The holidays listed below represent those federal holidays which are observed by the majority of states in the US.
"Federal holidays are designated by Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103). 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. Most, but not all states, and most, but not all private businesses also observe a Sunday holiday on the following Monday. It is less common, however, for a state or private business to observe a Saturday holiday on the preceding Friday. Some states and private businesses may observe it then, a few might observe it on Monday, and some might not observe the holiday at all in those years. In particular, banks that close on Saturdays do not observe a holiday when it falls on Saturday."
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The United States federal government designates
national holidays for federal employees only.
State and local governments generally observe these holidays as well as many State Holidays.
- New Year's Day: (January 1) Celebrates beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities include counting down to midnight (12:00 AM) on the preceding night, New Year's Eve. Traditional end of holiday season. (see traditional New Years food)
- Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday - This is a movable holiday. (third Monday in January) Honors Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader, who was actually born on January 15, 1929; combined with other holidays in several states.
- Inauguration Day - (January 20th, every fourth year, following the Presidential election). 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 Vice President of the United States. 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). If Inauguration Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the preceding Friday or following Monday is not a Federal Holiday.
- President's Day / Washington's Birthday- This is a movable holiday. (third Monday in February) Commemorates the birth of the first US President, George Washington. Now commonly called "President's Day" in honor of both President Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.
- Washington's Birthday was first declared a federal holiday by an 1879 act of Congress. The Uniform Holidays Act, 1968, shifted the date of the commemoration of Washington's Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Many people now refer to this holiday as "Presidents' Day" and consider it a day honoring all American presidents. However, neither the Uniform Holidays Act nor any subsequent law changed the name of the holiday from Washington's Birthday to Presidents' Day.
- Memorial Day: (observed) - This is a movable holiday. (last Monday in May). Honors the nation's war dead from the Civil War onwards; marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. (traditionally May 30, shifted by the Uniform Holidays Act 1968)
- Independence Day: - (July 4) Commonly called "the Fourth of July" or "July 4th". Celebrates America's Declaration of Independence. This holiday is usually spent outside grilling on the grill with family.
- Labor Day: - (first Monday in September) Celebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement; marks the unofficial end of the summer season..
- Columbus Day - (Second Monday in October). Honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discoverer of the Americas. In some areas it is also a celebration of Italian culture and heritage. (traditionally October 12); celebrated as American Indian Heritage Day and Fraternal Day in Alabama; celebrated as Native American Day in South Dakota. In Hawaii, it is celebrated as Discoverer's Day, though is not an official state holiday.
- Veteran's Day: - Honors all veterans of the United States armed forces. A traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those killed in war. (Commemorates the 1918 armistice, which began at "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.")
- Thanksgiving: - (Fourth Thursday in November) - Traditionally celebrates the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest. Traditionally includes the consumption of a turkey dinner Traditional start of the holiday season. (see traditional thanksgiving food) (Note: Thanksgiving is not celebrated on the same day in Canada).
- Christmas: - (December 25th) Celebrates the Nativity of Jesus. Some people consider aspects of this religious holiday, such as giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree, to be secular rather than explicitly Christian.
U.S Office of Personnel Management:
See Federal Holiday's and dates for 2008, 2009, 2010
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List of Holidays
Every country has a list of holidays and observances related to their religion, origin, and nation. Others may get a deep insight into the traditions and customs by examining a country?s holidays and celebrations. The United States is a country which does not have national holidays but has established a number of federal holidays. Every state in the United States has its own jurisdiction over the observance of these holidays.
New Years Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day, Veterans Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Inauguration Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, United States of America's Independence Day, Labor Day, Washington's Birthday, Columbus Day, Election Day, and Thanksgiving Day are among these federal holidays and celebrations of the United States.
The four federal holidays such as New Years Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day, and Veterans Day are celebrated by date. The federal holidays such as the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, and Washington's Birthday are set by a day of the week and month.
The United States of America's Independence Day is celebrated on 4th July. The Inauguration Day falls on January 20th and is observed every four years starting from 1965.
The Groundhog Day, Lincoln's Birthday, April Fools Day, Administrative Assistants' Day, Arbor Day, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Earth Day, Parents' Day, United Nations Day, and Halloween are other celebrations which are widely observed by the Americans.
Mardi Gras, also called Fat Tuesday, is a notable observance that occurs on the day prior to Ash Wednesday. It marks the end of the carnival season, which once began on Epiphany but is now usually celebrated the last three days before Lent. This event attracts thousands of local and international visitors to the New Orleans area.
St. Patrick's Day and Kwanza are some other religious and ethnic observances celebrated by the people of America.
If a federal holiday falls on a Sunday, it is usually celebrated on the following Monday. Likewise, if a holiday is on Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday.
This is mainly done for the ease of pay and leave benefits of the federal employees working in the United States.
Holidays provides detailed information on Holidays, Jewish Holidays, Mexican Holidays, Federal Holidays and more. Holidays is affiliated with Valentine's Day Gifts
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