The Ultimate Guide: How to Add Public Holidays to Your iPhone Calendar (2024 Update)

Hey there! It’s your Holiday Little Assistant popping in to solve one of the most common questions I get: “How do I get those darn public holidays to show up on my iPhone calendar?” Trust me, you’re not alone – this trips up so many folks. Let me walk you through the super simple steps (and some pro tips!) to never miss another holiday again.

First things first – why bother adding holidays to your calendar? Well, besides being the hero who reminds friends about long weekends, you’ll avoid those awkward “Wait, is the post office closed today?” moments. Whether it’s Christmas, Thanksgiving, or that random bank holiday you always forget, let’s get your iPhone prepped for all the red-letter days.

Method 1: The Instant Holiday Load (For Super Lazy People)

Apple actually has a magical hidden holiday calendar! Here’s the 30-second fix: Open your Calendar app → Tap “Calendars” at the bottom → Hit “Add Calendar” → Scroll to “Holidays” under “Other” → Pick your country’s holiday set. Boom! All major holidays now appear in festive colors. Pro tip: This even updates automatically every year – set it and forget it!

Method 2: For Custom Holiday Fanatics

Want to add local festivals or company holidays? No sweat! Create a custom calendar: Open Calendar → Tap the “+” icon → “Add Subscription Calendar” → Paste a public .ics URL (most governments provide these). For US folks, try calendars like “US Office Holidays” for federal + state dates. Bonus: Share these with family via iCloud – teamwork makes the dream work!

Troubleshooting: Why Aren’t My Holidays Showing Up?

Ugh, the worst when this happens! Check these fixes: 1) Ensure “Holidays” is toggled ON in your calendar list 2) Try switching to “Week” view – some holidays don’t pop in “Day” view 3) Restart your phone (the tech equivalent of “turn it off and on again”). Still stuck? Your region settings might be wonky – head to Settings → General → Language & Region to double-check.

Here’s my favorite hack: Create calendar alerts for big holidays 1-2 weeks out. Nothing like a “4th of July BBQ shopping!!!” notification to save you from last-minute hot dog runs. And for my international jet-setters – you can subscribe to multiple countries’ holiday calendars to always know when abroad.

Wrapping this up like a holiday gift: Whether you’re team #Lazy (Method 1) or team #Extra (Method 2), your iPhone can totally handle holiday reminders. The key is picking the method that fits your lifestyle. Personally, I mix both – default holidays for the basics, plus a custom calendar for my weird obsession with Taco Tuesday.

FAQpro Thanks for sticking with me, friends! Now you’re officially a public holiday calendar ninja. Go forth and never show up to work on Labor Day again. If you hit any snags or want recommendations for specific holiday calendars, just shout – I live for this stuff! Happy (well-planned) holidays!