Federal holidays in the United States

Federal holidays in the United States are special days set aside by the U.S. federal government. There are 11 of these days each year, and on these days, many government offices are closed, and workers for the government get the day off with pay.

These holidays are decided by the United States Congress, which writes the rules in special books called the United States Code. The holidays are only required for federal places like government buildings and workers, but many schools, banks, and businesses also close to mark these days.

Because of this, many places across the country, including states and cities, often celebrate these days together. It’s a way for everyone to share in important moments that reflect the history and values of the United States.

History

The history of national holidays in the United States begins on June 28, 1870, when Congress created holidays for federal employees. At first, these holidays only applied to employees in Washington, D.C., but later they were extended to all federal employees.

The first four holidays in 1870 were:

• New Year's Day
• Independence Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

New Year's Day marks the start of the new year on January 1, while Independence Day celebrates the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Thanksgiving was first proclaimed by President George Washington in 1789 and, since 1941, is observed on the fourth Thursday of November each year. Christmas, celebrated on December 25, is a day when many people remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

Additional holidays were added over time. George Washington's Birthday became a federal holiday in 1879, followed by Memorial Day and Labor Day. Veterans Day was established in 1938 to honor soldiers from World War I and later all veterans. In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act set many holidays on Mondays for convenience. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983 and first celebrated in 1986. Most recently, Juneteenth National Independence Day was made a federal holiday in 2021, commemorating June 19, 1865, when slavery ended in the United States.

List of federal holidays

Most of the 11 U.S. federal holidays are also celebrated as holidays in many state governments. Some holidays have dates that "float" each year, meaning they always fall on a specific day of the week, like Monday. For example, Thanksgiving always happens on a Thursday. Other holidays have fixed dates, like July 4. If a fixed-date holiday lands on a weekend, federal offices often observe it on the nearest weekday instead.

Inauguration Day happens every four years on January 20 after a presidential election. It is a paid day off for federal workers in the Washington, D.C., area, but it is not a nationwide federal holiday like the others. Each state decides which holidays to observe, and some states have their own special days too. For example, Texas does not observe Columbus Day as a state holiday but does recognize other days like Texas Independence Day. Private companies are not required to give employees time off for these holidays, though some may offer extra pay for working on them.

Legal holidays due to presidential proclamation

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

The President of the United States can also name special days as holidays. These days might be set aside to honor important events or people. For example, days have been named to remember the funerals of past presidents like Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter. On these special days, federal offices are closed, and employees get the day off with pay. Sometimes, the President may also give a holiday or part of a holiday on Christmas Eve.

Proposed federal holidays

Many other holidays have been suggested to become federal holidays in the United States. Because the U.S. federal government employs many people, adding new holidays can be costly. If a holiday is controversial, it can be hard to get it approved. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which celebrates King's birthday, required a lot of effort to pass and for all states to recognize it. It wasn't until the year 2000 that this holiday was officially observed in all 50 states.

Some holidays that have been proposed are observed in certain states but not nationwide. These proposed holidays vary and reflect different ideas and celebrations that people have supported over the years.

Controversy

Some Native American groups do not celebrate Columbus Day because they disagree with how history remembers this day. Because of this, several states including Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin do not observe Columbus Day as a holiday. In South Dakota, this day is instead celebrated as Native American Day, honoring the culture and history of Native American peoples.