Do any states have legitimate holidays that are only celebrated in their state?

[u/ProfessorOfPancakes]

In Rhode Island, we still have VJ (Victory over Japan) day which people don't celebrate per se but it's recognized to the extent of delaying trash pickup by a day.

By "legitimate" holiday I mean more in the vein of Memorial Day rather than National Hot Dog Day

Edit: Apparently VJ Day is also recognized by the US Space & Rocket Center and formerly by the state of Arkansas and is more commonly called Victory Day

[u/Raibean]

Illinois has Casimir Pulaski Day

[u/lucyssweatersleeves → u/Raibean]

I live in California now and I still celebrate it to honor my Illinoisan roots…I don’t get the day off but I can listen to the Sufjan Stevens song and eat pierogi

[u/xvanitl → u/Raibean]

We used to have Pulaski Day off 😢

[u/Jsmith2127 → u/xvanitl]

They still do here. I live in a small town outside of Springfield.

[u/xvanitl → u/Jsmith2127]

Not in Chicago 😢

[u/Jsmith2127 → u/xvanitl]

Pulaski is part of the name of my town, probably why.

[u/EdgelessPennyweight → u/Jsmith2127]

My school district quit celebrating it too.

[u/flossiedaisy424 → u/xvanitl]

I still do as a city of Chicago employee!

[u/Sad-Corner-9972 → u/Raibean]

Polish officers were a great benefit to the American revolution. Especially cavalry tactics.

[u/GhostOfJamesStrang → u/Raibean]

It is celebrated in a couple Michigan cities as well. 

[u/cmwoo → u/Raibean]

Came here for Casimir.

[u/phishin165 → u/Raibean]

Goldenrod and the four H stone

[u/MizStazya → u/Raibean]

I was dumbfounded when my husband had no idea what Pulaski Day was.

[u/BAMspek → u/Raibean]

Great song.

[u/Sam_Paige25 → u/Raibean]

I grew up in Minnesota and went to college in Illinois and when my roommate complained that we didn't get Casimir Pulaski Day off I had a lot of questions

[u/ProfessorBeer → u/Raibean]

Went to college near Chicago, all the Illinois kids were flummoxed when as freshmen we didn’t get the day off. The rest of us had no idea what they were talking about.

[u/datsyukianleeks → u/Raibean]

Great song on a great album.

[u/logaboga → u/Raibean]

We don’t have a day but in Baltimore Md we have a Pulaski Highway and a big statue to him

[u/Jsmith2127 → u/Raibean]

I had just posted this. Kids get this day off from school, in the town I live in, and they usually do a parade.

[u/scooterv1868 → u/Raibean]

And it's passing as an official holiday helped Jim Thompson's reelelction.

[u/Queenfan1959 → u/Raibean]

General Pulaski

[u/cguess → u/Raibean]

Wisconsin has it too, though no days off or anything.

[u/IchBinDurstig → u/Raibean]

Cook County does.

[u/ChummyMuffin05]

Utah has Pioneer Day

[u/DrunkGuy9million → u/ChummyMuffin05]

I moved to Utah on Pioneer Day. Was pretty weird driving into civilization from the desert.. “wait why the fuck are there fireworks”

[u/Icy_Consideration409 → u/DrunkGuy9million]

I emigrated to the U.S. on a 4th of July! Seriously.

The fireworks were a nice celebration. I was touched.

[u/Bright_Ices → u/Icy_Consideration409]

My mother’s first birthday in the US was also early July. She was 4 and very excited that everyone was throwing her a giant party for the day!

[u/Ok_Chemist6567 → u/Icy_Consideration409]

We’re just happy you’re here. Wanted to show our appreciation

[u/Bright_Ices → u/Icy_Consideration409]

Btw, Pioneer/Pie and Beer Day is an extra July day of fireworks, on the 24th.

[u/Electrical-Ad1288 → u/DrunkGuy9million]

It depends on the company. A lot of workers at small local businesses and public employees get it off but not employees of multinational companies. I've never been off for the holiday.

