Angie Ziggafoos  No National Holidays  U.S. federal government only recognizes holidays that pertain to its own employees  Discretion of each state or local jurisdiction to determine their own official holiday schedules  Most jurisdictions follow the federal holiday schedule but may add a few more

1. New Year’s Day 2. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. 3. Inauguration Day 4. Washington’s Birthday/Presidents’ Day 5. Memorial Day 6. Independence Day 7. Labor Day 8. Columbus Day 9. Veterans Day 10. Thanksgiving Day 11. Christmas

 Official holidays are observed on a Monday  Exceptions: New Years Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, & Christmas

 If holiday falls on Saturday, observed on previous Friday  If holiday falls on Sunday, observed on following Monday

 January 1  Marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year  Count down to midnight the night before  Often celebrate New Year’s Eve with a party & often fireworks  Traditional end of Christmas holiday season  Businesses are closed but retail stores are open  Observed third Monday in January  Honors Martin Luther King, Jr. who was a civil rights leader  Observed every fourth year on January 20 following a Presidential election  Celebrated by federal employees in Washington D.C., Maryland, & Virginia  Takes place on January 21 if 20th is a Sunday  President is still privately inaugurated on the 20th  Celebrated to relieve traffic congestion

 Observed the third Monday in February  Initially celebrated as George Washington’s Birthday on February 22  Uniform Holidays Act of 1968 shifted the date from February 22 to third Monday (Feb. 15-21)  Abraham Lincoln’s birthday-February 12  Many people now consider this a day to honor all American presidents  Never legally changed to Presidents’ Day  Observed last Monday in May  Honors the nation’s war dead from the Civil War forward  Marks the unofficial beginning of summer  Many people celebrate by having a cookout with friends or family  Retail stores and businesses are closed

 July 4th  Celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from British rule  Celebrated with cookouts/picnics and fireworks throughout the nation  Retail stores are open but most businesses are closed  Observed First Monday in September  Celebrates the achievements of workers & the labor movement  Marks the unofficial end of summer  Businesses are closed but retail stores are open  Observed second Monday in October  Honors Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas  In some areas, also a celebration of Italian culture & heritage

 In some states, celebrated as Indigenous People’s Day, to celebrate Native Americans  Observed on November 11 to recall the end of World War I in 1918  Honors all veterans of the U.S. armed forces  Celebrated with special ceremonies all over the country  Observed fourth Thursday in November  Traditionally celebrated the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest  Traditionally celebrated by gathering with family and friends for a turkey dinner  Traditional start of the Christmas holiday season  Retail stores and companies are closed  Many employers will give the gift of a turkey to their employees  December 25  Most widely celebrated holiday of the Christian year  Celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Jesus  The holiday that families most often travel long distances to visit each other  Retail stores and businesses are closed  Many employers will give a gift of a holiday or Christmas bonus to their employees  Groundhog Day  Mother’s Day  Valentine’s Day  Flag Day  St. Patrick’s Day  Father’s Day  April Fools’ Day  Halloween  Good Friday  Black Friday  Easter  Cyber Monday  Earth Day  Christmas Eve  Arbor Day  New Years Eve  May Day  Observed on February 2  Folklore states that if it is sunny & the groundhog sees his shadow, he will retreat back into its burrow & winter weather will continue for 6 more weeks. If it is cloudy, then spring will come early.

 Observed on February 14  Modern traditional celebration of love & romance  Many couples celebrate by dining out at a fancy restaurant & giving gifts to each other  Often flowers, especially roses, are given from the male to the female

 Observed on March 17  Honors St. Patrick & celebrates Irish culture  Celebrated by wearing green clothing, eating traditional Irish food, and drinking green beer

 Observed on April 1  Celebrated by playing tricks or jokes on family, friends, and co-workers  http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/arc hive/permalink/taco_liberty_bell

 Observed the Friday before Easter  Commemorates the crucifixion & death of Jesus  Is a recognized holiday in 12 states  State & local government offices are closed, as well as state chartered banks  Federal banks & post offices that are located in buildings that close for the day will also be closed, but not in formal observance of the holiday  Many schools, some universities & private sector businesses are closed  Financial markets are closed  Observed the Sunday following the Paschal Full Moon (March 22-April 25)  Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus  Many Americans color & decorate hard-boiled eggs & give baskets of candy and/or toys to children  Easter Egg Hunts are popular  Not a Federal Holiday because the 1st Amendment prohibits an establishment of religion & because it is always on a Sunday & most businesses are closed already  Many companies that are normally open on Sunday close for Easter, but becoming less popular  Retail stores are closed  Observed on April 22, but can vary  A celebration of environmentalism by doing something good for the environment  Observed the last Friday in April  Celebrated by planting & caring for trees  Originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska  First held in 1872 & one million trees were planted that day  Observed May 1  In most countries other than US, celebrated as the equivalent of Labor Day  Celtic & English holiday that celebrates the transition from spring to summer  Celebrated by making baskets and filling them with treats & anonymously leaving them for friends

 Observed 2nd Sunday in May  Honors mothers & motherhood  Made a federal holiday by Presidential order, though most federal agencies are already closed on Sundays

 Observed June 14  Commemorates the adoption of the flag of the US in 1777  Observed 3rd Sunday in June  Honors fathers & fatherhood  Observed October 31  Celebrates the eve of All Saint’s Day  Originally the end of the Celtic year  Celebrated with costume parties and trick-or- treating  Day After Thanksgiving  Traditionally beginning of Christmas shopping season  Not really a holiday, but some states observe as “The Day After Thanksgiving” as a holiday for state government employees  Virtually all schools, colleges & universities are closed along with many non-retail private sector businesses  Federal government offices, post offices & federally chartered banks must be open  Called Black Friday because it begins the sales period when most American retailers make their profits for the year & whether they will end the year “in the black” or “in the red”  Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT the busiest sales day of the year  A busy Black Friday almost invariably indicates a busy shopping season, while poor sales usually forecast a slow shopping season

 Monday after Thanksgiving  Big on-line shopping day with retailers offering many special deals and sales  Observed December 24  Virtually all businesses & retail stores close early, although a few remain open 24 hours  Santa traditionally brings gifts after the children have gone to bed this night  Time to gather with family  Observed December 31  Final day of the Gregorian year  Celebrated with a party & sometimes fireworks  Customary to kiss your special person at the stroke of midnight and toast the new year with champagne  Virtually every company & retail outlet closes early except stores that sell alcoholic beverages & party supplies