Texas Independence Day in United States

Texas Independence Day celebrates the adoption of the state’s independence declaration. It is an annual legal holiday in Texas, in the United States, on March 2. March 2 also marks Texas Flag Day and Sam Houston Day, although these are special observances rather than legal holidays.

Texas' flag, also known as the Lone Star flag, became the state's official flag in 1839. ©iStockphoto.com/Francisco Romero

What do people do?

Texas Independence Day celebrations are held in many cities and towns throughout the state. The day is celebrated by festivals that include children’s activities, re-enactments, band music, and chili cook-offs. Other activities include story-telling sessions about how Texas won its independence from Mexico and became a republic during the 19th century.

Some state government workers may choose to have a day off on Texas Independence Day as it is a partial staffing day. Many schools have classroom lessons and activities about the Texas Declaration of Independence during this time of the year.

Public life

Texas Independence Day is a partial staffing day in Texas however state offices are scheduled to be open on partial staffing holidays. They will not be closed on another day when designated holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday.  Those travelling to places where festivals and large-scale celebrations are held may need to check with the relevant authorities about traffic and parking conditions in these areas.

Background

Texas Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836. This event marked Texas’ independence from Mexico. Sixty delegates from all over Texas signed the declaration. Its language in many ways parallels the 1776 Declaration of Independence of the United States, which is observed on Independence Day, also known as “the fourth of July”.

The Republic of Texas was annexed to the US by joint resolution of the US Congress nine years after the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed.  The US Congress then admitted Texas as a constituent state of the Union on December 29, 1845. Texas Independence Day is an official holiday in Texas. Sam Houston Day is also observed on March 2, marking the birthday of the man who led the Texans to victory over Mexican troops at the battle of San Jacinto.

Symbols

Texas’ Lone Star flag became the state’s official flag on January 24, 1839. It consists of a rectangle with a width to length ratio of two to three featuring:

• A blue vertical stripe one-third the entire length of the flag wide, and two equal horizontal stripes, the upper stripe white, the lower red, each two-thirds the entire length of the flag long.
• A white, regular five-pointed star in the center of the blue stripe, oriented so that one point faces upward, and of such a size that the diameter of a circle passing through the five points of the star is equal to three-fourths the width of the blue stripe.

Texas has various symbols such as the Bluebonnet (state flower), the Northern Mockingbird (state bird), and the horned lizard (state reptile).

State historic sites include the Casa Navarro in San Antonio, Texas. It was the home of Tejano patriot Jose Antonio Navarro, who was influential in the fight for Texas’ independence. Another important site is the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte, Texas, which is built on the actual battleground where Texas won its independence from Mexico.

Note: The above-mentioned symbols and historic sites are only a few mentioned in this article. Texas has more symbols and historic sites throughout the state.

Texas Independence Day Observances

Related holidays

• San Jacinto Day ―Saturday, April 21, 2012
• Independence Day ―Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Other holidays in March 2012 in United States

• Self-injury Awareness Day ―Thursday, March 1, 2012
• St. David's Day ―Thursday, March 1, 2012
• Read Across America Day ―Friday, March 2, 2012
• Casimir Pulaski Day ―Monday, March 5, 2012
• Town Meeting Day Vermont ―Tuesday, March 6, 2012
• International Women's Day ―Thursday, March 8, 2012
• World Kidney Day ―Thursday, March 8, 2012
• Purim ―Thursday, March 8, 2012
• Daylight Saving Time starts ―Sunday, March 11, 2012
• Pi Day ―Wednesday, March 14, 2012
• Evacuation Day ―Friday, March 16, 2012
• St. Patrick's Day ―Saturday, March 17, 2012
• Evacuation Day ―Saturday, March 17, 2012
• March equinox ―Tuesday, March 20, 2012
• World Down Syndrome Day ―Wednesday, March 21, 2012
• International Day of Nowruz ―Wednesday, March 21, 2012
• World Poetry Day ―Wednesday, March 21, 2012
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ―Wednesday, March 21, 2012
• World Water Day ―Thursday, March 22, 2012
• World Meteorological Day ―Friday, March 23, 2012
• World Tuberculosis Day ―Saturday, March 24, 2012
• International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims ―Saturday, March 24, 2012
• International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members ―Sunday, March 25, 2012
• Maryland Day ―Sunday, March 25, 2012
• International Day of Remembrance of Slavery Victims and the Transatlantic Slave Trade ―Sunday, March 25, 2012
• Maryland Day ―Monday, March 26, 2012
• Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day ―Monday, March 26, 2012
• Seward's Day ―Monday, March 26, 2012
• César Chávez Day ―Saturday, March 31, 2012
• Earth Hour ―Saturday, March 31, 2012