Every year on MLK Day, the federal government closes and citizens across the U.S. take part in a day of service. Here’s everything to know about MLK Day, including how it became a federal holiday.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, or MLK Day, is observed annually on the third Monday in January. The 2025 holiday falls on Jan. 20. Although MLK Day is on Jan. 20 this year, King's birthday is Jan.

Born on Jan. 15, 1929, King is acknowledged annually with a federal holiday that falls on or near his birthday. This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, Jan. 20. In a rare occurrence, ...