| Holiday Name: | Lee–Jackson Day |
| Type: | Historical |
| Longtype: | Historical, cultural, ethnic |
| Date: | January 15-16 |
| Significance: | Southern history |
| Observedby: | Virginia |
| Frequency: | Annual |
| Firsttime: | 1889 |
| Weekday: | Friday preceding third Monday in January |
| Month: | January |
| Lasttime: | 2020 |
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]
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 for their state of Virginia 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]
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]
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]