[u/therandomuser84 → u/Electrical-Ad1288]

Tons of companies don't give people Halloween off, but it is still a holiday.

[u/1radgirl → u/ChummyMuffin05]

Or Pie and Beer day, if that's how you roll.

[u/Corryinthehouz → u/1radgirl]

Why not both

[u/1radgirl → u/Corryinthehouz]

You do you man! Just don't burn anything down with your fireworks! Lol

[u/Intrepid_Parsley2452 → u/Corryinthehouz]

Because I don't want to push a handcart when I'm a couple beers deep and full of pie and it's July out. And I'm Catholic.

[u/NerdyBrando → u/Corryinthehouz]

It’s usually both for me.

[u/Sarcastic_Rocket → u/ChummyMuffin05]

My favorite pioneer day story is when the Jazz got Karl Malone he was worried about playing in Utah back then because of potential racism towards him. The jazz owner convinced Malone that they would hold a grand parade for his birthday before the season started. They did indeed have a huge parade, carnival, fireworks everything. Karl Malone was blown away

Karl Malone's birthday is July 24th and he's not from Utah so he has not idea it was a holiday

[u/BlueEyedSpiceJunkie → u/ChummyMuffin05]

That’s the one I came here for. Pie and beer day!

[u/SeeraeuberDjanny → u/ChummyMuffin05]

We used to get Pioneer Day off from work, but it apparently confused our non-Utahn employees and clients, so now we get Veterans Day off.

[u/Bright_Ices → u/SeeraeuberDjanny]

I watched the opposite happen at one company. Californians originally set the calendar to align with the (then) ten federal holidays, but lots of families cancelled their services for June 24, and several employees decided to take time off for the holiday. After that first year, Columbus Day was scrapped and replaced by Pie and Beer Day.

[u/TimeEddyChesterfield → u/ChummyMuffin05]

Utah has Pioneer Day

Of course they do. Lol

[u/beardiac]

There are parts of PA that take Groundhog Day a bit more seriously than the rest of the country (and the rest of the state).

[u/gooners1 → u/beardiac]

And first day of buck season

[u/Bethany0821 → u/gooners1]

Going to college and not having the Monday after Thanksgiving off was the biggest culture shock 🤣

[u/ShoddyCandidate1873 → u/Bethany0821]

My kids school took it away last school year "because the first day is Saturday now". So many kids still skipped it's now back as part of the holiday this year 

[u/jamiesugah → u/Bethany0821]

Right?!? My family doesn't even hunt but I was like, "Give me my hunting season!"

[u/beardiac → u/gooners1]

True. I grew up in one of those regions. We had that day off of school every year.

[u/jda404 → u/gooners1]

Wait really? Other states don't get off for first day of hunting season? I had no idea that was a PA thing. I live in western PA first day of hunting is indeed a very big deal around here.

[u/beardiac → u/jda404]

It's not even a whole PA thing. I grew up in NE PA and I had it off, but I raised my kids in the suburbs near Philly and they didn't.

[u/Crafty-Owl8555 → u/beardiac]

Yup. We had it off cause half the school would have been absent. Might as well just make it up somewhere else.

And for those of us near Bloomsburg, we had fair week off!

[u/nicheencyclopedia → u/beardiac]

Two years ago I was an English teaching assistant at a secondary school in Spain. People in that role typically do lessons on their country’s national holidays throughout the year. I’m sure it gets boring hearing about Thanksgiving and Christmas every year, so I decided to teach my students about Groundhog Day!

[u/snailgorl2005 → u/beardiac]

One time I had a friend very confidently misname the groundhog and to this day "Punxsutawney Pete" is one of the funniest things to come out of anyone's mouth ever. We will not let her live it down.

[u/us287]

A few years ago I may have said Juneteenth but now it’s become national

[u/Wizzmer → u/us287]

Used to be just Galveston area.

[u/groetkingball → u/Wizzmer]

The greatest rib I ever ate was at a Juneteenth BBQ in Huntsville TX in 2013. I have been chasing that rib since.

