Federal Holiday

In the United States, a Federal holiday is a holiday for which federal workers are excused from work. The ten currently recognized Federal holidays are:

• New Year's Day
• Inauguration Day (for certain workers)
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr
• Washington's Birthday
• Memorial Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day

These are the official names in the law that defines holidays for federal employees. Most states use the same holidays for their employees, as well as the public schools, although the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. is normally called Martin Luther King Day, and Washington's Birthday is normally called Presidents' Day.

Private employers are not required to observe these holidays, although many businesses will close at least for New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Some people have objected to honoring Martin Luther King, Jr and Christopher Columbus with holidays. As a result, Martin Luther King Day took several years to gain national acceptance and was renamed Human Rights Day in some locations, and Columbus Day is not celebrated in all states, although it remains a holiday for federal workers in those states.

The UK equivalent is a Bank Holiday. The Canadian equivalent is a Statutory Holiday.

External links

• Official list of 2003 federal holidays