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USA Holidays
Strictly speaking, the United States does not have national holidays. The
federal government recognizes ten annual and one quadrennial holiday for its
employees. The annual federal holidays are widely observed by state and local
governments and businesses, but they may alter the dates of observance or add
or subtract holidays according to local custom.
Proud to be an American
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Pursuant to the Monday Holidays Act of 1968, most official holidays are
observed on the Monday closest to the actual date of the holiday, except for
New Year's Day,
Independence Day,
Thanksgiving, and
Christmas Day. There are
also U.S. state holidays particular to individual U.S. states.
Most American holidays recognize events or people from U.S. history, although
two are shared in common with many other countries: Christmas Day and New
Year's Day.
The following list is limited to holidays that are unique to the United
States and relate to its history:
| Date |
Holiday |
Remarks |
| January, third Monday |
Martin Luther King Day |
Honors Martin Luther King, Jr.,
Civil Rights leader; combined with other holidays in several states |
| February, third Monday |
Washington's Birthday, or
Presidents' Day |
Honors Washington, but also Lincoln and other past American
Presidents as "Presidents' Day." |
| May, last Monday |
Memorial Day |
Honors service men and women who died in military service, marks
traditional beginning of summer. |
| June 14 |
Flag Day |
Honors the American flag, encourages citizens to fly the flag and
study its traditions. |
| June, third Saturday |
Juneteenth |
Primarily an African American holiday, honors the end of slavery in
the United States. |
| July 4 |
Independence Day |
Celebrates Declaration of Independence, usually called the Fourth
of July. |
| September, first Monday |
Labor Day |
Honors the labor movement and American workers. |
| September 11 |
Patriot Day (9/11) |
Day of remembrance for the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks. |
| October, second Monday |
Columbus Day |
Honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discover of the Americas.
In some areas it is also a celebration of Italian culture and heritage. |
| November 11 |
Veterans Day |
Honors all veterans of the United States armed forces. A
traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering
those who fought for peace. |
November,
fourth Thursday |
Thanksgiving |
Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in much of North America,
generally observed as an expression of gratitude, usually to God. The
most common view of its origin is that it was to give thanks to God for
the bounty of the autumn harvest. |
| December 26 through January 1 |
Kwanzaa |
African American holiday celebration |
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