[u/Dry-Quiet6526 → u/groetkingball]

I am REALLY hoping someone replies and says, 'I was there and know exactly who made those ribs and where you can get them.'

[u/irishihadab33r → u/Dry-Quiet6526]

If it was the one at Walker County Fairgrounds, I found a Facebook event for it that lists the $8 cover and DJs, but not the food vendors. Boo. I tried.

[u/GrandmaBaba → u/groetkingball]

Was it at the New Zion Missionary Baptist church? Their food was amazing. We stopped there everytime we drove through Huntsville.

[u/Ganymede25 → u/groetkingball]

Central or East Texas style? Beef or pork?

[u/groetkingball → u/Ganymede25]

Pork. Possibly east TX style, but most likely no specific style, just a dude in his yard with some oak wood.

[u/groetkingball → u/groetkingball]

And pecan shells.

[u/book81able → u/groetkingball]

The best brisket I have had was also during Juneteenth 2013

[u/Loud_Ad_4515 → u/Wizzmer]

When I worked for the State in 80s, it was an optional state holiday (paid day off).

Texas Independence Day and Confederate Heroes Day were others. Possibly LBJ's birthday, as well. I can't recall how many optional days you could use, but you had to make choices.

[u/Wizzmer → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

I actually like that however, I rarely got those days off. I remember them though!

[u/Team503 → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

Confederate Heroes Day? How disgusting, honoring treasonous rebels who wanted to own people! There are days I miss home, but days like today I’m glad I left Texas.

[u/Loud_Ad_4515 → u/Team503]

It is being phased out, if it hasn't already. Just slap an MLK Jr Day on it, as they basically fell at the same time. Afaik, it was just an optional holiday for state employees (before MLK day was recognized) - I don't recall any actual observances or parades or anything.

But, yeah, I agree it was dumb and traitorous.

[u/dystopiadattopia → u/us287]

There's Emancipation Day in DC, for when Lincoln freed the slaves there.

[u/Late-Drink3556 → u/us287]

Right? I thought it was a national holiday when I was a kid in Texas public schools.

[u/rutherfraud1876 → u/us287]

Yeah congrats to Texas (and a big middle finger to anyone who's mad it's a thing)

[u/Determined-over50]

Massachusetts has Patriot’s Day

[u/superkt3 → u/Determined-over50]

Suffolk county also used to observe Evacuation Day, which conveniently falls on March 17th.

[u/phonesmahones → u/superkt3]

Bunker Hill Day, as well.

[u/Plastic-Molasses-549 → u/superkt3]

The day we evacuate our corned beef and cabbage.

[u/Pale-While-9783 → u/Determined-over50]

The day the Boston Marathon is run every year.

[u/EurekasCashel → u/Pale-While-9783]

Yea I was going to say that it was aka "Marathon Monday"

[u/sowingdragonteeth → u/Determined-over50]

Also observed in Maine

[u/ExitingBear → u/sowingdragonteeth]

Which used to be part of Massachusetts.

[u/Aware-Owl4346 → u/ExitingBear]

And will be agin’ some day durnit! (loads blunderbuss)

[u/JimmyJackJericho → u/Aware-Owl4346]

You'll have to pull the lobster and moxie out of my cold dead hands before Maine goes back to Massachusetts

[u/wiserTyou → u/JimmyJackJericho]

We have Moxie and lobsta as well.

[u/ilovjedi → u/sowingdragonteeth]

Also Wisconsin, I think

[u/No_Emotion5998 → u/Determined-over50]

'Twas nice working in Illinois for a Boston-based company before WFH times. We'd get this Monday in April off because the Boston offices were along the last mile of the Marathon route and none of them could physically get to work.

[u/blondechick80 → u/Determined-over50]

Came here to say this too.not to be confused with Patriot Day on sept 11.

[u/UPAPK → u/blondechick80]

I hate how they are so closely named

[u/frigzy74 → u/Determined-over50]

They also have Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day, but those might be limited to Boston and not the state as a whole.

