Holidays In The U.S.

The celebration of some of U.S. holidays has been moved to the Monday nearest the date of the event, which the holiday commemorates. Many businesses, schools and government offices close to observe legal holidays.

There are six major national legal holidays in the United States:

New Year's Day Memorial Day
Independence Day Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day

The following is a list of some of the major U.S. holidays:

  • New Year's Day (January 1)  Celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year.
  • Martin Luther King Day (3rd Monday in January) commemorates the birthday of Dr. King .
  • St. Valentine's Day (February 14th) exchange of cards, candy, flowers
  • President's Day (3rd Monday in February) Celebration of February 22nd birthday of George Washington, first president of the U.S., February 12th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the U.S. and all past U.S. presidents.
  • Ash Wednesday (date varies - 40 days before Easter Sunday) Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40 day period of penitence and fasting in Christian denominations. On this day some Christians attend a church service where a small smudge of ash is placed on their foreheads - symbolizing man's return to dust.
  • St. Patrick's Day (March 17) - Celebrate St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland  Irish theme parades, Irish and others wear something green,  pubs/bars serve green beer.
  • Easter Sunday (date varies March or April) celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A day of religious services and family gatherings.
  • Mother's Day (second Sunday in May)
  • Memorial Day (May 30 or nearest Monday) Day to honor members of the U.S. armed forces who died during the nation's wars.
  • Father's Day (third Sunday in June)
  • Independence Day or the Fourth of July - U.S. Declaration of Independence from Great Britain
  • Labor Day (first Monday of September) - recognizes the workers of America
  • Columbus Day (October 12 or nearest Monday) - celebrate the landing in the New World of Italian navigator Christopher Columbus on October 12, 1492
  • Halloween (October 31) - Children wear costumes and masks and knock on neighbors' doors for candy. Black and orange are the colors used for decorations - witches, black cats and ghosts are the symbols of the day.
  • Veterans Day (November 11) - A legal holiday for federal employees. This day honors veterans of U.S. armed services
  • Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November) - Commemorates the first successful harvest of the pilgrims in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1621. Thanksgiving dinner usually includes turkey, pumpkin pie and other foods that the pilgrims ate on the first Thanksgiving Day.
  • Christmas (December 25)  - celebration of the birth of the Christ Child. A day of religious services and family gatherings and giving of gifts.