Definition

Proper noun: * A commemorative day: "Robert E. Lee's Birthday" refers to a day observed, particularly in some southern U.S. states, to commemorate the birth of Robert E. Lee (January 19, 1807), a Confederate general during the American Civil War. It is a day of historical remembrance.

Usage

• This term is used to refer to the specific calendar date (January 19th) or the official observance day, which may sometimes be combined with other holidays.
• It functions as the name of a holiday or commemorative occasion.

Examples

• State offices are closed in observance of Robert E. Lee's Birthday.
• The historical society holds a lecture every year on Robert E. Lee's Birthday.
• In some calendars, Robert E. Lee's Birthday is listed alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Advanced Usage

• The observance is part of a broader historical and cultural discussion regarding the commemoration of Confederate figures in the United States.
• In some jurisdictions, the legal holiday has been renamed or eliminated.

Variants and Related Words

• Lee–Jackson–King Day: (Historical) The name of a former combined state holiday in Virginia honoring Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Martin Luther King Jr.
• Confederate Memorial Day: A related but separate holiday observed in several states to remember those who died fighting for the Confederacy.
• Lee Day: A less formal, abbreviated name for the observance.

Synonyms

• Lee's Birthday (informal)
• Commemoration of Robert E. Lee's Birth

Notes on Meaning

• The primary meaning is the designation of a specific day for remembrance.
• It does not refer to the actual historical date of birth in a general sense (e.g., "Robert E. Lee was born on his birthday"), but specifically to its status as an observed day.

Noun

1. celebrated in southern United States