United States
On January 18, 1993, the U.S. observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day nationwide for the first time, with all 50 states formally recognizing the federal holiday. Some states had previously resisted full recognition or substituted alternate observances. The move represented national consolidation in honoring King’s legacy and civil rights activism. The holiday is meant as a day of reflection, service, and education about equality and justice. Since that date, the observance has become firmly embedded in U.S. civic culture.
