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How the Government Makes a Holiday

How the Government Makes a Holiday

There may be only 12 federal holidays, but we come up with hundreds of reasons to celebrate.

Civics 101

December 27, 202229m 15s

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Show Notes

How does something go from an annual tradition to a mandated day off? Who decides to make a holiday official? Today we're taking a look at everything from Christmas to National Walk Around Things Day, from our twelve official federal holidays to some day made up by a sock company. Our guides to the holiday season are Jeff Bensch, author of History of American Holidays, and JerriAnne Boggis, Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.

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