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From the Metro staff at The Boston Globe

Happy Evacuation Day!

March 17, 2009 09:14 AM Email| Comments (23)| Text size – +

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(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)

Members of the Allied War Veterans Council of South Boston fired a salute today as part of an Evacuation Day ceremony atop Dorchester Heights.

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff

Evacuation Day is here again, the only-in-Suffolk-County holiday that commemorates when the Continental Army hauled 50 cannons up Dorchester Heights on March 17, 1776, and forced the redcoats out of Boston.

The holiday, which suspiciously coincides with a day named for a certain Irish saint, has given city and state employees the day off for more than 100 years. That means an estimated 35,000 workers get to stay home for St. Patrick's Day -- er -- Evacuation Day, according to a tally the Globe complied last year with the help of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau and the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Evacuation Day is not to be confused with Bunker Hill Day on June 17, the other only-in-Suffolk-County holiday that commemorates the 1775 battle with the British on a hill just north of downtown. Or Patriots Day, the statewide holiday observed the third Monday in April. For those who are counting, that is 13 paid holidays a year for civic employees who work in Suffolk County, three more than the 10 mandated by the federal government.

Two years ago, the Globe compiled a list of obscure holidays celebrated in other states.

Vermont takes a holiday each Aug. 16 for Bennington Battle Day to honor its most famous conflict of the Revolutionary War. On the second Monday in August, Rhode Island celebrates Victory Day to remember Japan’s surrender in World War II.
Each July 24, Utah takes a vacation for Pioneer Day, to commemorate when Brigham Young and other Mormon trailblazers first entered Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and other Southern states don’t let a June 3 pass without celebrating the birthday of Jefferson Davis, the first and only president of the Confederacy.

Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes' Day (Jan. 19), Cesar Chavez Day (March 31), Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (Aug. 27), and three other only-in-the-Lone-Star-state festivals. But, unlike in Suffolk County, state employees in Texas don't get a day off for what are designated as optional holidays. Texas does, however, close state, city, and local offices the Friday after Thanksgiving.

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23 comments so far...

I believe they get a least one day off a month except for August. another perk for the overworked employees...

Posted by rob March 17, 09 09:53 AM

Queue up the obligitory state employees suck posts. Looks like someone already got the ball rolling. Any other takers?

Posted by Swarley March 17, 09 11:45 AM

Ansley,

This story is about the holiday 'Evacuation Day' in Boston today.

Miss you!!

Love You!!

Daddy

Posted by Ansley March 17, 09 11:55 AM

Evacuation Day is just another day for the lazy, overpaid employees working for the City of Boston.

Posted by DevalPatrickIsAJoke March 17, 09 11:55 AM

Perhaps the problem isn't state employees getting too many holidays, but the private sector not getting enough.

Posted by Leigh Hall March 17, 09 12:04 PM

Addition by subtraction

Posted by stout March 17, 09 12:09 PM

I deserve this day off you ungratefuls!

Posted by T. Menino March 17, 09 12:44 PM

New Orleans: Post office and others close for Mardi Gras; however, everyone in law enforcement works that day. Schools/others make up for it by not closing for Memorial Day in May.

Posted by Matt March 17, 09 12:52 PM

Rob,

You want some Cheese with that WHINE?

Posted by St. Paddy March 17, 09 12:59 PM

A wonderful article, Andrew! By the way, you forgot to mention Virginia's Lee-Jackson Day (January 19th).

Posted by Gary March 17, 09 01:00 PM

What's wrong with a holiday a month? What's wrong with honoring a turning point or an important person in regional history? People work too hard these days. Yes, some gov't workers DO work hard, as many of the rest of us do. I say "enjoy" to whoever has the day off!

Posted by the swimmer March 17, 09 01:01 PM

Lets not forget Casimir Pulaski Day celebrated by Illinois.

Posted by Scott March 17, 09 01:13 PM

An excuse for the hacks to have another day off

Posted by RET March 17, 09 01:25 PM

Hey Rob, I think Canada actually created a holiday in August because they didn't have one already, so there's a holiday a month there. Now that's creative.

Posted by enough with the complaints March 17, 09 01:59 PM

Being a state employee isn't all that its cracked up to be!

Posted by State Employee March 17, 09 02:06 PM

Wisconsin schools celebrates Patriots day as well.

Posted by Shawn March 17, 09 02:18 PM

Who cares if Boston workers get another day off? I'm jealous, but I'm not going to belittle them their day. Grow up!

Posted by Jennifer March 17, 09 02:40 PM

Anyone complaining is just sour grapes. Wish I got today off...there's some green beer with my name on it! ::sigh:: guess I have to wait until 5m :)

Posted by lmanzelli March 17, 09 02:44 PM

I celebrate my own Evacuation Day before I get a colonoscopy in Suffolk County.

Posted by Pete March 17, 09 03:07 PM

You forgot Victory Day which is celebrated in Rhode Island and Hawaii in August.

Posted by state worker that does not get evacuation day off March 17, 09 03:15 PM

hope you all enjoy a well deserved day off ! erin go braugh !

Posted by pippi March 17, 09 03:46 PM

Me wife had the day off and made me beef stew.

HaHa ye bunch O Whiners!

Posted by Ian O'Schit March 17, 09 05:49 PM

Evacuation Day is here again, the only-in-Suffolk-County holiday that commemorates when the Staties swallowed 50 doughnuts during a single 8 hour coffee break, and then renegotiated their pension funds with the weak local politicians on Beacon Hill.

Posted by Dennis March 17, 09 07:00 PM