This list of holidays is based on the official list of federal holidays by year from the US Government. The holidays however are at the discretion of employers whose statistics are measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Another list from the Society for Human Resource Management shows actual percentages of employers offering paid time off for each holiday. The term "major holiday" (bolded) coincides for those holidays that 90% or more of employers offered paid time off.[3]
In 2020, Nike became the first company to mark Juneteenth as a paid holiday.[4]
Date
*Official name
Percentage of Americans celebrating
**Percentage of businesses offering paid time off[5]
Celebrates beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities include counting down to 12:00 midnight on the preceding night, New Year's Eve, often with fireworks display and party. The ball drop at Times Square in New York City has become a national New Year's festivity. Traditional end of Christmas and holiday season.[8]
Honors Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader, who was actually born on January 15, 1929; combined with other holidays in several states. Some cities and municipalities hold parades; and more recently, the 1994 King Holiday and Service Act, which was passed to encourage Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service, has gained in popularity (sometimes referred to as a National Day of Service).
Celebrates the United States presidential inauguration, every 4 years. While this is a federal holiday, only federal employees in the Washington, DC area are entitled to a day off. Only Washington, DC observes this day besides the federal government.[10]
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 (between February 15 and 21, meaning the observed holiday never falls on Washington's actual birthday). Because of this, combined with the fact that President Lincoln's birthday falls on February 12, 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.[12]
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).
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. That was also about 2+1⁄2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the Southern states.
Celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence from British rule, also called the Fourth of July or simply "The Fourth". Fireworks celebration are held in many cities throughout the country.
Honors Christopher Columbus, the first European to land in mainland Americas after Leif Erikson. In a growing number of locations this day is observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day, in honor of the Native Americans who lived in the Americas long before Columbus "discovered" the area.
Honors all veterans of the United States armed forces. It is observed on November 11 to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918 (major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour (GMT +1) of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect).
An academic year typically spans from early fall to early summer, with two or three months of summer vacation marking the end of the year. K-12 public schools generally observe local, state, and federal holidays, plus additional days off around Thanksgiving, the period from before Christmas until after New Year's Day, a spring break (usually a week in April) and sometimes a winter break (a week in February or March). Two or three days per year are sometimes devoted to professional development for teachers and students have the day off.
Most colleges and universities divide the school year into two semesters. The fall semester often begins the day after Labor Day in early September and runs until mid-December. The spring semester typically starts in the middle or end of January and runs until May. Winter and summer classes might be offered in January and May–August. Major federal, state, and local holidays are often observed, including the day after and usually before Thanksgiving. Spring break is usually a week in March or early April, and in elementary and secondary school and college party culture traditionally involves a warm-weather trip.
When taking summer school or summer camp schedules into account, the Independence Day holiday on July4 is usually a scheduled holiday observance for which the summer program closes.
Government sector holidays: federal, state, and local government
The federal government sector labor force consisted of about 2,729,000 (as of 2014) of the total labor force of 150,539,900, which is about 2% of the total labor force or about 1% of the total population. In addition, state and local governments consist of another 19,134,000 bringing the total government sector employees to about 15% of the total labor force.[24] This sector of the population is entitled to paid time off designated as federal holidays by Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C.§ 6103). Both federal and state government employees generally observe the same federal holidays.
Federally regulated agencies: banks and financial institutions
US banks generally observe the federal holidays because of their reliance on the U.S. Federal Reserve for certain activities such as wire transfers and ACH transactions.[25] For example, JP Morgan Chase observes all federal holidays except Columbus Day,[26] while U.S. Bank observes all of them.[27]
In general, most state governments observe the same holidays that the federal government observes. However, while that is true for most states, every state includes and omits holidays to fit the culture relevant to its population. "All federal holidays" in state observations below excludes Inauguration Day, which is only observed by Washington, DC, and federal employees in that area.
Holiday
Number of states observed with government offices closed
Signed into law in 1983, but not observed by all states until 2000, with Utah officially observing as a paid state holiday. Five states observe this day using alternate name "Civil Rights Day" or holiday is combined to also honor Robert E. Lee.
Observed by Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
Observed by Connecticut, Delaware, Guam, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and the US Virgin Islands.
Observed by Alabama, Florida,[note 1] Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,[note 2] and Texas[note 3] (formerly observed by Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Virginia)
[59]
Florida's laws separately defines "paid holidays" versus "legal holidays", which does not have any obligation to include as "paid holidays".
As of 2015, multiple states observe Susan B. Anthony Day. Florida is the only state that actually observes the day as a legal holiday, though state offices remain open. Currently, no federal holiday honors a woman in the United States.
[61]
Florida's laws separate the definitions between paid versus legal holidays. The following list shows only the legal holidays that were not defined as "paid holidays":
Illinois is the first state to declare Malcolm X Day a holiday only in 2015. Today, the holiday is only official in Berkeley, California since 1979 with city offices closed.
