MLK Day is a federal holiday in the United States. It is observed on the third Monday of January every year.

The holiday is meant to honor civil rights contributions, not just MLK Jr.’s life.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law. MLK Day was first officially celebrated as a U.S. holiday in 1986.

It took 15 years of petitions, marches, and advocacy to create the holiday.

The bill initially struggled due to concerns about costs for federal employees.

The first bill to create the holiday was introduced just four days after MLK’s assassination.

The holiday was the result of one of the largest citizen petition drives in U.S. history, with 6 million signatures.

MLK Day is one of only a few U.S. holidays named after an individual person.

Some states resisted recognizing the holiday for decades.

Arizona lost the opportunity to host the 1993 Super Bowl because it did not recognize the holiday at the time.

Some states originally used alternative names like “Human Rights Day” or “Civil Rights Day.”

Utah celebrated it as “Human Rights Day” until 2000.

Mississippi and Alabama still shamefully combine MLK Day with Robert E. Lee Day on the same date.

In Arkansas, the holidays were combined until 2017, when MLK Day was finally separated.

MLK Day is the first and only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service.

It is unofficially called “A Day On, Not a Day Off.”

Thousands of Americans participate in volunteer projects each year.

Many schools teach civil rights history on the holiday. Churches, especially within the Black community, hold special services and programs.

Parades and celebrations occur in several cities, especially Georgia’s Atlanta, Washington D.C., and Texas’ Houston.

Many organizations host community service fairs or supply drives. Some cities sponsor peace walks, unity marches, or MLK commemorative runs.

Museums often host free or discounted admission in honor of the day.