Monday, April 28 is a state holiday in Mississippi but the level of celebration will depend on your level of acknowledgement of its worthiness.
The last Monday in April each year is observed as Confederate Memorial Day, a state holiday in Mississippi. It is meant to honor the Confederate soldiers who died during the American Civil War. Alabama, South Carolina, and Texas also observe Confederate Memorial Day, although not all on the same day.
In Alabama and Florida, the observance is on the fourth Monday of April, in South Carolina it is always on May 10, and in Texas, the date is Jan. 19, also honoring Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee. Other Southern states may observe it but not as an official state holiday.
Southern women’s groups began holding memorials in the late 1860s and Mississippi officially adopted Confederate Memorial Day in the late 19th century. It remains on the state’s official calendar, and state offices often close. For instance, the state health department already declared it will close on Monday as well as county health departments because of the state holiday.
Observances typically include ceremonies at Confederate cemeteries, speeches, and flag displays—usually involving groups like the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
It is a source of ongoing controversy, with critics arguing it glorifies a pro-slavery rebellion, while supporters frame it as a tribute to ancestors.
Over the years, there have been debates about whether the state should continue observing it as a holiday. Efforts to remove or rename the holiday have faced political and cultural resistance, though discussions have intensified since 2020 amid broader national reckonings with Confederate symbols.
Meanwhile, legislative attempts to replace Confederate Memorial Day with Juneteenth have been introduced but have not advanced. State Senator Derrick T. Simmons has consistently proposed such changes, citing the 2021 redesign of the state flag, which removed the Confederate emblem, as a sign of progress.
In an editorial piece recently released, Simmons said the observance is racist and called for its elimination.
In the 2025 legislative session, Simmons and Sen. David Blount introduced Senate Bill 2588, written to remove Confederate Memorial Day and designate June 19 as Juneteenth Freedom Day. However, the bill died in committee without a vote.
Supporters of the holiday, such as members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, view it as a tribute to their ancestors’ sacrifices and Gov. Tate Reeves has continued to declare April as Confederate Heritage Month, a tradition dating back to 1993.
