Lee-Jackson Day
In Virginia, the second Friday of January was a state public holiday called “Lee-Jackson Day”. The observation was cancelled in 2020, and has been replaced by Election Day. The day is meant to commemorate the memory of General Robert E. Lee and his “right hand man” General “Stonewall” Jackson for their achievements during the Civil War in the Confederate cause.
Lee-Jackson Day has been celebrated in Virginia since 1889. It was originally an observance of Robert E. Lee’s birthday, but in 1904, Jackson was added to the holiday’s name.
Between 1983 and 1999, the holiday was subsumed under Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but since 2000, it has had separate status again. Lee-Jackson Day generally comes sometime in mid-January.
The day is somewhat controversial since the two generals fought for the Confederacy, which supported slavery and rebelled against the United States. Thus, some Virginia cities refuse to observe the holiday, while others keep it with fanfare.
General Lee’s ability to hold off the always-larger Union Army of the Potomac with his Army of Northern Virginia for over four years while out-supplied and out-gunned was extremely remarkable. Many speculate he could have won the Battle of Gettysburg and the whole war if he had not earlier lost the help of General Jackson.
Jackson’s exploits in the Shenandoah Valley were, if possible, even more incredible than Lee’s achievements, as he repeatedly routed armies two and three times the size of his own.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 17 Jan | Fri | Lee-Jackson Day | VA |
| 2019 | 18 Jan | Fri | Lee-Jackson Day | VA |