National Freedom Day is celebrated in the United States annually on February 1st. On this day in 1865, US President Abraham Lincoln signed a congressional resolution to introduce the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution to abolish slavery.
The congressional resolution to introduce the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which abolished slavery, sounded like this: «Neither in the United States nor in any other place subject to their authority should there be slavery or forced labor, except in cases of punishment for a crime for which the perpetrator must be duly convicted».
This amendment was ratified on December 18, 1865, and National Freedom Day was first celebrated on February 1, 1942, although this holiday had not yet been officially established at that time.
Since then, it has become a tradition to lay a wreath at the Liberty Bell —, one of the symbols of independence and freedom in the United States. On June 30, 1948, President Harry Truman signed a document proclaiming the official celebration of National Freedom Day on February 1.
National Freedom Day is widely observed in all states, but is not a state day off. The wreath-laying ceremony at the Liberty Bell invariably takes place every year. Other activities include musical performances, theatrical performances, thematic lessons in schools, screenings of documentaries and feature films, literary readings — all united by the theme of freedom.