Holiday is any day on which people lay aside their ordinary duties and cares. The word comes from the Anglo-Saxon halig daeg, or holy day. At first, holidays honored some sacred event or holy person. People in the United Kingdom and other countries speak of holidays as Americans speak of vacations. For a discussion of religious holidays, see Feasts and festivals .
In the United States,
Sunday is the only holiday recognized by common law. Congress has at different times set aside special holidays, such as V-E and V-J days to celebrate the end of fighting in World War II in 1945. But there are no national holidays as such. Each state has the authority to specify the holidays it will observe. The governor of the state proclaims the holidays for the state. The President and Congress designate the holidays to be observed in the District of Columbia, and by federal employees throughout the country. Congress has declared the following as legal federal holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1); Inauguration Day (January 20, every fourth year after 1965); Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, Birthday (January 15, but observed on the third Monday in January); Washington’s Birthday (February 22, but observed on the third Monday in February); Memorial Day (the last Monday in May); Juneteenth (June 19); Independence Day (July 4); Labor Day (the first Monday in September); Columbus Day (the second Monday in October); Veterans Day (November 11); Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November); and Christmas Day (December 25).
Most states observe the last Monday in May as Memorial Day, sometimes called Decoration Day. Most Southern States also celebrate Confederate Memorial Day in April, May, or June. Several Southern States celebrate the birthdays of Jefferson Davis (June 3) and Robert E. Lee (January 19). Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) is a legal holiday in a few states. Some people in New England celebrate Forefathers’ Day (December 21), and Maine and Massachusetts celebrate Patriots’ Day (third Monday in April). In the year of a presidential election, Election Day (first Tuesday after the first Monday in November) is a legal holiday in many states. Some holidays are observed by one state only. For example, a state may observe a holiday to commemorate its admission into the Union.
Banks and schools usually close on a legal holiday. When such a holiday falls on Sunday, the following Monday is usually observed. Schools and organizations often observe days known as traditional holidays, although schools and businesses do not close then. These days include Valentine’s Day (February 14); St. Patrick’s Day (March 17); and Halloween (October 31). In some states, Arbor Day, Bird Day, and Flag Day are school holidays. Child Health Day (the first Monday in October) is widely observed in schools. Many schools and some businesses close on Good Friday.
In Canada,
In Canada, public holidays include New Year’s Day (January 1); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25); Canada Day (July 1); Labour Day (the first Monday in September); Thanksgiving Day (the second Monday in October); Remembrance Day (November 11); Christmas Day (December 25); and Boxing Day (December 26).
In other countries.
Every country has its own special holidays. In Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day (March 17) is a legal holiday. Some outstanding French holidays include Bastille Day (July 14); Joan of Arc’s Day (second Sunday of May); and Saint Catherine’s Day (November 25). In the United Kingdom, Boxing Day (the first workday after Christmas) and May Day (May 1) are legal holidays.
Some holidays commemorate special events in the development of a country. Examples of these holidays include Greece’s Independence Day (March 25); Italy’s Liberation Day (April 25); Japan’s Constitution Day (May 3); India’s Independence Day (August 15); and Mexico’s Independence Day (September 16).
