Statehood Day in United States

Statehood Day promotes the importance of civic involvement. ©iStockphoto.com/dieter Spears

What do people do?

Various events are organized, usually at historic sites and museums, in Kentucky and Tennessee. Activities include re-enactments of historical events, displays on Native American life as well as live music performances. Demonstrations of colonial cooking and crafts are also held on this day. Many events are held on a weekend close to June 1 so families can attend.

Public life

Statehood Day is not a federal public holiday in the USA but it is an observance celebrated in Kentucky and Tennessee. Schools, post offices, stores and other businesses are open as usual and public transit services operate to their usual schedule. There may be some local congestion or road closures around large parades.

Background

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, and the original 13 states joined the Union, as the United States was known, on that date. On March 4, 1791, Vermont became the 14th state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. On June 1, 1792, Kentucky became the 15th state to join and on June 1, 1796, Tennessee became the 16th state of the Union. Statehood Day is annually held on June 1 and celebrates the anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution in Kentucky and Tennessee. It is also an opportunity to remind the citizens of these states of the importance of civic involvement.

Symbols

The state flags and seals of Kentucky and Tennessee are common symbols of Statehood Day. The flag of Tennessee is a rectangle with the proportions 3:5 and consists of a red background with a thin blue stripe on the vertical edge of the flag furthest from the flagpole. The red and blue parts are separated by a thin white line. In the middle of the flag is a blue circle surrounded by a thin white ring. Three white five-pointed stars nearly fill the blue circle. The three stars represent the three Grand Divisions of the state: East Tennessee; Middle Tennessee; and West Tennessee.

The Tennessee state seal depicts the Roman numeral 16 (XVI), as Tennessee was the 16th state to join the United States, and a riverboat to symbolize the importance of transport along major rivers in the state. A plow, a sheaf of wheat and a cotton stalk to represent the role that agriculture plays in the state's history and present economy. Other symbols include: the passion flower (state wildflower); the iris (state cultivated flower); the tomato (state fruit); the tulip poplar (state tree); the mockingbird (state bird); the bobwhite quail (state game bird); the largemouth bass or 'bigmouth' (state sport fish); the raccoon (state wild animal); and the firefly, or lightning bug beetle, and the lady beetle, ladybug or ladybird beetle (state insects).

The flag of Kentucky has a navy blue background. The state seal is at the center of the flag and is surrounded by the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" and goldenrod, the state flower. The state seal has a white background with an image of two men shaking hands in friendship and the state motto: "United we stand, divided we fall". The men represent Native Americans and European settlers. Other symbols of Kentucky include: the cardinal (state bird); the brachiopod (state fossil); the grey squirrel (state wild animal); the blackberry (state fruit); and coal (state mineral).

Statehood Day Observances

Related holiday

• Statehood Day in Hawaii–Friday, August 20, 2010

Other holidays in June 2010 in United States

• Corpus Christi (Thursday, June 3, 2010)
• Jefferson Davis Birthday (Thursday, June 3, 2010)
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (Friday, June 4, 2010)
• World Environment Day (Saturday, June 5, 2010)
• Jefferson Davis Birthday (Monday, June 7, 2010)
• Kamehameha Day (Friday, June 11, 2010)
• Flag Day (Monday, June 14, 2010)
• Bunker Hill Day (Thursday, June 17, 2010)
• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (Thursday, June 17, 2010)
• Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19, 2010)
• World Refugee Day (Sunday, June 20, 2010)
• West Virginia Day (Sunday, June 20, 2010)
• Father's Day (Sunday, June 20, 2010)
• June Solstice (Monday, June 21, 2010)
• West Virginia Day (Monday, June 21, 2010)
• Public Service Day (Wednesday, June 23, 2010)
• International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Saturday, June 26, 2010)
• International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Saturday, June 26, 2010)

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