The federal holidays are authorized holidays which have been recognized by the US government. These public holidays were established by Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103). Need to know when it's the next holiday? We have the answer for you.
The federal government of the United States has declared eleven calendar dates as official holidays, which are known as national holidays.
Holiday | Date | Day |
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Monday |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | January 15 | Monday |
| George Washington’s Birthday | February 19 | Monday |
| Memorial Day | May 27 | Monday |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Wednesday |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Thursday |
| Labor Day | September 2 | Monday |
| Columbus Day | October 14 | Monday |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Monday |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 28 | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Wednesday |
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.
Federal holidays are paid holidays that are observed annually by the federal government. During these days, employees of non-essential government agencies are paid for not working. Furthermore, post offices, banks, and schools usually close as well.
Federal holidays are days designated by the US government as days of observation to celebrate important events, commemorate historical figures, or recognize special observances. There are eleven federal holidays in the US—including Independence Day, John F. Kennedy Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day—and many states and localities also observe their holidays. Federal employees are generally entitled to paid time off on federal holidays.
| No | Federal holiday | Date |
| 1 | New Year's Day | January 1 |
| 2 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Third Monday in January |
| 3 | George Washington’s Birthday | Third Monday in February |
| 4 | Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| 5 | Juneteenth | June 19 |
| 6 | Independence Day | July 4 |
| 7 | Labor Day | First Monday in September |
| 8 | Columbus Day | Second Monday in October |
| 9 | Veterans Day | November 11 |
| 10 | Thanksgiving Day | 4th Thursday in November |
| 11 | Christmas Day | December 25 |
The above mentioned table could have the Inauguration Day (January 20, every 4 years following a presidential election). The next presidential inauguration is scheduled to be on January 20, 2025.
Since you're interested in knowing when the next federal holidays are taking place, you might find this printable 2024 calendar template valuable.
How many federal holidays are there?
There are a total of eleven federal holidays across the calendar year in the US, as legislated in 5 U.S. Code § 6103.For the original release visit the US Office of Personnel Management.
Do you have to provide federal holidays off to your staff?
No. Federal holidays must be paid time off for workers, but only by the federal government. Private companies are not legally required to observe federal holidays as paid time off for their staff.
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Discover the calendar of public holidays across the world.