In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the

adoption of the flag of the United States , which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson

issued a proclamation that officially established June 14  as Flag Day; in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress.

Flag Day is not an official federal holiday, though on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first (and only) U.S. state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday.

Title 36 of the United States Code, Subtitle I, Part A, CHAPTER 1, § 110 is the official statute on Flag Day; however, it is at the President’s discretion to proclaim officially the observance.

The longest-running Flag Day parade is held annually in Quincy, Massachusetts , which began 1952 and will celebrate its 57th year in 2009.

The largest Flag Day parade is held annually in Troy, New York, which bases its parade on the Quincy parade and typically draws 50,000 spectators.

The week of June 14 is designated as “National Flag Week.” During National Flag Week, the president will issue a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week.

The flag should also be displayed on all Government buildings . Some organizations hold parades and events in celebration of America’s national flag and everything it represents.

Other specific Flag Days in the World

International history and traditions

In most countries, Mother’s Day is a recent observance derived from the holiday as it has evolved in North America and Europe. Many African countries adopted the idea of one Mother’s Day from the British tradition, although there are many festivals and events celebrating mothers within the many diverse cultures on the African continent that long pre-date colonization. In Nepal and other hindu tradition, its called “Mata Tirtha Aunshi” or “Mother Pilgrimage fortnight”.

Dates around the world

Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days throughout the world. Examining thetrends in Google searches for the term “mother’s day” shows two primary results, the smaller one on the fourth Sunday in Lent, from the British tradition of Mothering Sunday (it is also called ladies day and women’s day), and the larger one on the second Sunday in May.

The extent of the celebrations varies greatly. In some countries, it is potentially offensive to one’s mother not to mark Mother’s Day. In others, it is a little-known festival celebrated mainly by immigrants, or covered by the media as a taste of foreign culture (compare the celebrations of Diwali in the UK and the United States).

Note: Countries that celebrate International Women’s Day are marked with a cross ‘†’.