Friday following 4th Thursday in November - Day After Thanksgiving (this used to be a state holiday for all branches of government; it is sometimes still proclaimed as a holiday for the Judicial branch of government, usually not until November.)[101]
Texas has three types of state holidays: those on which all state offices are closed, and "partial staffing" and "optional" holidays on which offices are open but with reduced staffing.
The following days are full holidays where all state offices are closed:
Texas law designates that the state businesses be "partially staffed" on the following holidays. These holidays can be replaced with an optional holiday per the state employee's choice, but will give up one of these in lieu of the optional holiday.
Texas law allows a state employee to replace a partial staffing holiday with one of the following holidays. On these holidays, the state agency is generally required to stay open with minimum staff.
February 15–21 (floating Monday) – The federal holiday Washington's Birthday is recognized as "George Washington Day".
October 8–14 (Floating Monday) – The federal holiday Columbus Day is recognized as "Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day", which honors the final victory at the Siege of Yorktown in the Revolutionary War.
All Friday holidays are celebrated on Saturday and all Monday holidays are celebrated on Tuesday to account for the time zone difference with the states. Weekday holidays such as Thanksgiving are celebrated as they fall.[130]
[135]
Wisconsin's public schools are obligated to observe the 21 days designated by Wisconsin Statute section 118.02 on the designated day unless the day falls on Saturday or Sunday, in which case would move the observance to either the preceding Friday or following Monday. The statutes require the public schools to include instruction relating to the holidays. In this list of holidays, all schools remain open.
While most federal holidays are observed at the state level, some of these holidays are observed with different names, are observed on different days, or completely not observed in some states of the United States. ^ a. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is known officially as Martin Luther King, Jr./Civil Rights Day in Arizona,[138] and New Hampshire,[139]Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Florida,[140] and Maryland,[141]Martin Luther King Jr. / Idaho Human Rights Day in Idaho,[142]Robert E. Lee/Martin Luther King Birthday in Alabama, and Martin Luther King's and Robert E. Lee's Birthdays in Mississippi.[143]^ b. Washington's Birthday is known officially as President's Day in Alaska,[144] California,[145] Hawaii,[146] Idaho,[142] Maryland,[141] Nebraska,[147] New Hampshire,[139] Tennessee,[148] Washington,[149] West Virginia,[150] and Wyoming,[151]Washington-Lincoln Day in Colorado (CRS 24-11-101),[152] Ohio,[153]Lincoln/Washington/Presidents' Day in Arizona,[138]George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day in Arkansas,[154]Presidents' Day in Hawaii,[146] Massachusetts,[155] New Mexico,[156] North Dakota,[157] Oklahoma,[158] South Dakota,[159] Texas,[32] and Vermont,[160]Washington's Birthday/President's Day in Maine,[161]Presidents Day in Michigan,[162] Minnesota,[163] Nevada,[164] New Jersey,[165] and Oregon,[166]Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday in Montana,[167]Washington and Lincoln Day in Utah,[168] and George Washington Day in Virginia.[169]^ The day after Thanksgiving is observed in lieu of Columbus Day in Minnesota.[163]^ Columbus Day is listed as a state holiday in New Hampshire although state offices remain open.[139]^ President's Day, Good Friday (11am–3pm), Juneteenth Day (June 19), Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Partisan Primary Election Day, and General Election Day are listed as a state holiday in Wisconsin although state offices remain open.[170][171]
^Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records (December 30, 2010). "ASLAPR – Helpful Links – About Arizona". Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
^"Archived copy"(PDF). admin.state.nh.us. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^"Holidays". Personnel.wv.gov. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
^"Archived copy"(PDF). doa.wi.gov. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 28, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ ab"State Service Holiday". State of Arizona. Arizona Department of Administration Human Resources Division. Archived from the original on February 3, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^ abc"Holidays for Calendar Year 2012"(PDF). State of New Hampshire. New Hampshire Department of Administrative Services Division of Personnel. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"2014 State Holiday Calendar"(PDF). State of Alaska. Alaska Department of Administration Division of Finance. June 6, 2013. Archived from the original(PDF) on August 20, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
^"Holiday Schedule". State of Nebraska. Nebraska Department of Administrative Services Personnel Division. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"State holiday schedule". State of Washington. Washington State Department of Revenue, however contrary to this reference, Washington law RCW 1.16.050 establishes usage as Presidents' Day. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"WV State Holidays". West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Public Health Health Statistics Center. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"State Holiday Schedule". State of Vermont. Vermont Agency of Administration Department of Human Resources. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"2012 Holiday Schedule". State of Maine. Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services Bureau of Human Resources. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^ ab"Court Holidays". Minnesota Judicial Branch. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"Holidays". State of Nevada. Nevada Department of Personnel. February 19, 2008. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
^"Holidays Observed 2012". State of Montana. Montana State Human Resources Division. Archived from the original(PDF) on January 1, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
