About United States Holidays & Observances
Public holidays in United States (frequently termed federal holidays locally) represent dates defined by government legislation to provide workers and schools with paid time off. These holidays are deeply rooted in the nation's civic, historical, and religious fabric.
Whether celebrating foundational national acts like Independence, honoring local heroes, or observing significant spiritual and seasonal celebrations, the United States holiday calendar is highly diverse. When holidays fall on weekends, businesses and government authorities often declare a substitute public holiday on the preceding Friday or following Monday to extend long weekends.
Planning Around Long Weekends
Long weekends are marked in amber shading in the table above. These days represent exceptional high-ROI travel and relaxation periods. Planning holiday logistics ahead of time can unlock maximum efficiency for personal and family travel schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions — United States Public Holidays
There are 11 official federal holidays in the United States: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
You can view the next upcoming federal holiday with our live real-time countdown widget at the top of this page.
Yes, most commercial banks and the Federal Reserve System are closed on official federal holidays.
Private employers are not legally required by federal law to pay employees for holidays off, although the vast majority offer them as a standard benefit.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.