How Many Federal Holidays Are There Per Year? Your Complete Guide to U.S. Public Holidays

Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your friendly Holiday Little Assistant here. I know you’re wondering about that magic number—just how many federal holidays do we get to enjoy each year in the U.S.? Well, grab your calendar and let’s dive into this together!

So here’s the deal: The U.S. government officially recognizes 11 federal holidays each year. These are the days when non-essential federal government offices close down, and most federal employees get a paid day off. But wait—before you start planning all those long weekends, let me break it down for you.

The Complete List of U.S. Federal Holidays

Here’s what your holiday lineup looks like:
1. New Year’s Day (January 1)
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
3. Presidents’ Day (3rd Monday in February)
4. Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
5. Juneteenth (June 19)
6. Independence Day (July 4)
7. Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
8. Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
9. Veterans Day (November 11)
10. Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday in November)
11. Christmas Day (December 25)

Pretty sweet lineup, right? But here’s something interesting—while these are the official federal holidays, individual states and private companies might observe additional days or swap some out.

Questions Related to Federal Holidays

Do all workers get federal holidays off? Nope, and this surprises a lot of people! Federal holidays only guarantee time off for federal employees. Private companies can decide whether to give these days off—though most do offer at least the major ones.

What about that “floating holiday” my coworker mentioned? Some companies give employees a personal floating holiday to use whenever they want, often to observe days important to them that aren’t federal holidays.

Why do some holidays move around? Great question! Several holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day are always on Mondays thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This creates more three-day weekends—because who doesn’t love those?

Is Juneteenth a new holiday? Yes! Juneteenth National Independence Day became the newest federal holiday in 2021, commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. It’s the first new federal holiday added since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Do holidays ever fall on weekends? They sure do! When holidays land on Saturday, Friday might be given off. For Sunday holidays, Monday often becomes the observed day. Your holiday Little Assistant here always keeps track of these adjustments!

To wrap it up, while there are 11 official federal holidays, what you actually get off work depends on where you’re employed. Some folks get all 11, others might get 6-8 major ones, and retail workers often get fewer (but may get holiday pay). The key is to check your company’s policy and start planning those vacation days!

Faqpro Thank you for reading, I hope this article helped clear up how many federal holidays we get each year. Remember, whether it’s 11 or just a handful, make the most of those precious days off! If you’ve got more holiday questions, you know where to find me—your trusty Holiday Little Assistant is always here to help.