Guide Note
Each year in the United States, Martin Luther King Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January. The holiday was first signed into law by Ronald Regan in 1983 and first observed in 1986. Originally, some states celebrated the holiday under alternate names or combined the day with other holidays.
Fast Facts
- King's birthday was January 15
- First celebrated by all 50 states on January 17, 2000
- In 2008, Martin Luther King day fell on January 21
- In 2009, the holiday falls on January 19
- Arizona had the 1993 Super Bowl pulled by NFL because it didn't recognize the holiday
Day of Action
In 1994, Congress passed legislation encouraging citizens to observe the holiday as a national day of service. People across the country contribute to their community by volunteering to build homes, read to children, renovate schools, provide meals to homeless people and perform various other charitable acts.
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