Martin Luther King Jr Day is an annual federal American holiday observed on the third Monday of January each year. It celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr who was born on the 15th of January, 1929. It celebrates the life and achievements of this influential American civil rights leader. Some schools celebrate the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism. In recent years, Americans have been encouraged to give some of their time on this day as volunteers in citizen action groups.