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Public holidays in the United States

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Holidays of the United States vary with local observance. Strictly speaking, the United States does not have national holidays. The federal government recognizes ten annual and one quadrennial holiday for its employees. The annual federal holidays are widely observed by state and local governments, however they may alter the dates of observance or add or subtract holidays according to local custom. Pursuant to the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 (taking effect in 1971), most official holidays are observed on the Monday closest to the actual date of the holiday, except for New Year's Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, American Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There are also U.S. state holidays particular to individual U.S. states.

In the U.S., most retailers also close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, while they are open all other holidays. Larger private businesses tend to observe most of the ten federal holidays, and the day after Thanksgiving. Smaller businesses often observe only the "big six" holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).

Most American holidays recognize events or people from U.S. history, although two are shared in common with many other countries: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. These two and three more are shared with Canada, namely Labor Day/Labour Day, Veterans Day/Remembrance Day, and Thanksgiving. The latter falls on different days: In Canada it's the second Monday in October (Columbus Day in the USA), while in the US, it's on the fourth Thursday in November.

New Year's Day celebration begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year.


The holiday season, commonly said to run between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day and often encompassing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa is generally celebrated as a nonsectarian winter holiday.

Many observances and special days are declared by the President. See List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation.

There are many annual observances in the United States (some of which are listed below) that are not celebrated by the rest of the world.

Federal holidays

Main article: Federal holidays

Federal holidays are designated by Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103).[1] If a holiday falls on a Saturday it is celebrated the preceding Friday; if a holiday falls on a Sunday it is celebrated the following Monday.

Date Official Name Remarks
January 1 New Year's Day Celebrates beginning of year, marks traditional end of "holiday season"
January, third Monday Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., or Martin Luther King Day Honors Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader; combined with other holidays in several states (traditionally January 15)
January 20, every fourth year, following Presidential election Inauguration Day Observed only by federal government employees in Washington D.C., and the border counties of Maryland and Virginia, in order to relieve congestion that occurs with this major event. Swearing-in of President of the United States and other elected federal officials. Celebrated every fourth year. Note: Takes place on January 21 if the 20th is a Sunday (although the President is still privately inaugurated on the 20th).
February, third Monday Washington's Birthday, or Presidents' Day Honors Washington, but also Lincoln and other past American Presidents as "Presidents' Day." (traditionally February 22)
May, last Monday Memorial Day Honors the nation's war dead; marks traditional beginning of summer. (traditionally May 30)
July 4 Independence Day Celebrates Declaration of Independence, usually called the Fourth of July.
September, first Monday Labor Day Celebrate achievements of workers and the labor movement, marks traditional end of summer.
October, second Monday Columbus Day Honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discover of the Americas. In some areas it is also a celebration of Italian culture and heritage. (traditionally October 12)
November 11 Veterans Day Honors all veterans of the United States armed forces. A traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those who fought for peace.
November, fourth Thursday Thanksgiving Day Traditionally celebrates the giving of thanks to God (or other) for the autumn harvest, traditionally includes the consumption of a turkey dinner. (Note: Thanksgiving is not celebrated on the same day as it is in Canada.)
December 25 Christmas Day Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus which (traditionally) took place 25 December 1 BC. Secular aspects of this holiday include giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree.

Patriotic and national observances

Main article: List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation

Other holidays observed nationwide

In addition to the official holidays, many religious, ethnic, and other traditional holidays populate the calendar, as well as observances proclaimed by officials and lighter celebrations. These are rarely observed by businesses as holidays; indeed, many are viewed as opportunities for commercial promotion. Because of this commercialization, some critics apply the depreciative term Hallmark holiday to such days, after the Hallmark greeting card company.

