FLORIDA

State of Florida

ORIGIN OF STATE NAME: Named in 1513 by Juan Ponce de León, who landed during Pascua Florida, the Easter festival of flowers. NICKNAME: The Sunshine State. CAPITAL: Tallahassee. ENTERED UNION: 3 March 1845 (27th). SONG: "Old Folks at Home" (also known as "The Swannee River"). MOTTO: In God We Trust. FLAG: The state seal appears in the center of a white field, with four red bars extending from the seal to each corner; the flag is fringed on three sides. OFFICIAL SEAL: In the background, the sun's rays shine over a distant highland; in the foreground are a sabal palmetto palm, a steamboat, and an Indian woman scattering flowers on the ground. The words "Great Seal of the State of Florida" and the state motto surround the whole. ANIMAL: Florida panther. MARINE MAMMALS: Manatee, dolphin (saltwater). BIRD: Mockingbird. FISH: Largemouth bass (freshwater), Atlantic sailfish (saltwater). FLOWER: Orange blossom. TREE: Sabal palmetto palm. GEM: Moonstone. STONE: Agatized coral. SHELL: Horse conch. BEVERAGE: Orange juice. LEGAL HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Robert E. Lee's Birthday, 19 January; Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., 3rd Monday in January; Lincoln's Birthday, 12 February; Susan B. Anthony's Birthday, 15 February; Washington's Birthday, 3rd Monday in February; Shrove Tuesday, February or March; Good Friday, March or April; Pascua Florida Day, 2 April; Confederate Memorial Day, 26 April; Memorial Day, last Monday in May; Jefferson Davis's Birthday, 3 June; Independence Day, 4 July; Labor Day, 1st Monday in September; Columbus Day and Farmers' Day, 2nd Monday in October; General Election Day, 1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November in even-numbered years; Veterans Day, 11 November; Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November; Christmas Day, 25 December. TIME: 7 AM EST = noon GMT; 6 AM CST = noon GMT.