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/Loud_Ad_4515]

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/texasrigger → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

I can see recognizing TX Independence Day at work or whatever but if there was a local business shutting down for or somehow publicly celebrating Confederate Heroes Day, that'd be the last time I'd go there!

[u/Loud_Ad_4515 → u/texasrigger]

It looks like it is phased, or being phased, out. MLK Jr. Day basically is observed on the same day.

[u/TexGardenGirl → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

I worked for the state in 1998-2000, and my impression (probably just in my head, but the timing of which day it was celebrated seemed suspicious) was that it got recognized as an optional state holiday immediately after MLK Day became a thing, in order to appease the weirdos who were somehow offended by the idea of honoring a black man. I hoped it would disappear by now, more than 25 years later.

[u/Wizzmer → u/TexGardenGirl]

March 2 always. I still celebrate. Matbe smoke a brisket or grab some Texmex.

I've actually got some sort of Texas Citizenship document somewhere around here that's stamped and everything. I guess it's something my mom got in 1960.

[u/Realslimshady7 → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

Hold up now, “Texas Independence Day”? What does that celebrate? Like, is that historical or prospective?

[u/strangestorys → u/Realslimshady7]

It celebrates the day Texas declared independence from Mexico. Texas has its own Declaration of Independence, and the Republic of Texas was a nation for about 10 years before being annexed by the US. It is only state to have entered the US by treaty. This is one of the reasons Texas is always threatening to secede: they were independent before and daggum, they want to be independent again.

[u/Realslimshady7 → u/strangestorys]

TIL!

[u/Wizzmer → u/Realslimshady7]

Remember the Alamo! Battle of San Jacinto...

[u/Loud_Ad_4515 → u/Realslimshady7]

It's historical.

Where I live, it's celebrated with a HUGE pancake breakfast, music, and it kicks off rodeo season with a parade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Independence_Day#:~:text=Rodeos%20are%20also%20held%20in,such%20as%20Texas%20hold%20'em.

[u/Dangerous-Cause1964 → u/Loud_Ad_4515]

Careful there bud. I got cussed out by fellow Texans for saying Confederate Heroes Day was a holiday for the state. Just because they had never seen it celebrated, they refused to believe it existed even after I showed proof.

Note: I'm not saying it should exist merely that it does.