What Are All The US Holidays In Order? | Month-By-Month List

If you’re trying to plan school breaks, work leave, or travel days, “US holidays” can get confusing fast. Some dates are federal (meaning many offices close). Some are state holidays. Others are widely marked, yet most workplaces stay open.

This article puts the full year in order, starting with the 11 federal holidays first, then a practical set of other widely observed dates you’ll see on many U.S. calendars. You’ll also get the “observed day” rules that shift a holiday onto Friday or Monday.

How US Holidays Get Defined

When people say “all US holidays,” they often mean three different things at once.

• Federal holidays: Set in U.S. law for federal offices. Banks, schools, and employers often follow these, yet they don’t have to.
• State holidays: Added by states, sometimes tied to local history. A state may close courts or schools on a day that’s a normal workday in another state.
• Common observances: Days like Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day that show up on planners, yet usually aren’t paid days off.

If you need the official federal list, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management posts it in plain language under Federal Holidays.

Observed Days And Why Dates Shift

Many holidays keep a fixed calendar date, like July 4. When a fixed-date holiday lands on a Saturday, many workplaces observe it on the Friday before. When it lands on a Sunday, many observe it on the Monday after. Federal offices follow this pattern for most fixed-date holidays.

Other holidays are already tied to a weekday, like “the third Monday in January.” Those don’t need an observed rule because they’re always on a Monday.

Why Your Calendar Might Not Match Your Neighbor’s

Schools, courts, and private employers set their own closure rules. A hospital may stay open on a federal holiday. A school district may build in extra days off around a holiday weekend. A union contract may add paid days that aren’t federal at all.

US Holidays In Order By Month And Type

Below are the federal holidays in the order you’ll meet them through the year, with the date pattern that controls when they land.

January Holidays

New Year’s Day is January 1. If January 1 lands on a weekend, many offices shift the day off to Friday or Monday.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the third Monday in January. It’s always a Monday, so it lines up cleanly for long weekends.

February Holidays

Washington’s Birthday (often called Presidents Day on retail calendars) is the third Monday in February. It’s a federal holiday even if the casual label varies.

May Holidays

Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. It sits at the end of the month, so it can fall anywhere from May 25 to May 31.

June Holidays

Juneteenth National Independence Day is June 19. Like other fixed-date holidays, the observed day can shift if June 19 lands on a weekend.

July Holidays

Independence Day is July 4, with the same observed-day pattern when July 4 is on Saturday or Sunday.

September Holidays

Labor Day is the first Monday in September. It’s the only federal holiday that always lands in early September.

October Holidays

Columbus Day is the second Monday in October. Many state and local calendars keep it, while some do not. Some places mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date.

November Holidays

Veterans Day is November 11 with an observed day when needed.

Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. Many workplaces also close on the Friday after, yet that Friday is not a federal holiday.

December Holidays

Christmas Day is December 25 with an observed day when needed.

Federal holidays are set by law, and the same core list is spelled out in the U.S. Code list of legal public holidays.

Federal Holiday (In Order)	Date Pattern	Observed Day Notes
New Year’s Day	January 1	Often Friday if Sat, Monday if Sun
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	3rd Monday in January	Always Monday
Washington’s Birthday	3rd Monday in February	Always Monday
Memorial Day	Last Monday in May	Always Monday
Juneteenth National Independence Day	June 19	Often Friday if Sat, Monday if Sun
Independence Day	July 4	Often Friday if Sat, Monday if Sun
Labor Day	1st Monday in September	Always Monday
Columbus Day	2nd Monday in October	Always Monday (some places mark other names)
Veterans Day	November 11	Often Friday if Sat, Monday if Sun
Thanksgiving Day	4th Thursday in November	Always Thursday
Christmas Day	December 25	Often Friday if Sat, Monday if Sun

How To Use The Federal List For Real Planning

A list is handy, yet planning gets easier when you add three quick checks: who closes, what shifts, and what gets crowded.

Check Who Actually Closes

Federal offices close on federal holidays, yet your life may revolve around different systems. Banks often follow the federal calendar. Retail stores often stay open. Schools vary by district. If you’re booking an appointment, look for a “holiday hours” note on the specific office you need.