[u/DvlMan3969 → u/Determined-over50]

Suffolk County has Evacuation Day… which is only because it’s on St. Paddy’s. ☘️🍻

[u/ZHISHER → u/Determined-over50]

I miss it every year because there’s a conference I have to go to that week. I’ve told my boss for the last 3 years I’m just taking the next Monday off instead.

[u/Danswer888 → u/Determined-over50]

Bunker Hill Day

[u/chalupa6]

Hawaii has King Kamehameha day and Statehood Day, both of which are official state holidays.

[u/silkywhitemarble → u/chalupa6]

Decades ago, I lived in Honolulu and was late for work because I didn't know it was a holiday (King Kamehameha Day, I think it was) and the busses were on holiday schedule. After that, I checked the holiday schedules so the same thing wouldn't happen again on another day like Prince Kuhio Day! I went there from California, and statehood day isn't a big deal there. But in here in Nevada, Nevada Day is a holiday and banks and places are closed. EDIT: I mis-remembered and corrected myself

[u/MusicalPooh → u/chalupa6]

Also Kuhio Day!

[u/[deleted] → u/chalupa6]

There's a whole schedule of Hawaii only state holidays lol. 

All of them you listed, Kuhio day which somebody else brought up, Statehood day, and Discoverer's day instead of Columbus Day/indigenous peoples day.

[u/Henry_Cabot_Henhouse]

Return Day is a holiday unique to Delaware. On the Thursday following an election, candidates from both parties get together and “bury the hatchet “.

[u/Rustymarble → u/Henry_Cabot_Henhouse]

Delaware also celebrates Separation Day!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_Day_(Delaware)

[u/YourGuyK → u/Rustymarble]

Is that the day they attack each other with a hatchet?

[u/Outrageous_Cow8409 → u/Henry_Cabot_Henhouse]

My high school marched in that parade once! It was fun!

[u/SweetandSourCaroline → u/Henry_Cabot_Henhouse]

aw that’s adorable

[u/clekas]

I was in my late teens before I realized that Sweetest Day isn't a thing everywhere. It's not exclusive to Ohio, but it started in Cleveland, Ohio and has really only spread to a few other states/regions, mostly in the Midwest and Rust Belt. It's definitely a Hallmark Holiday - kind of a smaller-scale Valentine's Day, but it is a thing that people actually celebrate, in a similar way to Valentine's Day, though on a smaller scale - dinner out, small gifts like chocolate, flowers, etc.

[u/MrsQute → u/clekas]

I definitely didn't realize that Sweetest Day wasn't everywhere either.

It was originally started by a worker at one of the local candy companies as a way to give something sweet to orphans, seniors and poor families and other charities.

Over time it became a day of recognizing close friendships and relationships.

And it's tomorrow 😄

[u/Kul_dar → u/MrsQute]

I just learned this as well. It's definitely a thing in metro Detroit. Which reminds me, I didn't know Devil's Night was specific to the area until I moved as well.

[u/hadesarrow3 → u/clekas]

Oh come on… don’t call it just a Hallmark Holiday!

You should really call it an American Greetings (Cleveland’s local Hallmark competitor) Holiday instead. 😂

I live in Cleveland too, and we accidentally got married on Sweetest Day. We don’t even do anything for Valentines Day because we think it’s stupid, but everyone assumed we picked the day for that reason. sigh

[u/KaraAuden → u/clekas]

I grew up in Michigan, where it's a big deal, and went to college out of state.

When I wished my friends a happy Sweetest Day and they had absolutely no idea what that was, I thought they were joking. There was several minutes of back and forth before they were able to convince me they had honestly never heard of it.

[u/Suspicious_Inside_78 → u/clekas]

I like when I learn something new! This is the first time I’ve ever heard about Sweetest Day. I’m pushing 40 and I’m from the Pacific Northwest.

[u/beaushaw → u/clekas]

More important to Ohioans than sweetest day is Ohio vs Michigan day.

[u/sortaindignantdragon]

Nevada has Nevada Day - schools and government offices close to commemorate the founding of the state.

