In a rare event, Martin Luther King Jr. Day will align with Inauguration Day for the third time in the history of the United States.

This unusual overlap occurs on a Monday, when former President Donald Trump is set to take office for a second term, while President Joe Biden exits. Due to the calendar, these significant national observances won’t happen together again for another 28 years.

MLK Day, which celebrates the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., is always commemorated on the third Monday of January, close to his birthday on January 15.

On the other hand, presidential inaugurations have been fixed on January 20 since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency began in 1937. Historically, inaugurations happened in early March, which has changed due to improvements in vote certification and travel to Washington, D.C.

Here’s what you should know about this rare occurrence.

When Have Inauguration Day and MLK Day Coincided?

The only instances when MLK Day and Inauguration Day have overlapped prior to this year were during Bill Clinton’s second inauguration in 1997 and Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013.

When Will MLK Day and Inauguration Day Overlap Again?

After Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Inauguration Day will not occur together again until January 2053.

What Are the Dates for Inauguration Day and MLK Day?

Donald Trump’s inauguration is set for Monday, January 20, 2025, coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year.

What is the Purpose of a Presidential Inauguration?

The main goal of a presidential inauguration is to officially swear in the new president and vice president of the United States.

According to the National Archives, specific procedures are defined by the U.S. Constitution regarding the election and appointment of a new president.

“The Constitution stipulates that  the president-elect must take an oath to ‘preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States’ prior to assuming office,” explains the archives.

When Was MLK Day Created?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday in 1983, established for the third Monday of January, and has been officially recognized in all 50 states since 2000.

When Were Inaugurations Held in March?

Inauguration Day was celebrated on March 4 or 5 (if March 4 fell on a weekend) until the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1937, shifting it to January 20.

As stated by the White House Historical Association, the 20th Amendment is referred to as the “lame duck” amendment. Its author, Nebraska Sen. George Norris, aimed to address the “lame duck” period, which allowed a president who had lost an election to remain in power for several months without accountability to voters.

Norris argued that advancements in technology improved communication and travel efficiency, making it unnecessary for Congress members to have extended time to reach the capital for ceremonies.

The legislation Norris proposed in 1922 was rejected four times before finally gaining approval on his sixth attempt in 1932 and was ratified in January 1933.