Pascua Florida Day in United States

Pascua Florida Day is Florida's state day. ©iStockphoto.com/iLexx

What do people do?

Although it is not widely publicized, Pascua Florida Day is Florida’s state day, celebrated on April 2. The week commemorates the sighting of Florida by Spanish explorer Ponce de León.

Other events held on this day in 2008 include the annual Kick Butts Day and the Florida Film Festival. On April 2, 2008, students across Florida will rally against tobacco as part of the nationwide Kick Butts Day event. For example, students from 17 Hillsborough County middle and high schools in Tampa, Florida, will participate in a "Take it to the Streets" event where they will discuss tobacco-related issues with the community.

The Florida Film Festival 2008, which runs from March 28 to April 6 2008, will feature a variety of films around central Florida on April 2. Throughout the past 17 years, the festival has welcomed a quarter of a million guests, premiered thousands of films and hosted hundreds of celebrities including Paul Newman and Oliver Stone.

Public life

Pascua Florida Day is designated as a state day. When it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the governor may declare either the preceding Friday or following Monday as the state day. According to the 2007 Florida Senate Statutes, the Governor of Florida may annually issue a proclamation designating April 2 as the state day and designating the week of March 27 to April 2 as "Pascua Florida Week" and calling upon public schools and citizens of Florida to observe the same as a patriotic occasion.

No transport schedule changes have been announced by major bus companies, such as Greyhound Lines, and train lines, such as Amtrak. According to the Florida Department of Education, Pascua Florida Day is not a school holiday.

Background

Florida was named for the day on which it was discovered by Spanish explorer Ponce de León, who called it La Florida in honor of Pascua Florida, the Spanish Feast of the Flowers at Easter time. While there are no official records, historians believe that Ponce de León was born in 1460 in San Tervas de Campos, Spain.

Ponce de León accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish Crown. He is also notable for his voyage to Florida, the first known European excursion there, as well as for being associated with the legend of the Fountain of Youth which is said to be in Florida.

With two vessels, 200 men, 50 horses and other domestic animals, and farm implements, he sailed for Florida in 1521. Upon landing on the west coast, his party was fiercely attacked by Native Americans, and he was severely wounded by an arrow. The expedition sailed immediately for Cuba, where Ponce de León died.

Pascua Florida Day Observances

Other holidays in April 2008 in United States

• United Nations' Mine Awareness Day (Friday, April 4, 2008)
• United Nations' World Health Day (Monday, April 7, 2008)
• Tax Day (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)
• Father Damien Day (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)
• Emancipation Day (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)
• First day of Passover (Sunday, April 20, 2008)
• Patriot's Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
• San Jacinto Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
• Oklahoma Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
• Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
• Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)
• World Book and Copyright Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)
• Arbor Day (Friday, April 25, 2008)
• Last day of Passover (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
• Orthodox Easter (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
• Confederate Memorial Day (Monday, April 28, 2008)

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