Three New Federal Holidays America Needs — and Why the Time Is Right

The United States currently recognizes 11 federal holidays, but the calendar still has notable gaps — particularly in March, April, and August, which remain without any national observances. These months, however, hold pivotal moments in American history that deserve national recognition. By establishing new holidays tied to these dates, we have an opportunity to strengthen civic identity and honor foundational values.

March 4 marks the day in 1789 when the U.S. Congress first convened under the Constitution. It was also the original Presidential Inauguration Day until 1933. Naming this day Federation Day would honor the launch of the federal government — the moment our republic began functioning under the system that still guides us today. It would celebrate democratic continuity, constitutional governance, and the peaceful transfer of power.

April 19, 1775, saw the outbreak of armed resistance to British rule at the Battles of Lexington and Concord — the first shots of the American Revolution. While Patriots’ Day is currently a state holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, expanding it to a federal holiday would bring national recognition to the ordinary citizens who became revolutionaries. A federal Patriots’ Day would honor the courage and conviction that gave rise to American independence.

In August, another historic breakthrough is worthy of celebration. On August 26, 1920, the 19th Amendment was certified, granting women the right to vote after decades of activism and sacrifice. Though Congress recognizes this as Women’s Equality Day by resolution, elevating it to a formal federal holiday — Suffrage Day — would cement the importance of voting rights and acknowledge the continuing struggle for equal representation.

Together, Federation Day, Patriots’ Day, and Suffrage Day would fill calendar gaps with holidays that celebrate government, liberty, and democracy — not just in theory, but through specific, hard-won milestones. These are not just symbolic additions; they are long-overdue acknowledgments of the forces that shaped the nation and continue to define it today.