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Martin Luther King Day is a United States holiday honoring the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, US President Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.
On January 18, 1993, for the first time, Martin Luther King Day was officially observed in all 50 U.S. states. The day is marked by demonstrations for peace, social justiceSocial justice sometimes called civil justice is a concept largely based on various social contract theories. Most variations on the concept hold that as governments are instituted among populations for the benefit of members of those populations, those g and racial and class equality , as well as a national "day on" of volunteer community service .
Although the day is a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states, it is usually not observed by small private companies. Large corporations are usually closed, but small shops, restaurants, and grocery stores remain open. Additionally some schools and places of higher education are closed for classes; others remain open but may hold seminars or celebrations of Dr. King's message.
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Holidays of the United StatesHolidays of the United States vary with local observance. Strictly speaking, the United States does not have national holidays. The federal government recognizes ten annual and one quadrennial holiday for its employees. The annual federal holidays are wid
