Public holidays of 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 (i.e. days where all employees in America receive a day free from work and all business is halted). The federal government only recognizes national holidays that pertain to its own employees. There are eleven such holidays -- ten annual and one quadrennial holiday. 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, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There are also U.S. state holidays particular to individual U.S. states.
In the U.S., most retailers are closed 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 United States, it's on the fourth Thursday in November.
The holiday season, commonly said to run between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, which encompasses the Winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. Summer is traditionally considered to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
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[edit] 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 the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities include counting down to midnight (12:00 AM). |
| Third Monday in January | 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). This year's observance: 2007 - 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). If Inauguration Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the preceding Friday or following Monday is not a Federal Holiday |
| Third Monday in February | Washington's Birthday | Washington's Birthday was first declared a federal holiday by an 1879 act of Congress. The Monday Holiday Law, enacted in 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 Monday Holiday Law nor any subsequent law changed the name of the holiday from Washington's Birthday to Presidents' Day.[2] This year's observance: 2007 - February 19 |
| Last Monday in May | Memorial Day | Honors the nation's war dead; marks the unofficial beginning of summer. (traditionally May 30) |
| July 4 | Independence Day | Celebrates Declaration of Independence, usually called the Fourth of July. |
| First Monday in September | Labor Day | Celebrate the achievements of workers and the labor movement, marks the unofficial end of summer. |
| Second Monday in October | Columbus Day | 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;[1] celebrated as Native American Day in South Dakota.[2] |
| 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. (Commemorates the cease-fire in the 1918 armistice which was scheduled for "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.") |
| Fourth Thursday in November | Thanksgiving Day | Traditionally celebrates the giving of thanks to God 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. Some people consider aspects of this religious holiday, such as giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree, to be secular rather than explicitly Christian. |
- Federal Holidays Calendars from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
[edit] Federal observances
Federal observances differ from Federal holidays in that Federal employees only receive a day free from work on holidays, not observances. Federal observances that are designated by Congress appear in Title 36 of the United States Code (36 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.). Below is a list of all observances so designated. Note that not all of the below laws requires that the observance be declared, in some cases, such as 36 U.S.C. § 114, Congress simply requested the President to issue a proclamation of the observance.
The President may also declare Federal observances by presidential proclamation. Those observances are listed at the List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation.
[edit] Days
- 36 U.S.C. § 104 — Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day (First Saturday after Labor Day)
- 36 U.S.C. § 105 — Child Health Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 106 — Citizenship Day (September 17)
- 36 U.S.C. § 107 — Columbus Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 109 — Father's Day (Third Sunday in June)
- 36 U.S.C. § 110 — Flag Day (June 14)
- 36 U.S.C. § 111 — Gold Star Mother's Day (Last Sunday in September)
- 36 U.S.C. § 113 — Law Day, U.S.A. (May 1)
- 36 U.S.C. § 114 — Leif Erikson Day (October 9)
- 36 U.S.C. § 115 — Loyalty Day (May 1)
- 36 U.S.C. § 116 — Memorial Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 117 — Mother's Day (Second Sunday in May)
- 36 U.S.C. § 118 — National Aviation Day (August 19)
- 36 U.S.C. § 119 — National Day of Prayer (First Thursday in May)
- 36 U.S.C. § 120 — National Defense Transportation Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 124 — National Freedom Day (February 1)
- 36 U.S.C. § 125 — National Grandparents' Day (First Sunday after Labor Day)
- 36 U.S.C. § 127 — National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 128 — National Maritime Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 129 — National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)
- 36 U.S.C. § 134 — Pan American Aviation Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 135 — Parents' Day (Fourth Sunday in July)
- 36 U.S.C. § 136 — Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15)
- 36 U.S.C. § 140 — Stephen Foster Memorial Day
- 36 U.S.C. § 141 — Thomas Jefferson's birthday (April 13)
- 36 U.S.C. § 142 — White Cane Safety Day (October 15)
- 36 U.S.C. § 143 — Wright Brothers Day (December 17)
- 36 U.S.C. § 144 — Patriot Day (September 11)
[edit] Weeks
- 36 U.S.C. § 108 — Constitution Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 122 — National Flag Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 123 — National Forest Products Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 130 — National Poison Prevention Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 131 — National Safe Boating Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 132 — National School Lunch Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 133 — National Transportation Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 137 — Police Week
- 36 U.S.C. § 138 — Save Your Vision Week
[edit] Months
- 36 U.S.C. § 101 — American Heart Month (February)
- 36 U.S.C. § 102 — Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month (May)
- 36 U.S.C. § 103 — Cancer Control Month (April)
- 36 U.S.C. § 121 — National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
- 36 U.S.C. § 126 — National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15)
- 36 U.S.C. § 139 — Steelmark Month (May) — honors the steel industry
[edit] Other
[edit] 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 (Carnival) 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. |
| The month of February | Black History Month | Celebrating the contributions of Afro Americans (Black Americans) (U.S. Citizens descended from Africa) throughout U.S. History. |
| February 2 | Groundhog Day | Prediction from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania groundhog on whether the 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 Fools Day | A day to play tricks on family, friends, and coworkers, if so inclined. |
| Date varies (6 April for 2007) | 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 | 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 México itself. Additionally, this "holiday" is often mistaken by Americans as being Mexican Independence Day, which is actually observed on September 16. |
| second Sunday in May | 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 Marine Corps and Coast Guard; 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. |
| third Sunday in June | Father's Day | Honors fathers and fatherhood. |
| 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 | Columbus 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 created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga |
[edit] State holidays
- Alaska: Alaska Day, anniversary of transfer to U.S. control, October 18
- Alaska: Seward's Day, anniversary of purchase from Russia, March 27
- Arkansas: Daisy Gatson Bates Day, February 16, observed with Washington's Birthday
- California: César Chávez's birthday, March 31; also may be optionally observed in Colorado and Texas
- Colorado: Colorado Day August 1, 1876 Colorado became a state. This date is recognized/celebrated each year by state "Native" residents.
