Overview
Holidays is one of Jeopardy!'s most accessible topics, with 1,817 clues across the show's history. The round distribution tells the story: 1,279 clues (70.4%) appear in the Jeopardy round, 479 (26.4%) in Double Jeopardy, and 59 (3.2%) in Final Jeopardy. That heavy J-round skew means the show treats holidays as approachable general knowledge; but that accessibility hides some genuine stumpers, especially when the clue shifts from "name the holiday" to "know the obscure historical detail."
The topic has 105 Daily Doubles (61 in J, 44 in DJ) and peaked in the 1990s with 722 clues. The main categories are HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES (488 clues), ANNUAL EVENTS (145), MONTHS (88), HOLIDAYS (73), ON THE CALENDAR (42), WORLD HOLIDAYS (30), NATIONAL HOLIDAYS (23), IT'S A FEDERAL HOLIDAY (20), and INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS (18). That category diversity matters: roughly a third of all Holidays clues are really about calendar and month knowledge rather than specific holidays.
The gimmes: Halloween (31 clues, 100%), Labor Day (18, 100%), Arbor Day (13, 100%), Ramadan (12, 100%), Bastille Day (12, 100%), Hanukkah (11, 100%), St. Patrick's Day (11, 100%), Passover (9, 100%), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (7, 100%), Groundhog Day (7, 100%), Mardi Gras (6, 100%), Cinco de Mayo (6, 100%), Diwali (5, 100%), Columbus Day (15, 84.6%). These are the freebies, contestants almost never miss them.
The stumper zone: November (6 clues, 54.5% correct), Father's Day (6, 66.7%), Flag Day (10, 70.0%), Pentecost (6, 71.4%), Veterans Day (13, 71.4%), Thanksgiving (8, 71.4%), December (7, 71.4%), Memorial Day (16, 73.7%), Easter (14, 78.6%). These answers seem easy, but the clues are deceptively hard; they ask for specific dates, historical origins, or connections that trip up even strong contestants.
Clue patterns: Holidays clues fall into three recurring types. First, "what holiday falls on this date" (especially for lesser-known observances like Flag Day or Arbor Day). Second, "what's the origin of this holiday" (Celtic harvest festivals for Halloween, Decoration Day for Memorial Day, Armistice Day for Veterans Day). Third, "which month or day" questions where the answer is a month name rather than a holiday; these account for a surprising chunk of the topic and can be tricky.
Study strategy: Section 2 (U.S. Federal Holidays) and Section 3 (Religious & Cultural) cover the most frequently tested individual holidays. Section 5 (Months & Calendar) is essential, month names as answers make up a large slice of the topic and are often stumpers. Section 6 (Final Jeopardy) covers the 59 FJ appearances and the patterns that separate prepared contestants from the rest.
U.S. Federal Holidays
Memorial Day
One of the most frequently tested holidays, yet only 73.7% of contestants get it right. The key Jeopardy fact: Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day," named for the practice of decorating Civil War soldiers' graves with flowers. Union General John A. Logan issued General Orders No. 11 in 1868, designating May 30 as a day for "strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades." The name "Memorial Day" didn't become official until 1967, and the holiday was moved to the last Monday in May in 1971 under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Clues frequently test the Decoration Day origin, the Logan connection, and the Civil War roots. Higher-value clues might ask about the specific date shift or the general order number.
Watch out: Memorial Day's 26.3% wrong rate comes from two sources: confusion with Veterans Day (which honors all who served, not just the fallen) and clues that describe "Decoration Day" without mentioning the modern name. If a clue mentions decorating graves or Civil War origins, the answer is Memorial Day, not Veterans Day.
Veterans Day
Originally Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month." Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all American veterans, not just WWI participants. The first observance under the new name was November 11, 1954, in Emporia, Kansas, an FJ-level detail.
The 71.4% correct rate reflects confusion with Memorial Day and difficulty with the Armistice Day origin. Clues from the IT'S A FEDERAL HOLIDAY category consistently test the 1954 name change and the November 11 date.
Watch out: Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day is a classic Jeopardy trap. Veterans Day honors all who served; Memorial Day honors those who died. Veterans Day is always November 11 (fixed date); Memorial Day is the last Monday in May (floating). If the clue mentions "Armistice" or "November 11," it's Veterans Day.
Labor Day
A perfect gimme: no contestant has ever missed it. The standard clue set: Peter McGuire (co-founder of the American Federation of Labor) is credited with proposing the holiday. It falls on the first Monday in September. The first Labor Day parade was held in New York City in 1882. Australia has a similar holiday called "Eight Hours Day," commemorating the eight-hour workday movement.