Watch For Observed Fridays And Mondays

Fixed-date holidays can create surprise long weekends. If July 4 lands on a Sunday, the Monday after can be a day off for many workers. That can change travel pricing and road traffic. It can also change when you can reach customer service lines, public offices, or courthouses.

Plan Around Peak Days

Some holidays drive travel spikes more than others. Thanksgiving is a classic one for flights. Memorial Day and Labor Day often anchor weekend trips. If you need quiet travel, pick a Tuesday or Wednesday away from a long weekend when you can.

What Are All The US Holidays In Order? Beyond Federal Dates

If your goal is a calendar that matches what many people actually mark, you’ll want a wider set than the 11 federal holidays. The list below covers widely recognized observances and common state-only holidays that show up across many calendars.

These dates are not “one rule for all.” They can be school events, civic remembrances, retail-heavy days, faith-based observances, or state closures. Treat them as planning cues, not guaranteed days off.

How This Non-Federal List Was Picked

To keep it useful, the list focuses on days that meet at least one of these tests:

• They appear on many mainstream U.S. calendars and planners.
• They frequently change store hours, mail flow, or school schedules.
• They are state holidays in multiple states, even if not nationwide.

Early-Year Observances

Valentine’s Day is February 14. It’s a normal workday in most places, yet restaurants and florists get busy.

St. Patrick’s Day is March 17. Parades and city events can change traffic patterns.

Good Friday lands on the Friday before Easter and is a state holiday in some places. Easter lands on a Sunday between late March and late April.

Spring And Summer Observances

Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June.

Patriot Day is September 11 and is marked in many places as a day of remembrance. It is not a federal day off.

Fall And Winter Observances

Halloween is October 31. It can affect school events and evening travel.

Election Day is the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. Some states treat it as a state holiday, and some employers give time off to vote.

Christmas Eve is December 24 and is often a half day for offices that close on Christmas. New Year’s Eve is December 31 and can bring early closures.

Widely Seen US Observances	When It Lands	Where You’ll Notice It
Valentine’s Day	February 14	Restaurants, deliveries, school notes
St. Patrick’s Day	March 17	Parades, city traffic
Good Friday	Friday before Easter	Some state offices, some schools
Easter Sunday	Sunday (late Mar–late Apr)	Faith services, family gatherings
Mother’s Day	2nd Sunday in May	Restaurants, travel, gifts
Father’s Day	3rd Sunday in June	Restaurants, family plans
Halloween	October 31	School events, evening traffic
Election Day	Tuesday after 1st Monday in Nov	Polling hours, some workplace time off
Christmas Eve	December 24	Early closures, travel rush

Common State Holidays You May See On Calendars

Some states add holidays that reflect local history. Three that appear often are:

• Patriots’ Day: Third Monday in April in parts of New England, tied to early independence-era events.
• Cesar Chavez Day: March 31 in some states.
• Day After Thanksgiving: A state holiday for some state offices, and a day off for many schools.

If you’re planning around a state office, check that state’s official holiday schedule. State lists can change, and names can differ even when the date is the same.

Simple Ways To Build A Personal Holiday Calendar

You don’t need a fancy app to keep this straight. A simple routine works.

Start With The 11 Federal Dates

Copy the federal list into your planner or calendar app. Add the observed-day shifts for fixed-date holidays. That gives you the baseline closures that affect travel, mail counters, and many offices.

Add The Dates Your School Or Employer Uses

Next, add your school calendar, your work calendar, and any contract days off. This is where most surprises hide. A school may close for a winter break window that stretches beyond Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Mark The Days That Change Your Errands

Even when you’re working, some days change your routine. Election Day can change traffic near polling sites. Halloween changes evening driving. Thanksgiving changes store hours and shipping cutoffs.

Holiday Order Checklist You Can Keep Handy

If you want a clean “in order” run-through, here it is as a quick reference list. It’s still worth using the tables above for the date rules.

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

Keep this list nearby when you book travel, plan study timelines, or schedule deadlines. It saves you from the classic “why is everything closed?” moment.