Martin Luther King Jr. Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Luther King Jr. Day
King in 1965
Official name	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Also called	MLK Day, King Day, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Type	Federal
Date	Third Monday in January
2025 date	January 20  (2025-01-20)
2026 date	January 19  (2026-01-19)
2027 date	January 18  (2027-01-18)
2028 date	January 17  (2028-01-17)
Frequency	Annual
First time	1986; 40 years ago (1986)

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a special holiday in the United States. It is celebrated every year on the third Monday of January. This day honors Martin Luther King Jr., a very important leader. He worked for civil rights and equality for all people. Dr. King believed in peaceful ways to make change.

Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. The holiday is always on a Monday, between January 15 and January 21. This makes it a long weekend for many people.

People started asking for a holiday to honor Dr. King after he passed away in 1968. President Ronald Reagan made it a law in 1983. The first time it was celebrated was on January 20, 1986. It took some time for all states to celebrate it. By the year 2000, every state officially observed this important day.

How the Holiday Began

Early Ideas for a Holiday

Sign (1969) promoting a holiday for King

After Dr. King's death, many people wanted to honor him. Labor unions first suggested making his birthday a holiday. In 1968, two members of Congress, John Conyers and Edward Brooke, proposed a bill. This bill aimed to make Dr. King's birthday a national holiday.

The idea was debated in Congress for many years. Some people thought a new paid holiday would cost too much money. Others felt that holidays should only honor people who held public office. At that time, only George Washington and Christopher Columbus had national holidays named after them.

Public Support Grows

President Ronald Reagan and Coretta Scott King at the signing ceremony

The King Center, led by Dr. King's wife Coretta Scott King, worked hard to gain support. They reached out to businesses and the public. A famous musician, Stevie Wonder, helped a lot. He released a song called "Happy Birthday" in 1980. This song helped make the campaign very popular.

Millions of people signed a petition to Congress. This petition asked for the holiday to be approved. It was one of the largest petitions in U.S. history.

Some senators did not agree with the holiday. They questioned Dr. King's importance. They also brought up his views on the Vietnam War. These senators tried to stop the bill from passing.

The Holiday Becomes Law

President Ronald Reagan was at first unsure about the holiday. However, he later signed the bill into law. This happened on November 2, 1983. The bill was proposed by Representative Katie Hall. It passed with strong support in both the House and Senate.

The first official Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated on January 20, 1986. The law also created a special commission. This group helps oversee how the holiday is celebrated. Dr. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, was a lifelong member.

States Adopt the Holiday

Even after it became a federal holiday, some states took longer to adopt it. New Hampshire was one of the last states to create a holiday for Dr. King. They called it "Civil Rights Day" in 1991. In 1999, New Hampshire finally named it Martin Luther King Day. They celebrated it for the first time under that name in January 2000. This made it a nationwide celebration.

Arizona also had a long journey to recognize the holiday. In 1986, Governor Bruce Babbitt made it a paid state holiday. But the next governor, Evan Mecham, reversed this decision. Voters in Arizona later had a chance to approve a paid holiday. The National Football League even said they might move the Super Bowl from Arizona if the holiday wasn't approved. In 1992, Arizona voters finally approved a paid state holiday for Dr. King.

South Carolina was the last state to make it a paid holiday for all state workers. Governor Jim Hodges signed the bill in 2000. Before this, state employees could choose between Dr. King's birthday or other holidays.

Different Names for the Holiday

All states now celebrate this holiday. However, some states used different names for it. For example, New Hampshire called it "Civil Rights Day" until 1999. Then, they officially changed it to Martin Luther King Day.

Some states also combined Dr. King's birthday with other holidays.

• In Alabama, it was called "Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther King Birthday".
• Arizona named it "Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day".
• Arkansas used to combine it with Robert E. Lee's Birthday. In 2017, they changed it to just "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday".
• Idaho calls it "Martin Luther King Jr.–Idaho Human Rights Day".
• Mississippi still celebrates "Martin Luther King's and Robert E. Lee's Birthdays".
• Wyoming calls it "Martin Luther King Jr./Wyoming Equality Day". This name was a compromise to get the holiday passed.

How People Observe the Day

Time Off from Work and School

A march in Eugene, Oregon

Many people get the day off from work or school for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Banks and stock markets are usually closed. Many schools and colleges also close for classes. Some schools might hold special events or lessons about Dr. King's message.

A Day for Helping Others

President Barack Obama serving lunch at a Washington soup kitchen on MLK Jr. Day, 2010

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is also a "National Day of Service." This means people are encouraged to volunteer and help their communities. Former Senator Harris Wofford and Congressman John Lewis helped create this idea. President Bill Clinton signed it into law in 1994.

Since 1994, AmeriCorps helps organize service activities across the country. It's a way to honor Dr. King's spirit of helping others. The only other national day of service in the U.S. is September 11 National Day of Service.

International Celebrations

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is also recognized in other parts of the world.

• In Canada, cities like Toronto and Montreal commemorate the day.
• In Israel, a special ceremony was held in 1984. Israel even has a national forest named in honor of Dr. King.
• The city of Hiroshima, Japan, observes the day. Its mayor held a banquet in 2005 to link calls for peace with Dr. King's message.
• In the Netherlands, a tribute and dinner have been held since 1987. People sing "We Shall Overcome" together.

Dates of the Holiday

1986–2103

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is always on the third Monday in January. Dates with a gray background show when the holiday fell on the same day as a Presidential Inauguration.

See Also

In Spanish: Día de Martin Luther King Jr. para niños

• Civil rights movement in popular culture
• List of African-American holidays
• Public holidays in the United States
• International Volunteer Day