” or “King Day”.

How MLK Day is celebrated

Some of the most popular Martin Luther King Day traditions are reading the "I Have a Dream" speech, watching documentaries about Dr. King, and spending time with your family.

One way to celebrate Martin Luther King Day is by volunteering your time with organizations that are close to the cause. There are many volunteer work opportunities available, from hosting a fundraiser or helping with event logistics to volunteering at an animal shelter or soup kitchen.

Another way is by participating in events that are happening in your community, like a parade or event honoring Dr. King's legacy with music, speakers, and food. Participating in events that are happening in your community can be a great way to show your support for the community.

You could also spend some quality time with family and friends on this day of service by having a barbecue or picnic at home or hosting an evening of board games.

The importance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Throughout his life, Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for nonviolent change in order to create equality for all the races. His impact on America has been tremendous. He helped to end segregation and promoted non-violent action against police brutality. This is an important day that we need to recognize and celebrate as a country and as a people.

Martin Luther King Jr. day is a day for people to reflect on the legendary words of Martin Luther King, Jr. and how they have inspired generations of people around the globe. It is a day for people to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in their communities, schools, workplaces, and churches by making social justice a reality for all Americans.

This day is an opportunity for everyone to reflect on what has happened in our the US and how we can prevent these tragedies from happening again. It is also a reminder of the fight for equality, justice, and freedom that continues today.

The MLK Day Parade

The MLK Day Parade is a long-standing tradition in America. In 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated and the parade was suspended for four years. In 1986, it resumed with a greater emphasis on non-violence and community building.

Today, this parade is a celebration of the life of Dr. King that includes marching bands, flags, dancers and many other participants from all walks of life. The parade celebrates the history of the civil rights movement in America and promotes non-violent solutions to conflicts among people from different backgrounds.

Did you know: MLK Day is recognised outside the US

The day is actually recognised by some countries outside the United States, including Canada, Israel, Japan, and the Netherlands. In Ottawa, Canada MLK day is actually an officially recognised national holiday since 2005.

Banks are closed, some stores are open

As MLK Day is a federal holiday many banks, schools, libraries are closed. Even NYSE and NASDAQ is closed for trading. As all non-essential federal workers have the day off, expect everything run by the federal government to be closed as well. This means that places like the U.S Post Office and DMV is closed.

Major chains and stores usually remain open. The same goes for restaurants. However, it is not unusual for smaller, local shops to take the day off.

Varying Dates

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not a holiday with a fixed calendar date, meaning the exact date varies depending on a rule. The rule for Martin Luther King Jr. Day is that the day is observed on the third Monday of January. This, in turn, means that the date for this day can vary between January 15 and January 21. See the table below to find the exact date for the next few years.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day in other countries

This holiday is celebrated in several countries. Five countries in our dataset around the world are celebrating or observing this day.

In the map below, you can see where the day is celebrated or marked. You can find the date by tapping the different colors on the map. You can also see if the day is a public holiday, an observed day, or a day only celebrated by parts of the country's population.

Note that the date of this holiday varies between countries even though the day celebrates the same thing.

This table gives a more detailed overview of when and where this holiday is celebrated or observed. Click on the country for more information.

Flag	Country	Holiday type	Date this year
	United States of America	Public holiday	January 15, 2024
	Virgin Islands, U.S.	Public holiday	January 15, 2024
	Guam	Public holiday	January 15, 2024
	American Samoa	Public holiday	January 15, 2024
	Puerto Rico	Public holiday	January 15, 2024

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