Columbus Day
Falls on the second Monday in October. The most-tested angle: Columbus Day is the least observed federal holiday by the private sector, many businesses stay open. In recent decades, many cities and states have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples' Day. It became a federal holiday in 1937. South Dakota celebrates "Native Americans' Day" instead.
An FJ clue (2008) focused on the "least observed by private sector" fact. At 84.6% correct, it's mostly a gimme, but higher-value clues testing the Indigenous Peoples' Day replacement or specific state alternatives can trip people up.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
A perfect gimme. The third Monday in January, it was signed into law by President Reagan in 1983 and first observed in 1986. Arizona was the last state to recognize it as a paid holiday. Clues consistently test the January date and the federal establishment year.
Flag Day
June 14, commemorating the adoption of the U.S. flag by the Continental Congress in 1777. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it in 1916. It is not a federal holiday, it's a national observance, which is a common source of confusion. Pennsylvania is the only state that treats it as a legal holiday.
The 70% correct rate makes Flag Day one of the more challenging U.S. observances. Clues often give the June 14 date and ask contestants to name the observance, or describe the 1777 flag adoption and expect "Flag Day" rather than "Independence Day."
Watch out: Flag Day (30% wrong) is a genuine stumper. The June date and the "not technically a federal holiday" status trip people up. If a clue mentions June 14 or the 1777 Continental Congress flag resolution, it's Flag Day.
Other Federal Holidays
Presidents' Day (~4 clues), Originally Washington's Birthday (February 22), it was moved to the third Monday in February in 1971. The official federal name is still "Washington's Birthday," though most Americans call it Presidents' Day. Clues test the name discrepancy and the February date.
Independence Day (~3 clues), Rarely tested directly because it's too obvious. When it appears, clues focus on historical details: John Adams predicted Americans would celebrate with "pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations" but he thought the date would be July 2, not July 4.
Thanksgiving (~8 clues, 71.4% correct), Surprisingly difficult. Sarah Josepha Hale (editor of Godey's Lady's Book) campaigned for 17 years to make it a national holiday; Lincoln finally proclaimed it in 1863. FDR moved it up a week in 1939 to extend the Christmas shopping season, "Franksgiving." Congress fixed it as the fourth Thursday in November in 1941. Canadian Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October. FJ clues test the Hale campaign, the Lincoln proclamation, and the FDR controversy.
Religious & Cultural Holidays
Easter
The most-tested religious holiday, with a 21.4% wrong rate that makes it a moderate stumper. Key Jeopardy facts: Easter can fall on any date from March 22 to April 25. The word "Pasqueflower" derives from the same root as Easter/Pascha (related to Passover and the paschal season). The week after Easter has been humorously called "Egg Salad Week" a clue that has appeared more than once. Easter is calculated based on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox, which is why its date varies so widely.
Clues test the date range, the etymological connections to Passover/Pascha, and cultural traditions like egg hunts and the Easter Bunny. Higher-value clues ask about the astronomical calculation method.
Watch out: Easter's 21.4% wrong rate comes from clues that approach it obliquely, through etymology (Pasqueflower, paschal), the date calculation formula, or the Egg Salad Week joke. Direct "what Christian holiday celebrates the Resurrection" clues are gimmes, but the indirect angles are not.
Ramadan
A perfect gimme. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. The fast is broken each evening with a meal called iftar. The holiday of Eid al-Fitr (also called Id Al-Fitr) marks the end of Ramadan. Clues consistently test the fasting requirement, the ninth-month placement, and the Eid al-Fitr connection.
Passover
Another perfect gimme. Commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and the "passing over" of the Angel of Death. The Seder is the ritual meal, featuring matzoh (unleavened bread), bitter herbs, and the four cups of wine. Passover lasts seven or eight days depending on tradition. Clues test the Exodus story, the Seder elements, and the etymological connection to Easter/Pascha.
Hanukkah
A gimme. The Festival of Lights commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt. The miracle of the oil (one day's supply lasting eight days) is the central story. The menorah (or hanukkiah) has nine branches: eight for the nights plus the shamash (helper candle). Dreidel, latkes, and gelt are tested cultural elements.
Pentecost
A moderate stumper at 71.4% correct. Falls 50 days after Easter (the name comes from Greek pentekoste, meaning "fiftieth"). In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles as "tongues of fire," and they began speaking in different languages. Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Christian Church. Whitsunday is its traditional English name.
