The National Day of Prayer is an annual holiday held on the first Thursday of May. On this holiday, Americans are called to pray for their country and loved ones.
The History
The idea of establishing this day was first proposed by the first American President, George Washington. He suggested that people of different religions could gather in one place and say prayers for their country. National Day of Prayer was not approved by the US Congress until 1952.
After this holiday’s approval, people are called to turn to God in words. Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, Jews – all Americans of different faiths read prayers for their country and loved ones.
Interesting Facts
National Day of Prayer has several interesting factors:
- Each year, the President of the United States must sign a proclamation calling on citizens to pray.
- Not all Americans support this celebration. The organization Freedom from Religion expressed disagreement and even filed a lawsuit to ensure the Day of Prayer was not designated as a constitutional celebration. Their attempts were not successful.
- Besides collective prayers, American people arrange great festive dinners with musical accompaniment dedicated to various prayers for America.
When is National Day of Prayer celebrated in 2024?
National Day of Prayer is observed on the first Thursday of May each year.
Observations
| Weekday | Month | Day | Year |
| Thursday | May | 2 | 2024 |
| Thursday | May | 1 | 2025 |
