Jump to content
 







Main menu
    


Navigation  


●Main page
 ●Contents
 ●Current events
 ●Random article
 ●About Wikipedia
 ●Contact us
 ●Donate
  



Contribute  


●Help
 ●Learn to edit
 ●Community portal
 ●Recent changes
 ●Upload file
  







Search  

































●Create account

●Log in
 









●Create account
 ● Log in
  



Pages for logged out editors learn more  


●Contributions
 ●Talk
  


















Contents

   



(Top)
  


1 Origin and name changes  




2 Observation  




3 Elimination  




4 See also  




5 References  













Lee–Jackson Day






●中文
  
Edit links
  








●Article
 ●Talk
  
















●Read
 ●Edit
 ●View history
  







Tools
    


Actions  


●Read
 ●Edit
 ●View history
  



General  


●What links here
 ●Related changes
 ●Upload file
 ●Special pages
 ●Permanent link
 ●Page information
 ●Cite this page
 ●Get shortened URL
 ●Download QR code
 ●Wikidata item
  



Print/export  


●Download as PDF
 ●Printable version
  















Appearance
    

 





From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Lee–Jackson Day
1937 U.S. postage stamp featuring Lee, Jackson, and Stratford Hall
Observed byVirginia
TypeHistorical, cultural, ethnic
SignificanceSouthern history
DateJanuary 15-16
FrequencyAnnual
First time1889
Last time2020
Related to
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day
  • Election Day

    • Lee–Jackson Day was a state holiday in the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia, commemorating Confederate commanders, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Its observation was eliminated in 2020, replaced by Election Day as a state holiday.[1]

    Origin and name changes[edit]

    The holiday was first created in 1889 during the administration of Gov. Fitzhugh Lee, a former Confederate cavalry officer and nephew of Gen. Lee.[2] The original holiday was on Lee's birthday (January 19) until 1904, which brought the addition of Jackson's name and birthday (January 21).[3] The original intent of Lee-Jackson day was to celebrate Confederate Generals Lee and Jackson, who had fought to prolong slavery during the American Civil War.[4]

    In 1983, the holiday was merged with the then-new federal holiday Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as Lee–Jackson–King Day in Virginia; the merger was reversed in 2000 by Governor Jim Gilmore.[5][6]

    Observation[edit]

    Lee–Jackson Day was observed on the Friday immediately preceding Martin Luther King Jr. Day (the third Monday in January). Typical events included a wreath-laying ceremony with military honors, a Civil War themed parade, symposia, and a gala ball.[7][8] State offices were closed for both holidays.[9]

    During the 2010s, various Virginia municipalities chose not to observe Lee–Jackson Day, including Charlottesville, Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Hampton, Newport News, Richmond, Winchester, and the Town of Blacksburg.[10][11][12]

    Elimination[edit]

    In early 2020 the newly elected Democratic Virginia General Assembly proposed ending the observance and designating Election Day as a replacement holiday. The Senate of Virginia voted in January to eliminate Lee–Jackson Day as a state holiday;[13][14][15] the legislation was passed a month later by the House of Delegates. Governor Ralph Northam approved the bill in March, to take effect in July.[16]

    See also[edit]

    References[edit]

    1. ^ "Lee-Jackson Day around the world in 2023". Office Holidays. Retrieved 2023-07-29.
  • ^ Lefrak, Mikaela (January 12, 2018). "Why Does Virginia Celebrate Lee-Jackson Day?". Wamu 88.5. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  • ^ Lefrak, Mikaela (January 12, 2018). "Why Does Virginia Celebrate Lee-Jackson Day?". Wamu 88.5. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  • ^ Rankin, Sarah (February 24, 2020). "Va. Lawmakers Pass Bill Ending Lee-Jackson Holiday". NBC. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  • ^ Wheeler, Linda (January 18, 1999). "Three Heroes, One Odd Holiday for Virginians". Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  • ^ "LEE-JACKSON LEGACY SPURS CONTROVERSY IN VIRGINIA". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  • ^ "Lee–Jackson Day". Virginia.org.
  • ^ "Lee Jackson Day, Lexington VA".
  • ^ "Pay and Holiday Calendar". Virginia DHRM. Retrieved January 10, 2011.
  • ^ "Charlottesville stops observance of Lee–Jackson Day". www.wdbj7.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2015. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
  • ^ "Town of Blacksburg Rules & Regulations Revisions July 11, 2017". Town of Blacksburg. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  • ^ Heim, Joe (2018-01-11). "Va. cities and counties increasingly want to make Lee-Jackson Day history". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  • ^ Vozzella, Laura (2020-01-21). "Virginia Senate votes to eliminate Lee-Jackson Day, create new Election Day holiday". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  • ^ Chesley, Roger (2020-01-28). "Holidays honoring Lee, Jackson, were always a slap in the face for black people". Virginia Mercury. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  • ^ "Confederate generals shouldn't be enshrined on the calendar". Washington Post. 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  • ^ Virginia General Assembly SB 601 Legal holidays; Election Day
  • icon Society
  • icon Holidays
  • flag Virginia

    • Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lee–Jackson_Day&oldid=1209728640"
    Categories: 
    ●1889 establishments in Virginia
     ●Annual events in the United States
     ●Friday observances
     ●Holidays related to the American Civil War
     ●Monuments and memorials to Robert E. Lee
     ●January observances
     ●Recurring events established in 1889
     ●Stonewall Jackson
     ●Virginia culture
     ●Birthdays
     Hidden categories: 
    ●Articles with short description
     ●Short description matches Wikidata
     ●Infobox holiday (other)
     ●Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
      


    ●This page was last edited on 23 February 2024, at 08:44 (UTC).
    ●Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.


    ●Privacy policy
    ●About Wikipedia
    ●Disclaimers
    ●Contact Wikipedia
    ●Code of Conduct
    ●Developers
    ●Statistics
    ●Cookie statement
    ●Mobile view


    Wikimedia Foundation
    Powered by MediaWiki