Unofficially, Memorial Day kicks off the summer season with barbecues and picnics.
Officially, it is a national day of remembrance in the United States for those who died while serving in the armed forces with parades and memorial services.
The patriotic tradition began in Waterloo, NY in 1866 but Memorial Day didn't become a federal holiday by law until 1967.
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However you celebrate the holiday, here are some interesting fun facts gathered by WalletHub about every aspect of Memorial Day.
A few highlights include 39% of Americans plan to travel for Memorial Day this year.Of those Americans, 89% of them plan to drive to their holiday destinations.On average, traffic accidents result in 50,500 injuries and 439 fatalities over Memorial Day weekend.
In addition, 62% of Americans plan on having barbecues this year while others plan to make the most of the ability to save up to 90% with Memorial Day weekend sales.
Click on the infographic below for more Memorial Day Weekend statistics.
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