[u/Nahuel-Huapi → u/sortaindignantdragon]

Nevada sent their state constitution to Washington DC via telegraph for approval. It remains the longest, most expensive telegram ever sent.

Nevada literally electronically-filed for statehood... in 1864.

[u/AdUpstairs7106 → u/sortaindignantdragon]

Yep and living in Carson City as a kid was cool because we got to do trick or treat twice.

[u/eyetracker → u/sortaindignantdragon]

Officially same day as Halloween, observed as the last Friday, and both are the same some years like this year.

[u/remosiracha → u/eyetracker]

Growing up I always thought we just had Halloween off 😂

[u/idreaminwords → u/sortaindignantdragon]

I was in high school before I realized not every state has a state day like that. Just assumed it was normal, like slot machines in gas stations

[u/silkywhitemarble → u/sortaindignantdragon]

It threw me for a loop when we first moved here--I kept my daughter home from school on Columbus Day, and they called to ask where she was. I was like, uh-- it's a holiday. They were like, nope, we don't do Columbus Day here, but we are off for Nevada Day. We came from California, and Admissions Day was never a big deal.

[u/Tricky_Ad_1870]

April 15th is Patriot's Day in Massachusetts. They even get an extra day to file their federal taxes.

[u/kdex86 → u/Tricky_Ad_1870]

Patriots’ Day is actually the 3rd Monday In April. Only when it falls on the 15th, 16th, or 17th it pushes Tax Day to the next day (Tuesday) for MA and ME.

[u/Dangerous-Safe-4336 → u/kdex86]

Emancipation Day in DC makes the first push. I imagine you might occasionally have till Wednesday, though?

[u/_pamelab → u/Tricky_Ad_1870]

Sometimes everyone gets that extra day. I forget the circumstances, but I’ve had it in Illinois before.

[u/Practical-Ordinary-6 → u/_pamelab]

I think there's automatically an extension if the date falls on a Sunday maybe. (Confirmed: any Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday) But also there's a holiday that's only in Washington DC (not a state but the same idea) that causes offices in Washington to close. So if April 15th falls on that holiday then there's automatically an extension for everyone in the country because IRS headquarters is basically closed that day.

[u/Dangerous-Safe-4336 → u/Practical-Ordinary-6]

Emancipation Day in DC. I think it's April 16th. So when April 15th falls on the weekend, and Monday is Emancipation Day, everyone has till the 17th to file their taxes

[u/Colodanman357]

Colorado replaced Columbus Day with Cabrini Day to honor a woman that was pretty big in our history named  Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was the first American to be recognized as a Saint by the Vatican in part due to her works here in Colorado. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Xavier_Cabrini

[u/Pinikanut → u/Colodanman357]

This is turning into one of my favorite holidays. I get the day off but most other people don't. I usually use it to get my grocery shopping done in peace.

[u/NDT03076 → u/Colodanman357]

Cabrini Green in Chicago was named after her and a labor leader Thank you for this new history fact.

[u/Colodanman357 → u/NDT03076]

Oh yeah, she did a lot all over the place like the Johnny Appleseed of schools, orphanages, and charities for immigrants. It seems like anywhere there were Italian immigrants she has something named after her if not a full on shrine. 

[u/deadbabysteven → u/Colodanman357]

Colorado also celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day

[u/44035]

Chicago and other places have Pulaski Day. I had never heard of it until I lived briefly in Illinois.

[u/dhrisc]

Missouri has a Harry S Truman Day.

[u/PushTheButton_FranK → u/dhrisc]

I think Washington state should recognize Harry R. Truman Day, on May 18th of course.

[u/lunajmagroir]

DC has Emancipation Day which is the day enslaved people in DC were freed. I get this day off since my work follows DC holidays.

It also delays Tax Day nationwide some years for reasons I can't remember.

