1. Evacuation Day
If you grew up in Boston, you might have heard of Evacuation Day, but most Americans wouldn’t recognize the name. This holiday once marked March 17, 1776, when British troops left Boston during the Revolutionary War. For decades, it was celebrated with parades, speeches, and local pride. The timing was convenient too—it landed right on St. Patrick’s Day, which gave Irish immigrants in the city extra reason to celebrate.
Over time, St. Patrick’s Day festivities completely overshadowed it. By the mid-20th century, hardly anyone outside Boston remembered what the holiday even was. Now, unless you stumble upon a local historical marker or happen to catch a brief mention in a Massachusetts schoolbook, you’d never know Evacuation Day ever existed.
2. Fast Day
Back in the colonial era, Fast Day was a somber occasion. Communities were expected to spend the day fasting, praying, and reflecting on moral failings. It often coincided with times of hardship, like crop shortages or war. Governors declared it annually, and it was treated with the same seriousness as Thanksgiving.
By the 19th century, though, people were tired of such a grim holiday. They wanted more celebration and less guilt. Eventually, Fast Day was replaced in most states by more cheerful spring holidays. Today, it’s completely gone, remembered only in old proclamations and dusty church records.
3. National Defense Test Day
In the 1920s, Americans were encouraged to prepare for possible air raids and attacks—even in peacetime. National Defense Test Day was created to simulate nationwide readiness drills. On this day, schools, businesses, and even entire cities practiced what they would do in case of invasion.
It might sound dramatic now, but at the time it was seen as patriotic duty. By the 1930s, the holiday lost steam as priorities shifted and international politics changed. Today, it’s a strange footnote in history, overshadowed by other Cold War–era drills that came later.
4. Labor Thanksgiving Day
Before Thanksgiving became standardized, there were scattered versions across the country. One of them was Labor Thanksgiving Day, designed to honor workers while giving thanks for the harvest. It was part harvest festival, part tribute to the growing labor movement.
As President Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation set the stage for a unified national Thanksgiving in November, other variations quietly fell away. Labor Thanksgiving Day didn’t stand a chance once the “official” version became popular. It’s now a forgotten piece of the holiday puzzle, buried under turkey dinners and football games.
5. American Indian Day
Long before Native American Heritage Month, some states recognized American Indian Day. In the early 20th century, advocates pushed for it to honor Indigenous peoples, their history, and their contributions. It was often held in September, with parades, speeches, and community events.
Despite good intentions, the holiday never gained full national recognition. Over time, the movement shifted toward a broader awareness month, and the original day faded away. Now, it’s barely remembered, though its spirit lives on in November’s commemorations.
6. Victory Over Japan Day
When World War II ended, Americans poured into the streets for V-J Day. August 14, 1945, was marked with wild celebrations, and for years afterward, the anniversary was treated as a patriotic holiday. Some cities even held annual parades, fireworks, and memorial ceremonies.
But as time passed, the raw emotions of victory gave way to a more complicated understanding of war. The use of atomic bombs and the loss of life made the holiday feel less celebratory. By the late 20th century, most communities had quietly dropped it, leaving only occasional historical mentions.
7. Admission Day
When states first joined the Union, many of them celebrated Admission Day. California, for example, marked September 9, 1850, with statewide recognition for decades. It was a chance to honor statehood, pioneer history, and local pride.
However, these celebrations never really caught on nationwide. People preferred Independence Day for patriotic displays, and statehood anniversaries slowly felt redundant. Now, most Admission Days have vanished, replaced by regional festivals or nothing at all.
8. National Flag Day (in June)
While we still technically have Flag Day on June 14, it’s not treated like a true holiday anymore. Back in the early 20th century, it was a big deal, with parades, school programs, and speeches across the country. Kids learned patriotic songs, and families proudly displayed flags on their homes.
Over time, however, the excitement dwindled. Without a day off work or school, the holiday slipped into obscurity. These days, unless you’re in a community that still marks it, you might not even realize it’s on the calendar.
9. Lincoln’s Birthday
Before Presidents Day was created, Lincoln’s Birthday was a separate holiday on February 12. Schools often held special programs about his life, and many states gave workers a day off. In Illinois especially, it was a point of pride.
But in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act lumped Lincoln and Washington together into Presidents Day. While Washington still gets plenty of recognition, Lincoln’s individual day faded away. Today, only a handful of states still observe it, and most people never notice it missing.
10. Army Day
From 1929 to 1949, Army Day was celebrated on April 6. It honored the U.S. Army and encouraged military recruitment. Parades, open houses at bases, and public ceremonies gave civilians a chance to connect with soldiers.
But after World War II, the holiday began to lose relevance. With Armed Forces Day created in 1949 to honor all branches, Army Day was retired. It’s now just a forgotten piece of military tradition.
11. Confederacy Memorial Day
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some southern states held their own version of Memorial Day to honor Confederate soldiers. It often included parades, speeches, and cemetery ceremonies. For many, it was seen as a day of mourning rather than celebration.
As the years went on, the holiday became more controversial. The push for a unified Memorial Day, combined with shifting cultural views, led most states to quietly phase it out. While traces still exist in a few places, the larger national stage has left it behind.
12. May Day (as a labor holiday)
In the late 1800s, May 1 was celebrated in the U.S. as a labor holiday, tied to the international workers’ movement. Parades, rallies, and speeches were common, especially in major cities with strong labor unions. It was a day to demand fair wages and safer conditions.
But with tensions around socialism and communism rising, May Day celebrations in America became politically charged. By the mid-20th century, the U.S. shifted focus to Labor Day in September instead. May Day’s roots in American history were buried, leaving only traces among activists.