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WISCONSIN IN 19587
them are clear except Thanksgiving. The law provides that it shall
be the day which either the Governor or the President shall pro-
claim. It has varied widely in the state, sometimes having been set
in December. For many years it was the last Thursday in Novem-
ber. It was moved ahead for 2 years in an effort to spread the time
between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This created a good deal of
confusion. In 1941 Congress passed a resolution making it the
fourth Thursday, which is also sometimes the last Thursday. The
pattern in recent years in Wisconsin has been to celebrate it on the
fourth Thursday. The statutes provide that whenever a holiday
falls on Sunday, the succeeding Monday shall be a holiday. The
effect of a legal holiday is only partially laid down by the statutes
which provides for the suspension of work by state employes on
certain holidays only and prohibits certain transactions on holidays.
  Other observances. Various observances other than legal holidays
are recognized in the statutes including Arbor and Bird Day, Citi-
zenship Day, Mother's Day, American Creed Day, Frances Willard
Day, Good Friday, Indian Rights Day, Leif Erickson Day. Among
those most closely related to the tradition of the state is Flag Day,
celebrated on June 14. This holiday was first celebrated in the
nation in 1885 in a one-room rural school in Ozaukee County in
which the late Dr. Bernard J. Cigrand was the teacher.
   Many celebrations in this state are associated with the national
origins of the people, the dominant industry, or a tradition. The
kermiss among the Belgians of Brown, Kewaune, and Door Counties;
the cranberry festival in Wood County; the cheese festival in Green
County; Swiss Day in New Glarus; and the William Tell pageant in
the same area are illustrations of these.
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