Connecticut Still Observing Days of Prayer

States declaring an official day of prayer is a very old tradition in the USA. It is worth noting that the state of Connecticut is still following this practice. Connecticut State Library's Museum of Connecticut History has there hours posted here:

http://www.museumofcthistory.org/hours.asp

You can see they are closed on Good Friday, a Christian holiday. The asterisk beside that day directs you to this note:

"*The day designated by the Governor as a day of Fasting and Prayer..."

Fasting and prayer are not the exclusive property of the Christian religion, but they are generally thought of as religious practices (before you comment, I said "generally," not "exclusively").