Watch out: Pentecost trips up contestants who know it vaguely but can't distinguish it from other Christian observances. The "50 days after Easter" and "tongues of fire" details are the key identifiers.
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism. It falls on the 10th day of Tishrei, ten days after Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). Observers fast for 25 hours. The 1973 Arab-Israeli War is called the Yom Kippur War because Egypt and Syria attacked on this holiday. The 77.8% correct rate makes it harder than expected, clues testing the "Day of Atonement" translation or the 1973 war connection are sometimes missed.
Diwali
A gimme. The Hindu Festival of Lights, celebrated in autumn with oil lamps (diyas), fireworks, and sweets. It marks the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. The festival is associated with Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.
Bastille Day
A perfect gimme. July 14, commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789 during the French Revolution. In France it's called the Fete Nationale and has been officially celebrated since 1880. A favorite Jeopardy detail: Tahiti also celebrates Bastille Day, since French Polynesia is a French overseas territory. The Bastille was a medieval fortress used as a state prison, and its fall symbolized the end of royal tyranny.
St. Patrick's Day
A gimme. March 17, the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. The shamrock is associated with the holiday because Patrick allegedly used the three-leafed plant to explain the Holy Trinity. Chicago dyes its river green. The first St. Patrick's Day parade in America was held in New York City in 1762. Clues test the March 17 date, the shamrock/Trinity connection, and American celebration traditions.
Mardi Gras
A gimme. French for "Fat Tuesday," the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. New Orleans is the most famous American celebration site. The tradition of masks and revelry dates back to medieval Europe. "Carnival" comes from Latin carne vale ("farewell to meat"). King cake, with a tiny baby figurine hidden inside, is a Mardi Gras food tradition.
Cinco de Mayo
A perfect gimme. May 5, commemorating the Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is not Mexican Independence Day (which is September 16); this distinction is a frequent Jeopardy angle. The holiday is celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico.
Guy Fawkes Day
A significant FJ stumper. November 5, commemorating the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and fellow conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The rhyme "Remember, remember, the 5th of November" is the standard clue hook. Bonfires and the burning of "Guy" effigies are traditional. Also called Bonfire Night.
Watch out: Guy Fawkes Day has a 40% wrong rate, making it one of the hardest holiday answers. FJ clues quote the famous rhyme or describe the Gunpowder Plot without naming Fawkes directly. If you hear "5th of November" or "Gunpowder Plot," the answer is Guy Fawkes Day.
Seasonal & Novelty Observances
Halloween
The single most frequently tested holiday answer, with a perfect 100% correct rate. Halloween is the ultimate gimme. Key facts the show cycles through: Halloween evolved from Samhain, a Celtic harvest festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the "darker half" of the year. The Celts believed the boundary between the living and the dead was thinnest on this night. Trick-or-treating has roots in the medieval practice of "souling," where the poor would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. Jack-o'-lanterns were originally carved from turnips in Ireland before pumpkins became the American standard.
Clues also test: October 31 date, costume traditions, the connection to All Saints' Day (November 1), and the word "Halloween" as a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve."
Valentine's Day
February 14, associated with St. Valentine, a 3rd-century Roman martyr. The tradition of exchanging love notes dates to the Middle Ages; Geoffrey Chaucer's Parliament of Fowls (1382) is one of the earliest literary connections between Valentine's Day and romantic love. Hallmark began mass-producing Valentine's cards in 1913. Conversation hearts ("Be Mine," "True Love") were created by the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO).
The 22.2% wrong rate is higher than expected. Clues that approach Valentine's Day through Chaucer, through St. Valentine's martyrdom, or through the Lupercalia (Roman fertility festival) connection can trip up contestants.
Mother's Day & Father's Day
Mother's Day: ~7 clues · 83.3% correct · Father's Day: ~6 clues · 66.7% correct
Mother's Day was established by Anna Jarvis and first celebrated in 1908 in Grafton, West Virginia. President Wilson made it official in 1914 for the second Sunday in May. Jarvis later campaigned against the holiday's commercialization, trying to have it rescinded. The carnation is its traditional flower, Jarvis chose it because it was her mother's favorite.
Father's Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, at the urging of Sonora Smart Dodd. It falls on the third Sunday in June. It didn't become a permanent federal holiday until 1972 under President Nixon. The rose is its traditional flower.
