New Year’s Day*
January 1
Martin Luther King’s Birthday*
3rd Monday in January (Jan. 15-21) (actual day is January 15)
President’s Day*
3rd Monday in February (Feb. 15-21) (Lincoln-Feb. 12, Washington-Feb. 22 (Feb 11 on Julian calendar which changed in 1752))
Memorial Day*
last Monday in May (May 25-31) (aka Decoration Day)
Independence Day*
July 4
Labor Day*
1st Monday in September (Sep. 1-7)
Columbus Day*
2nd Monday in October (Oct. 8-14) (actually landed on October 12, 1492) (aka Discoverer’s Day, Pioneer’s Day)
Election Day*
1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday (Nov. 2-8)
Veterans’ Day*
November 11 (aka Armistice Day)
Thanksgiving*
4th Thursday in November (Nov. 22-28) (first proclaimed by Lincoln)
Christmas Day*
December 25
Groundhog Day
February 2
Valentine’s Day
February 14
St. Patrick’s Day
March 17
Easter
First Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the March equinox (Mar. 22 - Apr. 25)
Equinox
The two days when day and night are of equal length and the beginnings of spring and autumn.
Solstice
The two days when the Sun is at its extreme northern position (the Tropic of Cancer, first day of summer) or southern position (the Tropic of Capricorn, first day of winter)
Vernal (spring) Equinox
About March 21
Summer Solstice
About June 21
Autumnal Equinox
About September 23
Winter Solstice
About December 21
January
Janus, a Roman god
February
Februalia, a Roman period of sacrifices to atone for sins
March
Mars, Roman god of war
April
From the Latin, “to open,” as in new growth (aperire)
May
Maia, Roman goddess of growing plants
June
From the Latin for “youth” (juvenis)
July
Julius Caesar
August
Emperor Augustus
September
Seventh month (moved two for July and August)
October
Eighth month (moved two for July and August)
November
Ninth month (moved two for July and August)
December
Tenth month (moved two for July and August)
Sunday
Sun’s Day
Monday
Moon’s Day
Tuesday
Tiw’s Day (also called Tyr, god of war)
Wednesday
Woden’s Day (Woden is the same as Odin, the chief Norse god)
Thursday
Thor’s Day (Odin’s son, god of thunder)
Friday
Frigg’s Day (wife of Odin, queen of the gods)
Saturday
Seterne’s Day (apparently derived from the Latin god Saturn)