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Holidays and Observances - What Is A Moveable Holiday?

What is a moveable holiday?

A moveable holiday is one that can take place on a different date from year to year. The date may be set using a different calendar, such as a solar calendar (which is based on the 365 days it takes the Earth to revolve around the Sun) or a lunar calendar (in which each of 12 months begins with a new moon and ends 29.5 days later), or by law or by tradition. For example, Thanksgiving is a moveable holiday because it takes place on the fourth Thursday in November, thus falling on a different date each year.

Further Information: Maestro, Betsy. The Story of Clocks and Calendars: Marking a Millennium.New York: Lothrop, Lee and Shepherd, 1999.

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