How Many Holidays Were There in 2020? A Complete Breakdown of Public Days Off

Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your friendly Holiday Little Assistant back with another useful breakdown. I know 2020 feels like a blur (thanks, pandemic!), but let’s talk about something fun – how many days off we actually got that year. Whether you’re planning a 2024 vacation and using 2020 as reference or just curious, I’ve got the scoop!

So, How Many Holidays Did 2020 Actually Have?

In 2020, the U.S. had 10 federal holidays. These are the big ones where most government offices, banks, and many businesses close up shop. Here’s the full list:
– New Year’s Day (January 1)
– Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 20)
– Presidents’ Day (February 17)
– Memorial Day (May 25)
– Independence Day (July 4)
– Labor Day (September 7)
– Columbus Day (October 12)
– Veterans Day (November 11)
– Thanksgiving Day (November 26)
– Christmas Day (December 25)

But wait—there’s more! Some states and companies add extra holidays (like Juneteenth, which became federal in 2021 but was already observed in places like Texas and New York in 2020). So depending on where you lived or worked, you might’ve scored an extra day or two!

Pro Tip: How to Maximize Your Holiday Time Off

Savvy planners know holidays are golden for stretching vacation days. For example, in 2020:
– July 4th fell on a Saturday, so Friday the 3rd became the observed day off.
– Christmas was on a Friday – hello, long weekend!

If you tacked on just 4 vacation days around Thanksgiving (Monday–Wednesday), you’d get a glorious 9-day break using only 4 PTO days. *Chef’s kiss*

2020 vs. Other Years: Was It Special?

Nope! Most years have 10–11 federal holidays. The number only changes if a holiday falls on a weekend (like July 4th in 2020), shifting the observed day. Fun fact: 2021 also had 10, while 2023 had 11 because January 1st was a Sunday, making Monday the 2nd a holiday.

Questions You Might Still Have

Did COVID affect holidays in 2020? Sadly, yes. Many parades/fireworks were cancelled, but the dates stayed the same.
What about religious holidays? Federal holidays don’t include Easter or Eid, but some employers give floating holidays for these.
Best state for extra holidays? Massachusetts celebrates Patriots’ Day (April), and Hawai’i has King Kamehameha Day (June).

So there you have it – 2020 gave us 10 guaranteed federal holidays (plus potential extras). Here’s hoping future years are less chaotic but just as generous with days off!

Thanks for reading, folks! Need help with 2024’s holiday calendar? Just holler at your favorite Holiday Little Assistant. Catch you on the next day off!