Holidays & Events Reference Page

It has been speculated — both online and by investigators — that some crimes, such as the "Astrological Murders" and those of the Zodiac, may have been influenced — intentionally or not — by any of the following: holidays, days of the week, lunar phases, solar and astronomical events, religious celebrations, and, yes, zodiac signs. I do not have an opinion on the validity of these theories, but I do think they're interesting. Because of this, I am providing this information as a reference to perhaps aid in finding a pattern, if there is one to be found.

Fixed Federal at time of 1970s

• New Years Day: January 1st 
• Independence Day: July 4th  
• Veterans Day: November 11th
• The above date of Veterans Day applies to all years except for 1971-1977. For those, see "Moving Federal Holidays" below.
• Christmas: December 25th 

Moving Federal at time of 1970s

• Presidents Day   (sources 1, 2, 3)
• Known as Washington's Birthday and celebrated on Feb. 22nd until 1970
• 1971 onward: third Monday in February 
• Feb. 15th:  1971, 1982 
• Feb. 16th:  1976, 1981
• Feb. 17th:  1975, 1986
• Feb. 18th:  1974, 1980, 1985
• Feb. 19th:  1973, 1979 
• Feb. 20th:  1978, 1984
• Feb. 21st:  1972, 1977, 1983

• Memorial Day   (source)
• Up to and including 1970: May 30th
• 1971 onward: Last Monday in May
• May 25th: 1981 
• May 26th: 1975, 1980
• May 27th: 1974, 1985
• May 28th: 1973, 1979, 1984
• May 29th: 1972, 1978
• May 30th: 1977, 1983
• May 31st: 1971, 1976, 1982

• Labor Day   (sources 1, 2)
• First Monday in September  
• Sept 1st:   1969, 1975, 1980
• Sept 2nd:  1963, 1968, 1974, 1985
• Sept 3rd:   1962, 1973, 1979, 1984
• Sept 4th:   1961, 1967, 1972, 1978
• Sept 5th:   1960, 1966, 1977, 1983
• Sept 6th:   1965, 1971, 1976, 1982
• Sept 7th:   1964, 1970, 1981

• Columbus Day   (source)
• 1937 to 1970: October 12th 
• Second Monday in October since 1971 
• Oct. 8th:   1973, 1979, 1984
• Oct. 9th:   1972, 1978
• Oct. 10th: 1977, 1983
• Oct. 11th: 1971, 1976, 1982
• Oct. 12th: 1981
• Oct. 13th: 1975, 1980
• Oct. 14th: 1974

• Veterans Day
• From 1971-1977, Veterans Day was observed on the fourth Monday in October. For the fixed date, see above (Nov. 11th).
• 1971: Monday, October 25
• 1972: Monday, October 23
• 1973: Monday, October 22
• 1974: Monday, October 28
• 1975: Monday, October 27
• 1976: Monday, October 25
• 1977: Monday, October 24 

• Thanksgiving   (source)
• Fourth Thursday in November 
• Nov. 22nd: 1962, 1973, 1979, 1984
• Nov. 23rd: 1961, 1967, 1972, 1978
• Nov. 24th: 1960, 1966, 1977, 1983
• Nov. 25th: 1965, 1971, 1976, 1982
• Nov. 26th: 1964, 1970, 1981
• Nov. 27th: 1969, 1975, 1980
• Nov. 28th: 1963, 1968, 1974, 1985

Fixed Common 

• Groundhog Day: February 2nd 
• Valentines Day: February 14th
• St Patrick's Day: March 17th
• April Fools Day: April 1st 
• Earth Day: April 22nd
• Since 1970; global
• Halloween: October 31st 
• New Years Eve: December 31st

Liturgical / Catholic / General Christian

• Epiphany (sometimes called Three Kings' Day):  January 6th  
• Ash Wednesday   (sources 1, 2) 
• Feb. 8th:    1967, 1978
• Feb. 11th:  1970 
• Feb. 12th:  1964, 1975
• Feb. 15th:  1961
• Feb. 16th:  1972, 1983
• Feb. 19th:  1969 
• Feb. 20th:  1980, 1985 
• Feb. 23rd:  1966, 1977 
• Feb. 24th:  1971, 1982
• Feb. 27th:  1963, 1974
• Feb. 28th:  1968, 1979
• March 2nd: 1960 
• March 3rd: 1965, 1976
• March 4th: 1981 
• March 7th: 1962, 1973, 1984 

• Holy Week
• Palm Sunday
• March 19th:  1967, 1978
• March 22nd: 1964, 1970 
• March 23rd:  1975 
• March 26th:  1961, 1972
• March 30th:  1969, 1980
• April 3rd:      1966, 1977
• April 4th:      1971 
• April 7th:      1963, 1968, 1974
• April 8th:      1979 
• April 10th:    1960
• April 11th:    1965, 1976
• April 15th:    1962, 1973