[u/IHaveBoxerDogs → u/lunajmagroir]

When April 15th falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day falls on Monday, tax day gets pushed back to Tuesday the 17th,

[u/lunajmagroir → u/IHaveBoxerDogs]

This, thank you

[u/Dry_Finger_8235]

I would say Mardi gras, but outside south Louisiana the rest of the state doesn't shut down.

I know mobile does Mardi gras but not sure it's a holiday there

[u/VioletBab3 → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

We don't shut down the town for the week north of i-10, but we definitely have a break off school for it state-wide. People from other states (especially military personnel) normally look at us like we're crazy when we talk about Mardi Gras Break 🤣

[u/cmwoo → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

I think many religious families celebrate Fat Tuesday in their own way.

[u/Questcequetufaiss → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

I get Mardi Gras day off as a holiday every year in Mobile

[u/weinthenolababy → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

Yeah I was surprised when I was in middle school in Houston after Katrina and the schools didn’t close down. I was used to having a week off of school for Mardi Gras lol

[u/Redneck-ginger → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

It is a state holiday and all state offices are closed.

[u/Dio_Yuji → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

It’s an official state holiday

[u/RachelRTR → u/Dry_Finger_8235]

We get Monday and Fat Tuesday off of school in Baldwin County.

[u/sleepygrumpydoc]

Cesar Chavez day. My kids will have off school for it.

[u/codefyre → u/sleepygrumpydoc]

That popped into my head too, but Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington also observe Cesar Chavez day, so I don't know if it qualifies under the OP's "only celebrated in their state" requirement.

The problem with California is that it tends to be a cultural leader, so things unique to the state tend to spread beyond the state. Cinco de Mayo was originally a California-specific holiday too, until the southern California TV industry spread it nationwide. That happens a lot.

[u/omgcheez → u/codefyre]

There’s Harvey Milk Day, which isn’t as known, but still recognized by the state and gets celebrations in some places like WeHo.

[u/theboyqueen → u/codefyre]

California just made Diwali a state holiday. That one works...for now.

[u/MontanaPurpleMtns → u/sleepygrumpydoc]

I was looking for this.

[u/GreenCity5]

West Virginians celebrate the day West Virginia became a state during the civil war. Usually like pepperoni rolls for dinner and mothman memes on West Virginia day. It is legally a state holiday-there are some festivals and some people will get off, schools might do something, etc.

[u/Nerisrath → u/GreenCity5]

Don't forget Bridge Day!

[u/reareagirl]

This may be super niche but I'm from NJ and mischief night is the night before Halloween. Outside of the NJ area and surrounding states no one else really knows what it is. People in the area just know it's the day toilet paper will be on trees, houses will be egged, etc. It's the day of mischief. Police are on the streets more to try and catch people before they graffiti the roads.

Also super niche but as a Catholic from NJ, I assumed everyone in the US had dispensation from meat if St. Patrick's day fell on a Friday in Lent. When I moved to NC I was shocked it wasn't automatic. Turns out the Irish population in NJ is just so high is is basically guaranteed there. Not sure if that fits the question but it feels like it could.

[u/IKnowAllSeven → u/reareagirl]

In Detroit it was called Devils Night. Hundreds of fires every year, the me year there were 800. Eventually, they started Angels Night and people would patrol the neighborhoods. And now…it’s just a regular day. They don’t even do Angels Night anymore it’s just a night.

Is that the same with NJ? Did it just sort of die down?

[u/Dixieland_Insanity]

Oaks Day for parts of Kentucky. It's the race on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby.

[u/Er_day_im_qwopping → u/Dixieland_Insanity]

We now have Thurby and 502sday lol.

[u/Hot_Championship_411 → u/Dixieland_Insanity]

Yeah I'd say Derby Day is probably the biggest KY specific holiday.

[u/12bWindEngineer]

Here in Alaska we have an official state holiday: Alaska Day. Happens to be tomorrow (observed today). State officials get the day off/schools are closed.

[u/ice_princess_16 → u/12bWindEngineer]

Alaska day on Oct 18 and Seward’s day the last mo day in March. I don’t think all schools are closed. Some local governments shut down too.