Watch out: Father's Day has a 33.3% wrong rate: the highest of any "obvious" holiday. Clues testing the Sonora Smart Dodd origin, the 1910 Spokane celebration, or the 1972 federal establishment date are the culprits. Mother's Day clues about Anna Jarvis's anti-commercialization campaign are also tricky.
Groundhog Day
A gimme. February 2, when Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If he sees his shadow, legend says six more weeks of winter. The tradition has German roots (Candlemas Day). The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has been making predictions since 1887. Phil's accuracy rate is roughly 39%, though the club insists it's "100% accurate."
FJ clues about Groundhog Day test Punxsutawney Phil facts and the Pennsylvania connection. The 1993 Bill Murray film reinforced the holiday's cultural presence.
Earth Day
April 22, first celebrated in 1970. Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin founded it after witnessing the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. The date was chosen partly because it fell between spring break and final exams, maximizing student participation. The 20th anniversary in 1990 went global, with 200 million participants in 141 countries.
Arbor Day
A perfect gimme with 13 appearances, including FJ. The last Friday in April (nationally), it was created in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska. Morton proposed it to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture, and an estimated one million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day. The holiday's date varies by state: Florida and Louisiana observe it in January (because trees are best planted in winter there), while Maine and Alaska observe it in May.
The FJ clue (2019) tested the state-by-state variation: "Created in the U.S. in 1872, this holiday is observed in FL & LA in January and in ME & AK in May." That level of detail (knowing which states observe it in which months) is a classic FJ knowledge test.
Other Seasonal Observances
April Fools' Day (~3 clues), April 1. Some historians trace it to France's adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1564, when those who continued celebrating New Year's in late March/early April were called "April fools."
Groundhog Day, Candlemas, and Imbolc, February 2 is a triple overlap: the secular American Groundhog Day, the Christian Candlemas (feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary), and the Celtic Imbolc (marking the midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox). Jeopardy has tested all three.
Months & Calendar
A significant portion of the Holidays topic (especially under categories like MONTHS and ON THE CALENDAR) asks for month names as answers rather than specific holidays. These clues are often harder than they appear.
February
The most frequently tested month name. Key facts: the shortest month (28 days, 29 in leap years), named after the Roman festival of Februa (purification). Presidents' Day, Valentine's Day, and Groundhog Day all fall in February. Black History Month is observed in February. The amethyst is the birthstone. Clues typically stack multiple February events and ask "what month?"
September
A gimme when it appears. Labor Day falls on the first Monday. The autumnal equinox occurs around September 22-23. The sapphire is the birthstone. "Back to school" associations are common clue hooks. The word comes from Latin septem (seven); it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar.
May
Another perfect-score month. Mother's Day (second Sunday), Memorial Day (last Monday), and Cinco de Mayo (May 5) are the big holidays. Named for Maia, the Roman goddess of growth. The emerald is the birthstone. Kentucky Derby is traditionally the first Saturday in May.
July
Named after Julius Caesar. Independence Day (July 4) and Bastille Day (July 14) are the anchor holidays. The ruby is the birthstone. Canada Day falls on July 1.
April
T.S. Eliot called it "the cruellest month" in The Waste Land, a frequent clue hook. Easter often falls in April. Earth Day (April 22), Arbor Day (last Friday), and April Fools' Day (April 1) are all April events. The diamond is the birthstone.
An FJ clue (2001) asked about April as "the second-shortest month, beating the third-shortest by one hour." The trick: April has 30 days but is shorter than October (also 30 days) by one hour because of the spring-forward Daylight Saving Time change in March/April. That's an extraordinarily clever FJ clue.
June
A moderate stumper at 72.7% correct. Father's Day (third Sunday) and Flag Day (June 14) are the main holidays. Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, hence the tradition of June weddings. Summer solstice falls around June 20-21. The pearl and alexandrite are birthstones.
Watch out: June's 27.3% wrong rate comes from clues that describe it indirectly, through the Juno/marriage connection, the solstice, or the combination of Father's Day and Flag Day. Contestants sometimes guess "May" or "July" when the month-identification clue is vague.
November
The hardest month-as-answer, with a 45.5% wrong rate. Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday), and Election Day (first Tuesday after the first Monday) all fall in November. Guy Fawkes Day (November 5) is sometimes the hook. The topaz is the birthstone. The name comes from Latin novem (nine); it was the ninth month in the old Roman calendar.
Watch out: November is the single biggest stumper in the entire Holidays topic. With Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Election Day, and Guy Fawkes Day all crammed into one month, clues can describe any combination and the contestant must synthesize them into "November." The 45.5% wrong rate is the highest for any answer with 6+ clues.
