Pioneer Day
Pioneer Day | |
---|---|
Observed by | Utah, United States |
Significance | commemorates the first entry of Brigham Young and a group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 |
Celebrations | parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities |
Date | July 24 |
Next time | July 24, 2024 |
Frequency | annual |
Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the
In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).[8][9] On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart.[10] Latter-day Saints throughout the United States[11][12] and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Church's pioneer era, with songs, dances, potlucks, and pioneer related activities.[13][14]
While the holiday has strong links to the LDS Church, it is officially a celebration for everyone, regardless of faith and nationality, who immigrated to the
History
The earliest precursor to Pioneer Day celebrations in Utah occurred on July 24, 1849,[19] when the Nauvoo Brass Band led a commemoration of the second anniversary of the Latter-day Saints entering the Salt Lake Valley.[20]
The celebration of Pioneer Day in 1857 was interrupted with news of the approach of
In the years that followed, federal enforcement efforts of anti-
The centennial in 1947 and the sesquicentennial in 1997 were especially large celebrations in Utah. One writer indicated that the 1947 celebrations seemed to incorporate the entire year, with July 24 only being an apex to the events.[23]
The holiday generates a great deal of road traffic; Utah Department of Public Safety statistics states Pioneer Day has the second highest holiday traffic fatality rate in Utah, with the earlier July 4 Independence Day having the highest rate.[24]
The holiday has received criticism for its lack of inclusiveness for non-Mormons.[25] As a result, a small, growing contingent has started celebrating Pie and Beer Day instead of the traditional Pioneer Day.[26] Pie and Beer day is a play on words: "pie and beer" sounds like "pioneer." Pie and Beer Day was created as a counter culture alternative.[27][28]
See also
- Days of '47 Parade, part of Salt Lake City's celebration of Pioneer Day
- Mormon folklore: Pioneer Day
- This Is the Place Heritage Park
- This is the Place Monument
- Utah…This Is The Place
Notes
- ^ a b Utah Code 63G-1-301 (Legal holidays), Utah State Legislature, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Packard, David (July 15, 2009), "Pioneer Day in Pocatello, Idaho", Church News, LDS Church, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Tanner, Eliza (September 1995), "Safe from the Storms", Ensign, LDS Church
- Salt Lake Tribune, Mormon Trail Series, Article ID: 100F84BB82E32C16. Reprinted Archived September 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machinewith permission at Utah History to Go.
- ^ Sanford, Melissa (April 8, 2004). "Illinois Tells Mormons It Regrets Expulsion". The New York Times.
- ^ "Today in History: July 24", American Memory, Library of Congress, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Kofesh, Jessica (July 22, 2017), "Pioneer Day 2017: What's closed, open around Northern Utah", Standard-Examiner, Ogden, Utah, archived from the original on July 24, 2018, retrieved July 24, 2017
- ^ Hinckley, Gordon B. (October 2001), "Remarks at Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert", Ensign, LDS Church
- ^ Reynolds, Sydney Smith (June 1989), "They Belong to Us All", Liahona, LDS Church
- ^ "Mormons Celebrate Their Pioneer Heritage", Newsroom, LDS Church, July 23, 2009, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ McGrath, Rachel (July 26, 2009), "Mormons in Camarillo mark pioneers' Utah arrival in 1847", Ventura County Star, Camarillo, California, archived from the original on August 6, 2012
- ^ Rohrer, Grey (July 20, 2009), "Pioneer Days celebrate western migration", Cape Coral Daily Breeze, Cape Coral, Florida, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Gaunt, LaRene Porter (April 2005), "Celebrate!", Ensign, LDS Church
- S2CID 26050131
- Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the originalon June 15, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
- OCLC 56347804
- ^ Mayorga, Carlos (July 20, 2008), "Powwow honors Indian culture", The Salt Lake Tribune, pp. D3, retrieved August 5, 2013. Archive Article ID: 9925806
- ^ Wharton, Tom (July 26, 2011), "American Indians celebrate culture at Liberty Park", The Salt Lake Tribune, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Olsen, Steven L. (1996), "Celebrating Cultural Identity: Pioneer Day in Nineteenth-Century Mormonism", BYU Studies, 36 (1): 159–177, archived from the original on May 29, 2014, retrieved May 28, 2014
- ^ Purdy, William E. (July 1980), "They Marched Their Way West: The Nauvoo Brass Band", Ensign, LDS Church.
- ^ "The First Statewide Pioneer Day Celebration", Markers and Monuments Database, Utah Division of State History, Utah Department of Heritage & Arts, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ a b c d e f "Pioneer Day", Utah History Encyclopedia, University of Utah Press, 1994, archived from the original on October 21, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Haddock, Marc (July 20, 2009), "Celebrating Pioneer Day in 1947", Deseret News, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Holiday Deaths (Utah 1999–2008) (PDF), Utah Department of Public Safety, archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013, retrieved August 5, 2013
- ^ Means, Sean P. (July 23, 2015), "Pioneer Day should reflect all of Utah's people", The Salt Lake Tribune, archived from the original on July 24, 2015
- ^ Stephenson, Kathy (July 24, 2015). "Pie and Beer Day an alternative to Utah's traditional Mormon holiday". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- Money.com. Archivedfrom the original on May 27, 2022.
- New York Times.
External links
- Media related to Pioneer Day (Utah) at Wikimedia Commons