Federal Holidays

In the United States, there are 10 federal holidays set by law:

Under current definitions, four are set by date:

New Year's Day                                    January 1
Independence Day                                  July 4
Veterans Day                                      November 11
Christmas Day                                     December 25

If any of the above fall on a Saturday, then Friday may be observed as a holiday by various institutions. Similarly, if one falls on a Sunday, then Monday may be observed as a holiday.

The other six are set by a day of the week and month:

Martin Luther King's Birthday                     Third Monday in January
Washington's Birthday                             Third Monday in February
Memorial Day                                      Last Monday in May
Labor Day                                         First Monday in September
Columbus Day                                      Second Monday in October
Thanksgiving                                      Fourth Thursday in November

The table below displays day of the week for the first set of holidays, and a date for the second set.

Also shown is General Election Day                First Tuesday after first
                                                  Monday in November



                      1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005

New Year's Day         Mon   Wed   Th    Fri   Sat   Mon   Tu    Wed   Th    Sat

Independence Day       Th    Fri   Sat   Sun   Tu    Wed   Th    Fri   Sun   Mon

Veterans Day           Mon   Tu    Wed   Th    Sat   Sun   Mon   Tu    Th    Fri

Christmas Day          Wed   Th    Fri   Sat   Mon   Tu    Wed   Th    Sat   Sun

Martin Luther
King's Birthday   Jan.  15    20    19    18    17    15    21    20    19    17
Washington's
Birthday          Feb.  19    17    16    15    21    19    18    17    16    21

Memorial Day      May   27    26    25    31    29    28    27    26    31    30

Labor Day         Sep.   2     1     7     6     4     3     2     1     6     5

Columbus Day      Oct.  14    13    12    11     9     8    14    13    11    10

Thanksgiving      Nov.  28    27    26    25    23    22    28    27    25    24

Election Day      Nov.   5     4     3     2     7     6     5     4     2     8