Federal Holidays In The United States 2024
2024 Federal Holidays In USA Schedule
Here is a list of the Federal Holidays In USA for 2024:
| No | DAY | DATE | HOLIDAY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monday | January 01 | New Year’s Day |
| 2 | Monday | January 15 | Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| 3 | Monday | February 19 | Washington’s Birthday |
| 4 | Monday | May 27 | Memorial Day |
| 5 | Wednesday | June 19 | Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| 6 | Thursday | July 04 | Independence Day |
| 7 | Monday | September 02 | Labor Day |
| 8 | Monday | October 14 | Columbus Day |
| 9 | Monday | November 11 | Veterans Day |
| 10 | Thursday | November 28 | Thanksgiving Day |
| 11 | Wednesday | December 25 | Christmas Day |
US Holidays
This list includes the major public holidays and observances in the USA, including both federal and state-specific holidays. US is divided into 50 states with each state abbreviated with two capital letters. Note that some holidays are observed only in certain states or regions, and there may be additional local holidays and observances not listed here. Here is a comprehensive list of holidays in the USA, including federal and state-specific holidays for 2024:
In addition to federal holidays, various states observe additional holidays that reflect their unique history and culture. Some of these include:
| No | HOLIDAYS | DATE | STATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confederate Heroes Day | January 19 | Texas |
| 2 | Robert E. Lee’s Birthday | January 15 | Alabama, Mississippi |
| 3 | Lincoln’s Birthday | February 12 | Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New York |
| 4 | Mardi Gras | February 13 | Alabama, Louisiana |
| 5 | Daisy Gatson Bates Day | February 19 | Arkansas |
| 6 | Texas Independence Day | March 2 | Texas |
| 7 | Town Meeting Day | March 5 | Vermont |
| 8 | Seward’s Day | March 25 | Alaska |
| 9 | Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day | March 26 | Hawaii |
| 10 | César Chávez Day | March 31 | California, Texas |
| 11 | Patriots’ Day | April 15 | Massachusetts, Maine |
| 12 | DC Emancipation Day | April 16 | Washington, D.C. |
| 13 | San Jacinto Day | April 21 | Texas |
| 14 | Arbor Day | April 26 | Nebraska |
| 15 | Confederate Memorial Day | April 22 April 29 May 10 June 3 | Alabama Mississippi South Carolina Alabama |
| 16 | Primary Election Day | May 7 | Indiana |
| 17 | Truman Day | May 8 | Missouri |
| 18 | Jefferson Davis Birthday | June 3 | Alabama |
| 19 | King Kamehameha Day | June 11 | Hawaii |
| 20 | West Virginia Day | June 20 | West Virginia |
| 21 | Pioneer Day | July 24 | Utah |
| 22 | Victory Day | August 12 | Rhode Island |
| 23 | Bennington Battle Day | August 16 | Vermont |
| 24 | Statehood Day | August 16 | Hawaii |
| 25 | Lyndon B. Johnson Day | August 27 | Texas |
| 26 | Frances Xavier Cabrini Day | October 7 | Colorado |
| 27 | Native American Day | October 14 | South Dakota |
| 28 | Alaska Day | October 18 | Alaska |
| 29 | Nevada Day | October 25 | Nevada |
| 30 | General Election Day | November 5 | Various states |
| 31 | Family Day | November 29 | Nevada |
| 32 | American Indian Heritage Day | November 29 | Maryland |
| 33 | Lincoln’s Birthday Holiday | November 29 | Indiana |
| 34 | Christmas Eve | December 24 | Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas |
| 35 | Washington’s Birthday Holiday | December 24 | Georgia, Indiana |
| 36 | Christmas Holiday | December 26 | North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas |
| 37 | New Year’s Eve | December 31 | Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin |
Observances 2024
Many observances, while not official holidays are widely celebrated and recognized:
| No | HOLIDAYS | DATE | STATE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rosa Parks Day | February 4 December 1 | California Ohio |
| 2 | Good Friday | March 29 | Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas |
| 3 | Mother’s Day | May 12 | Sunday |
| 4 | Father’s Day | June 16 | Sunday |
| 5 | Easter Sunday | March 31 | |
| 6 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | October 14 | Various States |
| 7 | Day After Thanksgiving | November 29 | Various States |
Understanding Federal Holidays
Federal holidays are designated by the United States government and apply to federal employees and agencies.
On these days, non-essential federal government offices are closed, and federal/government employees are paid for the holiday.
Federal holidays are typically observed by all non-essential federal government offices, including federal offices, courts, and banks.
Most federal employees work from Monday through Friday schedule. When a holiday (legal public holiday) falls on a Saturday or Sunday (non-work day).
If a holiday falls on a Sunday then a holiday is observed:
- On the following Monday if the holiday falls on a Sunday
- On the preceding Friday if the holiday falls on a Saturday
Definition And History
- In the U.S. not all holidays are officially recognized as federal holidays
- Only a handful are considered for Federal holidays
- Federal holidays are 11 calendar dates designated by the U.S. federal government as holidays.
- The history of national holidays in the United States dates back to June 28, 1870, when Congress created national holidays “to correspond with similar laws of States around the District…and…in every State of the Union.”
- Federal holidays are designated by the United States Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103). The holidays are mostly referred by the names designated in the law.
- Congress only has the authority to create holidays for federal institutions, employees, and the District of Columbia.
Federal Holiday Calendar For 2024
Federal Holidays Dates and Schedules
As per Federal law, there are 11 federal holidays in the U.S. each year. While some Federal holidays fall on the same date every year, others fall on the same day of the week every year.
Inauguration Day, which is held on January 20 every fourth year, is an additional holiday for those in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.
