Memorial Day features parades, barbecues, eloquent speeches, patriotic decorations and long lines of traffic on interstate highways. Today the holiday signals the unofficial beginning of the American summer vacation season, but the evolution of the modern Memorial Day was more than 150 years in the making.
Decoration Day
Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday we now call Memorial Day traces its origins to the old tradition of “decorating” the graves of men who died in the Civil War with flags, wreaths and flowers. The first national celebration of Decoration Day was May 30, 1868 following a proclamation from General John A. Logan, the commander-in-chief of an organization of Civil War Union veterans. At least initially, the holiday was primarily celebrated in the northern states.
Following World War I, the holiday honored all war dead, not just those from the Civil War. More and more southern states began to observe the holiday on May 30. Gradually, Decoration Day gave way to the moniker of Memorial Day, and in 1967 the federal government adopted it as the official name.
Fourth Monday of May
General Logan’s proclamation set the holiday as May 30, but the reasoning behind that specific date remains murky. Some historians report that May 30 was picked because there was no major battle fought that day. Others believe it was chosen because the late spring date guaranteed an abundance of flowers in northern states.
In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the celebration of Memorial Day from May 30 to the fourth Monday in May. In 1971, the new holiday schedule became federal law.
Traditions—New and Old
Now more than 150 years in the making, Memorial Day continues to evolve as a patriotic holiday. In 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a bill that requires citizens to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to honor the lives of the men and women who died fighting for their country.
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