Discover the Top 14 Unexpected and Entertaining Facts About Memorial Day!

1. From Decoration Day to Memorial Day

Before hashtags and Snapchat filters honored our fallen heroes, there was a classic tradition of sprucing up their eternal resting places: Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day, originating in 1868 as a day to adorn the graves of soldiers with flowers and flags, paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Source => nashikcorporation.in

2. Memorial Day's Date Shuffle

Once upon a time in the land of remember-whence-you-came, a holiday went by the very unsnazzy name of "Decoration Day" and was truly more of a "May the 30th be with you" kind of affair: That's right, folks! Memorial Day was initially celebrated on May 30, 1868, with the original intent to honor fallen Union soldiers during the Civil War. Fast forward to 1971, thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act's groove, Memorial Day not only struck gold – it morphed into a federal holiday – but also scored a gig as the lasting finale to every May, giving us an alluring three-day weekend to pay tribute to the brave souls who served in the US military and made the ultimate sacrifice.
Source => countryliving.com

Did you know Labor Day's origin involved 10,000 off-duty workers and a glamorous parade in 1882? Discover the fascinating story behind this beloved holiday!

=> Fun Facts about Labor-Day

3. The Great Condiment Inflation

Hold onto your buns, folks: it appears the great condiment inflation has struck our beloved Memorial Day cookouts! In the sauciest revelation of the season, data-analysis company Datasembly discovered that a 32-ounce bottle of ketchup has skyrocketed 28% to a whopping $5.22, while a 20-ounce container of mustard has mustered a 13.04% increase, climbing to $2.34. So, when you fire up that grill, prepare to relish in the fact that your tasty toppings will now cost a pretty p-p-pickle!
Source => marketwatch.com

4. The Power of the Red Poppy

Ready to "pop" in some giggles and "petal" out the solemn truth?: The red poppy, aka the floral emblem of The American Legion family, has been the official symbol of remembrance since World War I for fallen soldiers, thriving in battle-ravaged soil and serving as a colorful testament to bravery. National Poppy Day®, celebrated on the Friday before Memorial Day, supports veterans and their families, with the American Legion Auxiliary running the poppy game since 1924!
Source => legion.org

5. Ancient Roots of Memorial Day

From Ancient Toga Parties to American Tributes: Memorial Day's tradition of honoring fallen soldiers by decorating their graves has roots in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Officially established in the United States by General John A. Logan in 1868, Waterloo, New York wears the crown as Memorial Day's birthplace, recognized by Governor Nelson Rockefeller, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Congress in 1966.
Source => lifeinthefingerlakes.com

6. Waterloo's Ultimate Victory

In a surprising twist of historical déjà vu, Waterloo managed to conquer America - but this time, it's Waterloo, New York that claims victory by birthing a monumental holiday: Memorial Day was officially proclaimed a federal holiday in 1971, honoring fallen soldiers from US wars and celebrated on the last Monday of May each year through parades, patriotic gatherings, and scrupulous flag protocols such as raising and lowering it to half-staff until noon.
Source => gettysburgflag.com

7. Forgetting the Meaning of Memorial Day

Talk about a memory lapse! In the Y2K era, when we panicked about bursting computers and huddled with canned supplies in anticipation, there was another reason to furrow our brows: Before the National Moment of Remembrance was put into law in 2000, a Gallup poll conducted in May 2000 revealed that only 28% of Americans knew the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Arlington: The Ultimate Gated Community

When real estate is "to die for": Arlington National Cemetery started as a stylish land grab by the U.S. Army during the Civil War in 1864! Today, it spans a whopping 639 acres and houses roughly 400,000 veterans and their eligible relatives, making it the ultimate gated community for our dearly departed heroes.
Source => arlingtoncemetery.mil

9. From Civil War to All Wars

Before the North and South played tug-of-war over its date and the Swinging Sixties convinced everyone to party in peace like it's 1969: Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day, and it initially honored Civil War soldiers exclusively. It wasn't until post-WWI in-your-Flanders-Fields trauma that the U.S. decided to nationalize the holiday, ultimately commemorating all American heroes who succumbed to an unfriendly fate. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act jazzed things up by offering folks a terrific reason to score a federally approved three-day weekend in the merry month of May, and a chance to pay tribute to fallen patriots at cemeteries and monuments all over Estados Unidos.
Source => csmonitor.com

10. Inaugural Event at Arlington Cemetery

Back in the day, when grand armies partied like it was 1868 and "decorating" had a whole other meaning: Memorial Day was first known as Decoration Day, established by the Grand Army of the Republic - a group of Union Civil War veterans - to honor their fallen comrades. The inaugural event took place at Arlington National Cemetery with an impassioned speech by Congressman James Abram Garfield, though reports of him turning on the waterworks remain unconfirmed.
Source => nps.gov

11. The Birth of "Taps"

Ever felt pressured to create a catchy yet classic bedtime tune for thousands of soldiers? No? Well, Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield sure did: He composed the famous bugle call "Taps" during the American Civil War to replace a French tune, and it was soon adopted by both sides, becoming an enduring symbol of respect played at military funerals, memorials, and ceremonies across the United States and overseas, even gracing the ears of visitors at Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. A Tradition of Floral Tributes

Gather 'round, ye olde patriots, for a tale of floral tributes and grave decoration that rivals any reality TV makeover show: Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day, established in 1868 to honor fallen Civil War soldiers by adorning their graves with flowers and flags. This picturesque tradition broadened its scope to pay homage to all American war casualties and in 1971, was officially moved to the last Monday in May, transforming it into the beacon of honor and barbecues we know and love today.
Source => newswest9.com

13. Before May the Fourth

Before "May the Fourth" had people remembering the force, the last Monday of May had people remembering the fallen: Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971 to honor those who laid down their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces. This tradition traces its roots back to the Civil War era when folks would decorate soldiers' graves with flowers. Nowadays, we celebrate with parades, ceremonies, and cemetery visits as we pay our ultimate respects to the real-life heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Source => bellevueheraldleader.com

14. Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968

Before there were three-day weekends wreaking havoc on our summer barbecue plans, there was a clever piece of legislation pulled off by the bureaucratic wizards of yesteryear: the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May, officially recognizing it as a federal holiday and creating more long weekends for federal employees, much to the delight of the travel industry.
Source => en.wikipedia.org