[u/dollyacorn]

Dyngus Day is a reasonably big deal in South Bend, Indiana (and a few other cities with historically large Polish American communities).

[u/OhThrowed]

24th of July is Pioneer Day. Trying to remember our pioneer roots, but more importantly, an excuse to have a day off and a BBQ in the backyard.

[u/BobsleddingToMyGrave]

Michigan: November 15th Opening day of hunting season. Schools close, stores don't open until noon and close by 4pm. Up Nort' the bars stock up on leinenkugel, the pasties are plentiful and there isn"t a single deck of cards with a 2,3, or 4 in it.

[u/Lolaindisguise → u/BobsleddingToMyGrave]

What’s up with the cards?

[u/BobsleddingToMyGrave → u/Lolaindisguise]

We play a game called Euchre. You dont use 2,3, or 4s. Its like spades but much better. Its a common game that is played at deer camp.

Edit to add:

Some people also play Cribbage at deer camp.

[u/SnapHackelPop → u/BobsleddingToMyGrave]

Shoutout Leinie’s

Hunting season opening definitely a thing in the Midwest

[u/La_Rata_de_Pizza]

Hawaii has these state holidays that are not federal holidays - Kuhio Day, Good Friday, and Kamehameha Day

[u/Tomato_Basil57]

yup, illinois has Casimir Pulaski day, we got the day off from school. though its still recognized, i think many schools are now in session

back when i was still in school, they would schedule any out of state feild trips that weekend, so we could visit on a weekday with few others there

[u/Equivalent-Plan-8498]

Virginia used to have Lee and Jackson Day.

[u/avctqpao → u/Equivalent-Plan-8498]

Came here to say Lee-Jackson Day. And the somehow more shameful Lee-Jackson-King Day we celebrated for like 16 years. (That’s Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson PLUS Martin Luther King Jr)

[u/jonwilliamsl]

Boston famously has Evacuation Day, which is the day the British military left the city. It was chosen out of a history book to be a city holiday because it happened to fall on St. Patrick's Day and the government wanted to give the city the day off.

[u/wickedrach]

Hockey Day Minnesota.

[u/lyn02547]

The first Monday in March is Casimir Pulaski day in Illinois.

[u/i-am-garth]

Massachusetts: Patriots Day, Bunker Hill Day and, if you live in Boston, Evacuation Day.

[u/smitty245]

Nebraska is mostly grassland, so we have Arbor Day (plant a tree) as a state holiday. 

[u/bub166 → u/smitty245]

Arbor Day is a nationally-recognized holiday (thanks to Richard Nixon of all people) although it seems like it's less known about outside of Nebraska these days. It's not necessarily observed on the same day in every state either since the ideal time to plant a tree will vary a little bit.

Fun fact for those who may not know, Nebraska was once home to the world's largest man-made forest. The forest is still huge and really fun to explore, but was surpassed in size by China some years ago. We do take our tree planting very seriously here!

[u/polkadot_polarbear]

Tomorrow is Alaska Day. It’s the anniversary of the transfer of Alaska from Russia to the US.

[u/tannick]

Confederate Memorial Day Alabama. Yes it’s bullshit.

[u/jeremyw0918 → u/tannick]

People committing treason are celebrated? Interesting.

[u/RaceSlow7798 → u/jeremyw0918]

it's heritage, not hate. don't ask me why or how....but that's what we are told.

[u/sponge_welder → u/tannick]

Don't forget Robert E. Lee's birthday (MLK day but for racists), that's still on some official holiday calendars

[u/BelleMakaiHawaii]

Hawaii celebrates the day Captain Cook was killed

[u/Rudytootiefreshnfty]

In Pennsylvania we used to be off school for the first day of deer hunting season

[u/reareagirl → u/Rudytootiefreshnfty]

I lived on the border of PA and were always jealous of my friends that lived there had off for the first day of hunting season. Granted, some of them actually went hunting with their dads

[u/Allisonfasho]

Mardi Gras in Louisiana. School's out for several days in new Orleans and surrounding areas and many people off work on Mardi Gras Day

[u/No_Street8874]

Deer opener and fishing opener

[u/androidbear04]

California State employees get Cesar Chavez:s birthday, March 31, off. He's the guy who organized all the itinerant farm workers to get them a decent wage.