Date Name Remarks
winter, date varies Chinese New Year The start of the new year in the lunar calendar, often associated with China or other Asian nations and a time to celebrate their cultures.
late winter, date varies Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday A festive season leading up to Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Closes with Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays), which starts the season of Lent in the Christian calendar.
January 7 Christmas (Orthodox) Christmas Day as celebrated in the Orthodox tradition.
February 2 Groundhog Day Prediction from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania groundhog on whether country will have six more weeks of winter.
February 14 Valentine's Day Traditional celebration of love and romance, including the exchange of cards, candy, flowers, and other gifts.
March 17 St. Patrick's Day A celebration of Irish heritage and culture, based on the Catholic feast of St. Patrick. Primary activity is simply the wearing of green clothing ("wearing o' the green"), although drinking beer dyed green is also popular.
March 22 World Water Day A day to promote awareness of water.
April 1 April Fool's Day A day to play tricks on family, friends, and coworkers, if so inclined.
Date varies (14 April for 2006) Good Friday Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by Pontius Pilate, believed by Christians to have taken place (traditionally) on 3 April 33 AD. Sometimes celebrated as a "Spring holiday" for Universities and schools in certain states.
Spring Sunday, date varies Easter Celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On the next day, Easter Monday, the President of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn for young children. The holiday is also often celebrated as a nonsectarian spring holiday. Not generally observed by most businesses. Some financial markets and other businesses close on the Friday prior, Good Friday (which is a state holiday in many states). Roman Catholic and Protestant groups celebrate Easter on a different Sunday (most years) than Orthodox groups.
Last Wednesday of April Administrative Professionals Day A day for honoring secretaries and other administrative personnel, formerly Secretary's Day.
April 22, date varies Earth Day A day used to promote environmentalism.
Spring, date varies Arbor Day A day for the planting of trees, commonly the last Friday of April but depending on the climate of the state.
May 5 Cinco de Mayo Primarily a celebration of Mexican culture by Mexican-Americans living in the United States. Although this is the anniversary of the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, Cinco de Mayo is far more important in the USA than in Mexico itself.
May, second Sunday Mother's Day Honors mothers and motherhood (made a "Federal Holiday" by Presidential order, although Federal offices are already closed on Sundays)
May, third Saturday Armed Forces Day Celebrates the United States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps; formerly, each had separate days.
June 8 World Ocean Day A day to promote awareness of the world's Oceans and Seas.
June 14 Flag Day Honors the American flag, encourages citizens to fly the flag and study its traditions.
June 19 Juneteenth Primarily an African American holiday, honors the end of slavery in the United States.
June, third Sunday Father's Day Honors fathers and fatherhood.
July, last Friday of the month System Administrator Appreciation Day Honors system administrators. http://www.sysadminday.com/
depends on Hebrew calendar Rosh Hashanah Traditional beginning of the Jewish High Holidays. It is also celebrates the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar.
depends on Hebrew calendar Yom Kippur Traditional end of and highest of the Jewish High Holidays.
September, first Sunday after Labor Day Grandparents Day Honors grandparents.
October 9 Leif Erikson Day Honors the first European explorer known to have set foot on North America.
October 31 Halloween Celebrates All Hallow's Eve, decorations include jack o'lanterns, costume wearing parties, and candy such as candy corn are also part of the holiday. Kids go trick-or-treating to neighbors who give away candy. Not generally observed by businesses.
first Tuesday after the first Monday in November Election Day Observed by the federal and state governments in applicable years; legal holiday in some states.
Saturday that follows November 9 Sadie Hawkins Day This was a day when women would ask men for dates, usually to a dance or other social, breaking with tradition. Named for the character "Sadie Hawkins" from the long-running comic strip Li'l Abner.
December 26 through January 1 Kwanzaa African American holiday celebration invented in California by a college professor

State holidays

Insular area holidays

Main article: Holidays in Puerto Rico
  • Puerto Rico: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico day, July 25 (In Spanish: 25 de Julio, Conmemoración del ELA, or Conmemoración del Estado Libre Asociado)

Southern holidays

May or may not be legal holidays, depending on state law.

See also: Lee-Jackson-King day

Other holidays locally observed

Non-holiday notable days

  • Super Tuesday (political event, variable)
  • Super Bowl Sunday (sports event; originally the last Sunday in January, it has now moved to the first Sunday in February)
  • Tax Freedom Day (day in which an average citizen is said to have worked enough to pay his or her taxes for the year, used by opponents of taxation)
  • Tax Day (federal and state tax deadline, April 15 or if on weekend or holiday, next closest Monday)
  • Oktoberfest (celebrated most often in areas with contemporary or historic populations of German heritage)
  • Black Friday (shopping) (the day after Thanksgiving: considered to be the first shopping day of the Christmas season)



See also

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