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First Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, the Colonies' Second Continental Congress finalized The Declaration of Independence that severed their ties with Britain so they could be independent. Independence Day, however, was not officially celebrated as a holiday until a year later - July 4, 1777.
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First Thanksgiving
While Thanksgiving was celebrated for a very long time before our country declared it a national holiday, it wasn't until 1863 when Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November to be recognized officially as Thanksgiving. The first Thanksgiving was actually in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans shared a feast, though.
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First Presidents' Day
Presidents' Day was originally created in 1885 in recognition of George Washington's birthday. Later, though, the holiday began to recognize the lives and achievements of all of America's chief executives!
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First Veteran's Day
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, which was the anniversary of the end of World War 1 (November 11, 1919). In 1938, November 11th became recognized Armistice Day - a national holiday to celebrate all living and nonliving veterans. The name was officially changed to Veterans Day in 1954.
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First Martin Luther King Jr. Day
In November of 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the legislation that made Martin Luther King Jr. Day a federal holiday every third Monday in January. The first Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated in 1986, though it wasn't until 2000 that every state finally observed it.
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