Public holidays of the United States

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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 U.S. Federal government can only recognize national holidays that pertain to its own employees; it is at the discretion of each state or local jurisdiction to determine official holiday schedules. There are eleven such "Federal 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), some official holidays are observed on a Monday, 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 retail businesses close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but remain open on all other holidays. Private businesses often observe only the "big six" holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). Some also add the Friday after Thanksgiving, or one or more of the other federal holidays.

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. For Thanksgiving in the United States, it is on the fourth Thursday in November.

The holiday season in the winter traditionally runs between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day, which encompasses the Winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Summer traditionally (though unofficially) runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Contents 1 Federal holidays 2 Federal observances 2.1 Days 2.2 Weeks 2.3 Months 2.4 Other 3 Other holidays observed nationwide 4 State holidays 5 Insular area holidays 6 Southern holidays 7 Other holidays locally observed 8 Non-holiday notable days 9 Notes 10 See also 11 References 12 External links

[edit] 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. 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.

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) on the preceding night, New Year's Eve. Traditional end of holiday season.
Third Monday in January	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day	Honors Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader; combined with other holidays in several states (traditionally January 15). This year's observance: 2008 - January 21
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 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
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: 2008 - February 18
Last Monday in May	Memorial Day	Honors the nation's war dead; marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. (traditionally May 30)
July 4	Independence Day	Celebrates Declaration of Independence, also called the Fourth of July.
First Monday in September	Labor Day	Celebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement; marks the unofficial end of the summer season.
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 for the autumn harvest. Traditionally includes the consumption of a turkey dinner Traditional start of the "holiday season." (Note: Thanksgiving is not celebrated on the same day as it is in Canada).
December 25	Christmas Day	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.

• 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 laws below require 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 selected Federal observances by presidential proclamation. Those observances are referenced at the List of observances in the United States by presidential proclamation.

[edit] Days

• 36 U.S.C. § 103 — National Middle Childs Day (First Saturday After Mothers Day for family's with an odd number of children only)
• 36 U.S.C. § 104 — Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day (First Saturday after Labor Day)
• 36 U.S.C. § 105 — Child Health Day (The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Monday in October as Child Health Day)
• 36 U.S.C. § 106 — Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (September 17)
• 36 U.S.C. § 107 — Columbus Day (The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation designating the second Monday in October as 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 (The President may issue each year a proclamation designating October 9 as Leif Erikson Day.)
• 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 (The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation designating the third Friday in May as National Defense Transportation Day.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 124 — National Freedom Day (February 1)
• 36 U.S.C. § 125 — National Grandparents' Day (The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 127 — National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day (July 27 of each year until 2003)
• 36 U.S.C. § 128 — National Maritime Day (May 22)
• 36 U.S.C. § 129 — National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (December 7)
• 36 U.S.C. § 134 — Pan American Aviation Day (The President may issue each year a proclamation designating December 17 as Pan American Aviation Day.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 135 — Parents' Day (Fourth Sunday in July)
• 36 U.S.C. § 136 — Peace Officers Memorial Day (The President is requested to issue each year a proclamation designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day in honor of Federal, State, and local officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 140 — Stephen Foster Memorial Day (The President may issue each year a proclamation designating January 13 Stephen Foster Memorial Day.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 141 — Thomas Jefferson's birthday (April 13)
• 36 U.S.C. § 142 — White Cane Safety Day (The President may issue each year a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane Safety Day.)
• 36 U.S.C. § 143 — Wright Brothers Day (December 17)
• 36 U.S.C. § 144 — Patriot Day (September 11)
• 36 U.S.C. § 145 — Halloween (October 31)

[edit] Weeks

• Constitution Week
• National Flag Week
• National Forest Products Week
• National Poison Prevention Week
• National Safe Boating Week
• National School Lunch Week
• National Transportation Week
• Police Week
• Save Your Vision Week
• National Friendship 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)
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October)
• 36 U.S.C. § 139 — Steelmark Month (May) — honors the steel industry
• Black History Month (February)
• Women's History Month (March)
• Child Abuse Prevention Month (April)
• National Nutrition Month (March)

[edit] Other

• 36 U.S.C. § 112 — Honor America Days -- The 21 days from Flag Day through Independence Day.

[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 deprecatory term Hallmark holiday to such days, after the Hallmark greeting card company.

[ March 14Pi DayA celebration of the number pi (3.14) Math holiday, eat pie, try to recite as many digits of the number pi as you can, usually have cookies, brownies, and other sweets, the person who recites the most digits of pi wins a prize, (pie, pi day tee shirt ECT.) [May 1st)) May Day, a day celebrating Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ Novenber 1 All Saints Day, Celebrates all unknown saints who have died, and are cannonized, that we have otherwise forgotten

