<P> The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from `` Decoration Day '' to `` Memorial Day , '' which was first used in 1882 . Memorial Day did not become the more common name until after World War II , and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 . On June 28 , 1968 , Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act , which moved four holidays , including Memorial Day , from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three - day weekend . The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May . The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply , all 50 states adopted Congress ' change of date within a few years . </P>
<P> The preferred name for the holiday gradually changed from `` Decoration Day '' to `` Memorial Day , '' which was first used in 1882 . Memorial Day did not become the more common name until after World War II , and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 . On June 28 , 1968 , Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act , which moved four holidays , including Memorial Day , from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three - day weekend . The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May . The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply , all 50 states adopted Congress ' change of date within a few years . </P>
when did memorial day become a monday holiday
when did memorial day become a monday holiday
1971
1971