Seward’s Day is observed in Alaska on the last Monday of March to commemorate the signing of the Alaska Purchase treaty on March 30, 1867, between U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward and Russian diplomat Eduard de Stoekl. This legal holiday allows many Alaskans to enjoy a day off work or school, with celebratory events held across various cities and towns in the state. The holiday honors Seward's role in negotiating the purchase of Alaska from Russia, which was motivated by the declining fur trade and the costs of maintaining the remote colony. The treaty was ratified in May 1867, with an official ceremony taking place in Sitka later that year. It is important to note that Seward’s Day should not be confused with Alaska Day, which marks the formal transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States.