Date	Name	Remarks
late January or February (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.
February or March, 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.
February	Black History Month	Celebrating the contributions and culture 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. Attending St. Patrick's Day parades has historically been more popular in the United States than in Ireland.
April 1	April Fools' Day	A day to play tricks on family, friends, and coworkers, if so inclined, this day used to be the start of the New Year, the traditon started when New Year's Day was moved from April 1st, to January 1st.
late March or April (Date varies) (March 21 for 2008)	Good Friday	Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by Pontius Pilate, believed by Christians to have taken place (traditionally) on April 1, 33 AD. Sometimes celebrated as a "Spring holiday" for Universities and schools in certain states.
Spring Sunday, date varies always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox	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 roll 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 as it always falls on a Sunday. Most financial markets and some 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.
Wednesday of last full week of April	Administrative Professionals Day	A day for honoring secretaries and other administrative personnel, formerly Secretary's Day.
April 22 (varies by location and observance)	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 most Federal agencies are already closed on Sundays)
Third Saturday in May	Armed Forces Day	Celebrates the United States Army, Navy, Air Force Marine Corps and Coast Guard; formerly, each had separate days.
June	Caribbean American Heritage Month	Celebrating the contributions and culture of Caribbean Americans (U.S. Citizens from the Caribbean region) throughout U.S. History.[3] Honors the contributions and ties of the Caribbean with the United States, encourages citizens to learn about various Caribbean cultures.
First Friday in June	Pie-Day Friday	Honors Pie; A holiday in which recognizes all the amazing properties of pie, either directly or indirectly.
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.
September or October (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.
September or October (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 12	Columbus Day	Honors the first European explorer known to have set foot on North America.
October 16	National Boss Day	Also known as Bosses Appreciation Day. It is a day for honoring all employers and bosses.
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

In addition to the federal holidays, individual states observe the following holidays:

• Alabama: Confederate Memorial Day, fourth Monday in April
• Alaska: Alaska Day, anniversary of transfer to U.S. control, October 18; Seward's Day, anniversary of purchase from Russia, March 27
• Arkansas: Daisy Gatson Bates Day, February 16, observed with Washington's Birthday
• California: Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, César Chávez's birthday, March 31 (also may be optionally observed in Colorado and Texas); Columbus Day, second Monday in October^[3]
• Colorado: Colorado Day August 1, 1876 Colorado became a state. This date is recognized/celebrated each year by state residents.
• Connecticut: Lincoln's Birthday, February 12; Good Friday, date varies
• District of Columbia: Emancipation Day, April 16
• Florida: Pascua Florida Day, April 2
• Hawaii: Good Friday, date varies; May Day or Lei Day, date varies, usually May 1st; Kamehameha Day, June 11; Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day, March 26; Admission Day or Statehood Day, third Friday in August
• 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)
• Kansas: Kansas Day, January 29
• Louisiana: Mardi Gras, date varies (3 February - 9 March); Good Friday, date varies, celebrated elsewhere
• Massachusetts: Patriot's Day, 3rd Monday of April, traditionally 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
• Nevada: Nevada Day, October 31, commemorates date of admission to the Union, observed on last Friday of October.
• New Hampshire: Civil Rights Day, January 19
• Oklahoma: Statehood Day, November 16
• Rhode Island: V.J. Day or Victory Day, second Monday in August
• South Dakota: Native American Day, second Monday in October
• Tennessee^[4]
  • Legal holidays: Good Friday, date varies;
  • Days of special observance: Robert E. Lee Day, January 19; Abraham Lincoln Day, February 12; Andrew Jackson Day, March 15; Mother's Day, Second Sunday in May; Statehood Day, June 1, commemorates date of admission to the Union; Memorial or Confederate Decoration Day, June 3; Nathan Bedford Forrest Day, July 13
• Texas: Confederate Veterans Day, January 19; Juneteenth, June 19
• Utah: Pioneer Day, July 24
• Vermont: Town Meeting Day, first Tuesday in March
• Virginia: Lee-Jackson Day, Friday before the third Monday in January
• West Virginia: West Virginia Day, June 20

[edit] 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)

[edit] Southern holidays

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

• Confederate Memorial Day, usually last Monday of April
  • Alabama, fourth Monday in April, legal holiday^[5]
  • Florida, April 26, legal holiday[4]
  • Georgia, legal holiday
  • Mississippi, legal holiday
  • South Carolina, May 10, legal holiday (SC Code § 53-5-10)[5]
  • Louisiana, June 3^[6]
  • Tennessee, June 3
  • Virginia, coincidental with US Memorial Day
• Jefferson Davis's Birthday
  • Alabama, first Monday in June, legal holiday^[7]
  • Florida, June 3 legal holiday
• 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^[8]
  • 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.
  • Florida, legal holiday in counties where carnival associations are organized for the purpose of celebrating the same.[6]
  • Louisiana, legal holiday
  • Mississippi, legal holiday
  • Alabama, legal holiday only in Baldwin and Mobile Counties^[9]

[edit] Other holidays locally observed

• Bunker Hill Day, June 17 (Suffolk County, Massachusetts)
• Brooklyn-Queens Day, (New York City, NY), first Thursday in June
• Casimir Pulaski Day (primarily Illinois, first Monday in March)
• Day of the Dead (November 1, sometimes celebrated in areas with large Mexican-American populations; see Dia de los Muertos)
• Devil's Night (primarily Michigan, October 30)
• Dyngus Day (Polish-origin holiday, day after Easter, celebrated New York, Indiana, Michigan and North Dakota)
• 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
• International Women's Day, Berkeley, California, March 8
• 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 U.S. 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 or business day)
• 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)
• Festivus (December 23rd): made famous on the TV show Seinfeld.

[edit] Notes

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] See also

• Holidays in Puerto Rico
• Mexican fiestas in the United States
• Easter/Good Friday controversy
• Christmas controversy
• Hallmark Holiday

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• U.S. Department of Commerce Federal Holiday Calendar
• 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
• Holidays In Thailand
• United States Calendar With Tooltips
• Federal Holidays: Evolution and Application, CRS Report for Congress, 98-301 GOV, updated February 8, 1999, by Stephen W. Stathis

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