December
Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Eve all fall in December. Pearl Harbor Day (December 7) is also tested. The name comes from Latin decem (ten). The turquoise and tanzanite are birthstones. The winter solstice falls around December 21-22.
October
Halloween (October 31) is the anchor, but Columbus Day (second Monday) and Canadian Thanksgiving (second Monday) also appear. The opal is the birthstone. From Latin octo (eight). October clues sometimes describe Oktoberfest (which actually starts in September and ends in early October).
January
New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday), and Inauguration Day (January 20, every four years) are the main holidays. Named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings and endings. The garnet is the birthstone.
August
A small sample but a major stumper at 33.3% correct. Named after Augustus Caesar. No major U.S. federal holidays fall in August, which paradoxically makes it harder to identify, clues must describe it through other means (birthstone peridot, zodiac signs Leo and Virgo, or "the month after July"). The lack of holiday anchors is exactly what makes it difficult.
Final Jeopardy & Study Patterns
The Numbers
Holidays has 59 Final Jeopardy appearances across the show's history, giving it a 3.2% FJ ratio within its own clue pool. While that's lower than some topics, 59 FJ clues is still a substantial number, enough to identify clear patterns.
Key FJ Answers and Themes
Columbus Day (FJ 2008), "The least observed federal holiday by the private sector." This tests awareness of Columbus Day's unique status among federal holidays, it's the one most likely to be a regular workday.
Arbor Day (FJ 2019), "Created in the U.S. in 1872, this holiday is observed in FL & LA in January and in ME & AK in May." The state-by-state variation is the FJ-level detail. Knowing that southern states plant trees earlier and northern states later is the key insight.
April (FJ 2001), "The second-shortest month, beating the third-shortest by one hour." This is one of the cleverest FJ clues in the topic. April (30 days) is shorter than October (30 days) by exactly one hour because Daylight Saving Time's spring-forward occurs in March/April. The clue rewards contestants who think about time changes, not just day counts.
Veterans Day (FJ), "On Nov. 11, 1953, in Emporia, Kansas, first observed under its current name." The Emporia, Kansas detail and the 1953 date (Congress changed the name from Armistice Day in 1954, but the first local observance under the new name was in 1953) are precise FJ-level knowledge.
Thanksgiving (FJ), Presidential proclamation facts: Lincoln's 1863 proclamation, FDR's controversial 1939 date change ("Franksgiving"), and Sarah Josepha Hale's 17-year letter-writing campaign.
Groundhog Day (FJ), Punxsutawney Phil details: the Pennsylvania location, the German Candlemas roots, Phil's dubious accuracy record.
Guy Fawkes Day (FJ, 40% wrong), "Remember, remember, the 5th of November." A major FJ stumper. The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, the attempt to destroy Parliament, and the rhyme tradition.
Happy Days (FJ), "Premiered in 1974, used a 1955 No. 1 hit as its opening song." This appeared in a holiday-adjacent category. The answer refers to the TV show, which used "Rock Around the Clock" by Bill Haley & His Comets.
FJ Theme 1: Historical Origins
The most common FJ pattern for Holidays is testing the precise historical origin of a holiday:
- Memorial Day: Decoration Day, General Logan's 1868 order, Civil War grave decoration
- Veterans Day: Armistice Day renamed in 1954, Emporia Kansas connection
- Arbor Day: J. Sterling Morton, 1872, Nebraska, state-by-state variation
- Thanksgiving: Lincoln's 1863 proclamation, Hale's campaign, FDR's date change
- Columbus Day: Least observed federal holiday by private sector
When an FJ clue in this topic gives a specific year and location, it's testing whether you know the founding story of a holiday.
FJ Theme 2: Calendar Tricks
A second FJ pattern exploits calendar knowledge:
- April: Second-shortest month by one hour (DST)
- November: Stacking of Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Election Day, Guy Fawkes Day
- Arbor Day: State-by-state date variation based on planting season
These clues reward contestants who think about why dates fall where they do, not just memorizing them.
