When is National Anthem Day? This holiday is always observed on March 3
Today is National Anthem Day, a March 3 holiday. Our National Anthem is The Star Spangled Banner. It was written by Francis Scott Key. He wrote the lyrics on September 14, 1814, during the Battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. It was originally called “Defence of Fort McHenry”. There were many patriotic songs, and The Star Spangled Banner became another one of them, one that struck at the heart of Americans, and gained popularity over the years. But, for a long time, America did not have an official national anthem.
It wasn’t until over 100 years later, that The Star Spangled Banner became our national anthem. On March 3, 1931, President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution officially making “The Star Spangled Banner” the national anthem of the United States of America.
On this special day, proudly fly the USA flag at your home and place of business. Take this as an opportunity to sing the National Anthem, or listen to it being sung. And, look for chances to show your patriotism.
A Rich History
Many people think the Star Spangled Banner was written during the Revolutionary War. It was actually written during the war of 1812 (1812-1814).
In August 1814, the British army detained Dr. William Beanes as a prisoner of war. He was a friend of Francis Scott Key. On Sept. 13, 1814, Francis Scott Key and a U.S. negotiator boarded a British vessel where Beanes was being held. He negotiated his friends’ release. But then, the British detained Francis Scott Key along with the negotiator. They were held until after the attack on Fort McHenry, which guarded the harbor and city of Baltimore.
He watched the bombardment of the fort from the ship. The next morning, he was ecstatic to see that the American flag was still flying over Fort McHenry. This historic event inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner” the following day (September 14, 1814).
Correcting the Confusion
A few people incorrectly assumed that National Anthem Day is September 14, the day the song was written. This is incorrect. National Anthem Day is every March 3rd, in celebration of the day that congress made the Star-Spangled Banner our national anthem.
Did You Know? Francis Scott Key wrote the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the back of an envelope.
The National Anthem of Other Countries
Here is the national anthem for selected other countries:
Canada: O Canada
France: La Marseillaise
Mexico: Himno Nacional Mexicano
Spain: Marcha Real
United Kingdom:
Today's Quote
“Some people cause happiness wherever they go. Others when they go.” – – Oscar Wilde
History and Origin of National Anthem Day
Our research did not find the creator or the origin of this day. Most likely it was created by a stationary or Ecard company, a candy company, or another gift-giving venue.
We discovered recent references to this as National I Want You to Be Happy Day. Early references of this day did not have the word “National” in the title. We found no documentation in congressional records to confirm that this is truly a national day. Nor, did we find a presidential proclamation.
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Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. and many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. March holidays are no exception. Consequently, at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.