What Memorial Day is

The American day of remembrance for military personnel who died in service, kept on the last Monday in May since the holiday was moved to create a long weekend in 1971.

It grew out of Decoration Day, when graves were decorated after the Civil War, and it informally marks the start of summer.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. The date is set by a weekday rule rather than a fixed number, so it lands on a different date each year within a known window.

It is grouped here under National, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.