- Connecticut: Lincoln's Birthday, February 12
- Connecticut: Good Friday, date varies
- District of Columbia: Emancipation Day, April 16
- Florida: Pascua Florida Day, April 2
- Hawaii: Good Friday, date varies
- Hawaii: Kamehameha Day, June 11
- Hawaii: Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day, March 26
- Hawaii: Admission Day or Statehood Day, third Friday in August, August 18 in 2006
- Idaho: Idaho Human Rights Day, January 19
- Illinois: Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12 (most state offices close, many schools choose to close on President's Day)
- Louisiana: Mardi Gras, date varies
- Louisiana: Good Friday, date varies, celebrated elsewhere
- Massachusetts: Patriot's Day, April 19, anniversary of Battles of Lexington and Concord
- Maine: Patriot's Day, April 19, anniversary of Battles of Lexington and Concord
- Maryland: Maryland Day, March 25, commemoration of first European settlement of Maryland
- Mississippi: Mardi Gras Day, date varies
- Missouri: Truman Day, May 9
- Nebraska: Arbor Day, last Friday of April, celebrated elsewhere
- New Hampshire: Civil Rights Day, January 19
- Nevada: Nevada Day, October 31, commemorates date of admission to the Union, observed on last Friday of October.
- Rhode Island: V.J. Day or Victory Day, second Monday in August
- Tennessee: Good Friday, date varies
- Tennessee: Abraham Lincoln Day, February 12
- Tennessee: Andrew Jackson Day, March 15
- Tennessee: Statehoood Day, June 1, commemorates date of admission to the Union
- Texas: Confederate Veterans Day, January 19
- Utah: Pioneer Day, July 24
- Virginia: Lee-Jackson Day, Friday before the third Monday in January
- West Virginia: West Virginia Day, June 20
[edit] Insular area holidays
- Puerto Rico: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico day, July 25 (In Spanish: 25 de Julio, Conmemoración del ELA, or Conmemoración del Estado Libre Asociado)
[edit] Southern holidays
May or may not be legal holidays, depending on state law.
- Confederate Memorial Day, usually last Monday of April
- Jefferson Davis' Birthday
- Robert E. Lee's Birthday (often observed with MLK Day on January 19)
- See also: Lee-Jackson-King day
-
- Alabama, observed with MLK Day, legal holiday[5]
- Arkansas, January 19, observed with MLK Day
- Florida, January 19, legal holiday
- Georgia, January 19, may be celebrated other days (Friday after Thanksgiving, for example)
- Mississippi, January 19, legal holiday
- Tennessee, January 19
- Nathan Bedford Forrest Day
- Tennessee, July 13
- Mardi Gras, held the day before Ash Wednesday.
[edit] Other holidays locally observed
- Bunker Hill Day, June 17 (Suffolk County, Massachusetts)
- Casimir Pulaski Day (primarily Chicago, Illinois, first Monday in March)
- Day of the Dead (November 1, sometimes celebrated in areas with large Mexican-American populations; see Cinco de Mayo)
- Devil's Night (primarily Michigan, October 30)
- Evacuation Day, March 17 (Suffolk County and Cambridge, Massachusetts; same date as St. Patrick's Day)
- Father Damien Day (Hawaii), April 15
- Indigenous Peoples Day, Berkeley, California, celebrated in lieu of Columbus Day
- Loyalty Day (domestic counterweight to May Day)
- Meck-Dec Day, (Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina), (May 20), celebrates the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.
- Midsummer (celebrated in Minnesota and other Scandinavian-American areas)
- Return Day, (November 4, after noon in Sussex County, Delaware; population meets to hear election returns, party)
- Sweetest Day (celebrated on third Saturday in October in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin, involves giving small presents to family, friends and lovers)
- Von Steuben Day, (mid-September, celebrated primarily by German Americans)
- Woolseymas, (December 6) A commemoration of the 1933 decision by US District Court Judge John M Woolsey that the James Joyce novel "Ulysses" was not pornographic and therefore could not be obscene.
[edit] 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)
[edit] See also
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 above) that are not celebrated by the rest of the world.
[edit] US related topics
Life in the United States
Affluence • Arts and entertainment • Culture • Economy • Crime • Education • Educational attainment • Geography • Health care • Holidays • Household income • Homeownership • Human rights • Labor unions • Languages • Middle class • Passenger vehicle transport • Personal income • Politics • Poverty • Racism • Religion • Social class • Social issues• Sports • Standard of living
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/1-3-8.htm
- ^ http://www.state.sd.us/puc/misc/holidays.htm
- ^ http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/1-3-8.htm
- ^ http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/1-3-8.htm
- ^ http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/1-3-8.htm
- ^ http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/1975/1-3-8.htm
[edit] External links
- Text of Federal Holiday Legislation
- Bizarre American Holidays — a comprehensive compilation of special recognition given both to months and individual days. Unfortunately, the origins of the commemorations aren't provided.
- Infoplease: State Holidays
- Celebration of Major US Holidays at TheHolidaySpot