Federal holidays include:
- New Year’s Day,
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day,
- Presidents’ Day,
- Memorial Day,
- Independence Day,
- Labor Day,
- Columbus Day,
- Veterans Day,
- Thanksgiving Day, and
- Christmas Day.
Apart from the eleven annual federal holidays, Congress has also designated Inauguration Day as the twelfth holiday, which is observed on January 20 every four years after a U.S. presidential election. Only government workers in Washington, D.C., and the Maryland and Virginia border counties observe it.
Here Is A List Of The Federal Holidays Observed In The United States:
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Celebrate the beginning of the new year. It is marked by festivities and often, resolutions for personal improvement.
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 15 (Third Monday in January)
- Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his contributions to the movement for racial equality.
- Presidents’ Day – February 19 (Third Monday in February)
- Originally established to honor George Washington’s birthday, it now celebrates all U.S. presidents.
- Memorial Day – May 27 (Last Monday in May)
- A day of remembrance for those who have died in military service to the United States.
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19
- Commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, marking the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were informed of their freedom.
- Independence Day – July 04
- Celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is marked by fireworks, parades, and barbecues.
- Labor Day – September 02 (First Monday in September)
- Honors the contributions of American workers and the labor movement.
- Columbus Day – October 14 (Second Monday in October)
- Commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492.
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Honors military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- Thanksgiving Day – November 28 (Fourth Thursday in November)
- A day for giving thanks, often celebrated with a meal that includes turkey and other traditional dishes.
- Christmas Day – December 25
- Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is marked by exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, and attending church services.
State-Specific Holidays 2024
In addition to federal holidays, various states observe additional holidays some of these include:
List Of Additional Holidays Observed By Various States
- Confederate Heroes Day – January 19 (Texas)
- Robert E. Lee’s Birthday – January 15 (Alabama, Mississippi)
- Lincoln’s Birthday – February 12 (Connecticut, Illinois, Missouri, New York)
- Mardi Gras – February 13 (Alabama, Louisiana)
- Daisy Gatson Bates Day – February 19 (Arkansas)
- Texas Independence Day – March 2 (Texas)
- Town Meeting Day – March 5 (Vermont)
- Seward’s Day – March 25 (Alaska)
- Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day – March 26 (Hawaii)
- César Chávez Day – March 31 (California, Texas)
- Patriots’ Day – April 15 (Massachusetts, Maine)
- DC Emancipation Day – April 16 (Washington, D.C.)
- San Jacinto Day – April 21 (Texas)
- Arbor Day – April 26 (Nebraska)
- Confederate Memorial Day – April 22 (Alabama), April 29 (Mississippi), May 10 (South Carolina), June 3 (Alabama)
- Primary Election Day – May 7 (Indiana)
- Truman Day – May 8 (Missouri)
- Jefferson Davis Birthday – June 3 (Alabama)
- King Kamehameha Day – June 11 (Hawaii)
- West Virginia Day – June 20 (West Virginia)
- Pioneer Day – July 24 (Utah)
- Victory Day – August 12 (Rhode Island)
- Bennington Battle Day – August 16 (Vermont)
- Statehood Day – August 16 (Hawaii)
- Lyndon B. Johnson Day – August 27 (Texas)
- Frances Xavier Cabrini Day – October 7 (Colorado)
- Native American Day – October 14 (South Dakota)
- Alaska Day – October 18 (Alaska)
- Nevada Day – October 25 (Nevada)
- General Election Day – November 5 (Various states)
- Family Day – November 29 (Nevada)
- American Indian Heritage Day – November 29 (Maryland)
- Lincoln’s Birthday Holiday – November 29 (Indiana)
- Christmas Eve – December 24 (Arkansas, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas)
- Washington’s Birthday Holiday – December 24 (Georgia, Indiana)
- Christmas Holiday – December 26 (North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas)
- New Year’s Eve – December 31 (Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin)
List Of Observances For 2024
Many observances, while not being official holidays are still being widely celebrated and recognized:
- Rosa Parks Day – February 4 (California), December 1 (Ohio)
- Good Friday – March 29 (Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas)
- Mother’s Day – May 12 (Sunday)
- Father’s Day – June 16 (Sunday)
- Easter Sunday – March 31
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day – October 14 (Various states)
- Day After Thanksgiving – November 29 (Various states)
Federal Holidays And Their Significance
Importance In American Culture
- Federal holidays are often referred to as “public holidays” or “legal holidays” due to their widespread observance.
- Most federal holidays are also state holidays.
- Federal holidays have a significant impact on American culture, with many private businesses and schools also observing these holidays.
- Holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day have important historical and cultural significance.
Observance And Impact
Controversies And Debates
- Certain Native American groups oppose the celebration of Columbus Day, largely because of the contentious history associated with Columbus’ arrival in the Americas.
- Some states do not recognize Columbus Day and instead mark the day with an alternative holiday or observance.
- Federal holidays can be controversial, with opposition often preventing bills enacting them from passing.
- The observance of federal holidays can have a significant impact on the economy, with many businesses and industries affected by the closures.
Travel Insurance For Your Holidays
If you are looking for travel insurance plans for your holidays or are planning to call your parents to the USA for the holidays, here are a few popular travel insurance plans for your consideration.
Travel insurance plans with coverage for the acute onset of pre-existing condition:
Travel insurance plans that offer coverage for pre-existing conditions:
Conclusion
The holidays celebrated in the United States offer a glimpse into the country’s diverse cultural fabric and rich historical heritage. Whether federal or state-specific, each holiday provides an opportunity for Americans to come together in celebration, reflection, and remembrance. Understanding these holidays helps in appreciating the unique traditions and values that define the United States.
