July 24th is celebrated in Utah as Pioneer Day and is to commemorate when the first Mormon pioneers officially entered Salt Lake Valley [3] on July 24th, 1847.
The trek has been called the greatest human migration in American history. By 1869, nearly 70,000 Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), also called Mormons, had walked or wagoned across 1,300 miles. In their path, they left another 6,000 in shallow graves along the way - those who died at the hands of cold, hunger, sickness and some by the hands of those that forced them from their homes in more Eastern states. The day that the main party entered the Salt Lake Valley, declared by their leader at the time (Brigham Young) as "the place", became a time to celebrate.
Many years, a commemorative"journey" is held along parts of the trail that the Mormons followed. In 1997, the 150th Anniversary, groups of volunteers walked segments of the entire trail, with the last group finishing in Salt Lake City.
First officially celebrated in 1849, it has been known as Covered Wagon Days, Days of '47 and simply July 24th. Today, the Days of '47 parade and events [4] are some of the holidays largest activities. Besides the parade, there are breakfasts, dinners, concerts, art shows, rodeos and more. Local community events take place all over the state, with the larger ones being located near the capital of Salt Lake City and Ogden [5].
The celebration now includes the third largest parade in the United States. 2005 will be the158th anniversary of when the Mormons entered Salt Lake Valley.
The holiday has grown into one of the largest regional celebrations in the United States, and because of its origins with Mormon pioneers, it is annually commemorated throughout Mormon culture world-wide.
And for those that wish there were more holidays like Independence day (July 4th), Pioneer Day is traditionally celebrated with fireworks - both in the local neighborhoods, and large-scale stadium and city displays much like the 4th.
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