The Stumper Reference
| Answer | Clues | Wrong % | What trips contestants up |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | 6 | 45.5% | Too many holidays in one month; indirect descriptions |
| Pennsylvania | ~3 | 40% | Punxsutawney/Groundhog Day geography |
| Guy Fawkes Day | ~3 | 40% | Gunpowder Plot and "5th of November" rhyme |
| Florence Nightingale | ~3 | 33.3% | International Nurses Day (May 12, her birthday) |
| Father's Day | 6 | 33.3% | Sonora Smart Dodd, 1910 Spokane, 1972 federal status |
| August | 3 | 33.3% | No major holidays; hard to identify by elimination |
| Flag Day | 10 | 30.0% | June 14; not a federal holiday; Continental Congress 1777 |
| Veterans Day | 13 | 28.6% | Confusion with Memorial Day; Armistice Day origin |
| Thanksgiving | 8 | 28.6% | Presidential proclamation details; Canadian date |
| Pentecost | 6 | 28.6% | 50 days after Easter; tongues of fire; Whitsunday |
| December | 7 | 28.6% | Multiple holidays stacked; Pearl Harbor Day hook |
| October | ~4 | 27.3% | Halloween anchor but indirect clue descriptions |
| June | 10 | 27.3% | Juno/marriage connection; Father's Day + Flag Day |
| Memorial Day | 16 | 26.3% | Decoration Day origin; confusion with Veterans Day |
| Yom Kippur | 7 | 22.2% | Day of Atonement translation; 1973 war |
| Valentine's Day | 9 | 22.2% | Chaucer connection; Lupercalia roots |
| Easter | 14 | 21.4% | Pasqueflower etymology; date calculation; Egg Salad Week |
Study Strategy
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Master the Federal Holiday facts. Memorial Day (Decoration Day, Logan, 1868), Veterans Day (Armistice Day, 1954), Columbus Day (least observed), Flag Day (June 14, not federal). These are the highest-frequency, highest-stumper-rate answers.
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Learn the month associations. Month names as answers account for a large portion of the topic. For each month, know which holidays fall in it and at least one non-holiday fact (birthstone, etymology, zodiac). November (45.5% wrong) and June (27.3% wrong) are the biggest month stumpers.
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Know the religious holidays' key details. Ramadan (ninth month, iftar, Eid al-Fitr), Passover (Exodus, Seder, matzoh), Pentecost (50 days, tongues of fire), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, Tishrei 10). These are frequently tested and the details matter for higher-value clues.
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Distinguish Memorial Day from Veterans Day. This is the single most important distinction in the topic. Memorial Day = those who died, last Monday in May, Decoration Day origin. Veterans Day = all who served, November 11 (fixed date), Armistice Day origin.
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Study the FJ origin stories. Arbor Day's state-by-state variation, Veterans Day's Emporia Kansas connection, Thanksgiving's Sarah Josepha Hale campaign, April's DST trick. FJ clues in this topic always go deeper than "name the holiday" they test the story behind the holiday.
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Don't neglect the world holidays. Guy Fawkes Day (40% wrong at FJ level), Bastille Day (gimme but know the Tahiti detail), Cinco de Mayo (know it's not Mexican Independence Day), Diwali (know the Lakshmi connection). International holidays appear regularly and reward broad cultural literacy.
- Halloween 23x
- Labor Day 22x
- February 22x
- December 19x
- April 19x
- Memorial Day 18x
- Ash Wednesday 18x
- May 17x
- the third Sunday in June 17x
- Good Friday 17x
- Oregon 66.7%
- Maryland 66.7%
- Fidel Castro 66.7%
- Purim 50.0%
- Kris Kringle 50.0%
| Answer | Clues | Stumper | Avg $ | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Halloween | 23 | 9.1% | $523 | |
| 02 | Labor Day | 22 | 4.8% | $429 | |
| 03 | February | 22 | 13.6% | $564 | |
| 04 | December | 19 | 15.8% | $553 | |
| 05 | April | 19 | 11.1% | $500 | |
| 06 | Ash Wednesday | 19 | 11.8% | $694 | |
| 07 | Memorial Day | 18 | 11.1% | $339 | |
| 08 | May | 17 | 17.6% | $641 | |
| 09 | the third Sunday in June | 17 | 17.6% | $576 | |
| 10 | Good Friday | 17 | 6.2% | $600 | |
| 11 | September | 16 | 12.5% | $662 | |
| 12 | Veterans Day | 15 | 7.7% | $692 | |
| 13 | Thanksgiving | 15 | 30.8% | $454 | |
| 14 | October | 15 | 6.7% | $600 | |
| 15 | Easter | 15 | 14.3% | $471 | |
| 16 | Columbus Day | 15 | 8.3% | $583 | |
| 17 | November | 14 | 0.0% | $707 | |
| 18 | July | 14 | 21.4% | $579 | |
| 19 | Bastille Day | 14 | 0.0% | $779 | |
| 20 | Arbor Day | 14 | 16.7% | $608 |