• Good Friday
• March 24th: 1967, 1978
• March 27th: 1964, 1970
• March 28th: 1975 
• March 31st: 1961, 1972
• April 4th:     1969, 1980
• April 8th:     1966, 1977
• April 9th:     1971 
• April 12th:   1963, 1968, 1974
• April 13th:   1979 
• April 15th:   1960
• April 16th:   1965, 1976
• April 20th:   1962, 1973

• Easter   (source 1, 2)
• March 26th: 1967, 1978
• March 29th: 1964, 1970
• March 30th: 1975 
• April 2nd:    1961, 1972
• April 6th:     1969, 1980
• April 10th:   1966, 1977
• April 11th:   1971 
• April 14th:   1963, 1968, 1974
• April 15th:   1979 
• April 17th:   1960
• April 18th:   1965, 1976
• April 22nd:  1962, 1973 

• Pentecost Sunday   (sources 1, 2) 
• May 14th:  1967, 1978
• May 17th:  1964, 1970
• May 18th:  1975 
• May 21st:  1961, 1972
• May 25th:  1969, 1980
• May 29th:  1966, 1977
• May 30th:  1971 
• June 2nd:  1963, 1968, 1974
• June 3rd:   1979 
• June 5th:   1960 
• June 6th:   1965, 1976
• June 10th: 1962, 1973 

• All Saints Day:   November 1st 
• All Souls' Day:   November 2nd     (Wikipedia)
• Christmas Eve:  December 24th 

Solar and Astronomical Events

• Spring equinox
• March 21st: 1959, 1963
• All other years 1956-1999 are March 20th (source)
• Summer solstice
• June 20th: 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996
• All other years 1950-1999 are June 21st  (source)
• Fall equinox
• Sept. 22nd:  1965, 1968-9, 1972-3, 1976-7, 1980-1
• Sept. 23rd:  1966-7, 1970-1, 1974-5, 1978-9, 1982-3    (source)
• Winter solstice
• Dec. 22nd:  1967, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983
• All other years 1964-1986 are Dec. 21st     (source)
• i.e. starting 1964, Winter solstice is on Dec. 22nd every four years
• Lunar eclipses
•  TBD 

• Solar eclipses  (source)
• Note #1: I am only including eclipses that were visible somewhere in North America. 
• Note #2: By "western states" I mean of the contiguous US, so not Alaska or Hawaii.  

• Global partial
• Not visible at all in US: N/A
• Partial visible somewhere in US
• Partial visible in western state(s)
• Tues., Sep. 20, 1960
• Thurs., Dec. 3, 1964 
• Tues., May 9, 1967 
• Fri., Dec. 13, 1974 
• Not visible at all in any western states
• Thurs., July 9, 1964
• Wed., July 21, 1971 
• Sun., May 11, 1975

• Global annular
• Not visible at all in US: N/A
• Partially visible somewhere in US
•  Partially visible in western state(s)
• Thurs., Sep. 11, 1969
• Mon., Dec. 24, 1973   (but not in CA, OR, or WA) 
• Not visible at all in any western states
• Tues., July 31, 1962
• Thurs., April 29, 1976
• Visible annular in parts of US: N/A

• Global total
• Not visible at all in the US
• Sun., Sep. 22, 1968
• Partially visible somewhere in US
• Partially visible in western states 
• Sun., Feb. 4, 1962
• Sun., May 30, 1965   (though only very slightly, in AZ and NM) 
• Wed., Oct. 12, 1977
•  Not visible at all in any western states
• Sat., Nov. 12, 1966
• Sat., June 30, 1973 
• Visible totality in parts of US
• Visible totality in western state(s)
• Mon., Feb. 26, 1979
• Total eclipse visible in OR, WA, ID, MT; partial in rest of western states (though very nearly total)
• Partially visible in western state(s)
• Sat., July 20, 1963
• Sat., March 7, 1970 
• Mon., July 10, 1972 
• Not visible at all in any western states: N/A

Zodiac Signs

• Aries:         March 21 - April 19
• Taurus:       April 20 - May 20
• Gemini:      May 21 - June 21
• Cancer:      June 22 - July 22
• Leo:           July 23 - August 22
• Virgo:         August 23 - September 22
• Libra:         September 23 - October 22
• Scorpio:      October 23 - November 21
• Sagittarius: November 22 - December 21
• Capricorn:   December 22 - January 19
• Aquarius:    January 20 - February 18
• Pisces:        February 19 - March 20

Other Events

• Inauguration Day     (source)
• 1961-1981: January 20th
• Aug. 9, 1974   (extraordinary inauguration of Gerald Ford) 
• Election Day: TBD