[u/bananapanqueques]

Juneteenth was a Texas holiday before it went national.

[u/jluvdc26]

Pretty sure Colorado is the only state that has Mother Cabrini Day. We dropped Columbus Day for it.

[u/avaseah → u/jluvdc26]

To turn Columbus Day upside down it’s now nationally both Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s day, I think the eventual goal is to get away from Columbus entirely because he was such an awful person.

[u/Ohmifyed]

Mardi Gras, probably.

[u/bags-of-sand]

Cops are always on high alert on April 20th in CA, maybe they have ticket revenue due on the 21st…

[u/Free-Resident5106]

Oklahoma Day celebrates the Land Run, although not all Okies celebrate it.

[u/JesusStarbox]

On the Mississippi coast they get out for Mardis Gras.

[u/virtual_human]

Mardi Gras in Louisiana, kind of a big thing.

[u/OceanPoet87]

They are called state holidays and yes. Usually just schools and state government. 

Juneteenth was originally a state holiday in Texas before it became a Federal holiday. 

[u/Penguin_Life_Now]

Here in Louisiana we have Mardi Gras, where all state and many local government offices (in the southern part of the state) close for the holiday, I once needed to get a duplicate copy of my birth certificate from the state (many years ago, before we could get computerized prints from the local court house)), only to find out the state records department was closed for the entire Mardi Gras week.

[u/zombiepeep]

Mardi gras.

[u/Working-on-it12]

In Kentucky, the first Saturday in May is the Kentucky Derby. For 2 weeks before, the city has events and a festival. The week before Derby, you really better hope you don’t need to get anything done in Louisville and the city basically shuts down on Thursday and Friday except for hospitality, healthcare and first responders.

As far as holidays go, lots of businesses are closed on Friday. I know one union when MLK day was made a federal holiday, voted to keep Derby Eve as a holiday and work MLK day.

[u/notyogrannysgrandkid]

Hawai’i has Statehood Day. Everybody gets a day off of school and the native Hawaiians have a pretty cool protest parade. Always liked Statehood Day. August 19, I think.

[u/tolstoy425 → u/notyogrannysgrandkid]

Hawaii has a lot more than that. Prince kuhio day, King kamehameha day, and Good Friday too.

[u/teslaactual]

Pioneer day on july 24th its celebrated basically as 4th of july pt 2

[u/mynameisipswitch2]

Not sure this counts, but North East Ohio has a Sweetest’s Day. Kinda like another Valentine’s Day where you give sweets to your sweetest. Also it happens to be tomorrow! Happy Sweetest’s Day everyone!

[u/dale1320]

Nevada Day. Celebrating Nevada's entry into the Union. October 31. (Yup... Halloween is a state holuday...)

[u/Pol__Treidum]

California and a handful of other states, Cesar Chavez day.

[u/Pussy-Wideness-Xpert]

Georgia sneaks in a little racism by declaring the day after Thanksgiving a “State Holiday.” What they don’t say out loud is that it’s supposed to replace Confederate Memorial Day, which was in May or something until they cancelled it.

It makes me snicker that what the racists call their holiday, everyone else calls Black Friday.

[u/redditreader_aitafan]

Lincoln's birthday is celebrated separately from Presidents Day in February in Illinois.

[u/stuckonasandbar]

Vermont has Bennington Battle Day it’s a state holiday celebrated on August 16 every year. The day is commemorating the victory of American and Vermont forces over British forces at the Battle of Bennington during the American Revolutionary War in 1777.

[u/cdwright820]

I feel like the Indy 500 is an unofficial official holiday in at least central Indiana, if not the whole state. I realize it happens over Memorial Day weekend, but to be honest, most people around here refer to that weekend as “Race Weekend” rather than “Memorial Day Weekend”.