Public holidays in the United States, including both federal holidays and popular commercial celebrations, are a big part of the culture. Many of them are seen as a chance to spend time with family and friends, join public events, or simply enjoy a long weekend.
Every country has its own national holidays, often linked to important moments in its history, identity and culture. In the United States, there are currently 11 federal holidays each year. These are public holidays recognised by the federal government, when many government offices, public institutions and banks close for the day.
Individual states can also recognise their own holidays. This means some dates may be observed in one state but not in another, especially when they are connected to local history or regional traditions.
The most popular holidays in the United States
Americans are known for enjoying a celebration, whether that means watching fireworks, organising a picnic, joining a parade, decorating the house or hosting a party with friends.
Alongside national and religious holidays, there are also more commercial celebrations, such as Valentine’s Day and Halloween. Here are some of the most widely recognised and celebrated holidays in the United States:
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New Year’s Eve
As in many countries around the world, the United States celebrates the start of the new year on 1 January.
The celebrations usually begin the night before, on New Year’s Eve. At midnight, people gather for fireworks, parties and countdown events to welcome the year ahead.
One of the most famous New Year celebrations takes place in Times Square, New York City. Just before midnight, a large illuminated crystal ball is slowly lowered as the crowd counts down to the new year.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday of January.
Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most important leaders of the American civil rights movement. He campaigned for racial equality and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, four years before he was assassinated on 4 April 1968.
Many events take place across the country, including marches, public talks, community service projects and commemorations. Atlanta, Georgia, where King was born, is one of the most important places for these events.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is celebrated on 14 February.
Although it is not a federal holiday, it is one of the most visible commercial celebrations in the United States. Couples often mark the day with cards, flowers, chocolates, gifts or romantic dinners.
For many people, it is also a chance to celebrate friendship, family and affection more broadly, especially in schools, where children often exchange cards with classmates.
Washington’s Birthday, often called Presidents’ Day
This holiday is officially called Washington’s Birthday at federal level, although many people know it as Presidents’ Day. It is celebrated on the third Monday of February.
The holiday originally honoured George Washington, the first president of the United States. Over time, it has also become associated with honouring other American presidents, especially Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is also in February.
Cherry pie is often connected with the day because of the well-known, though legendary, story about George Washington and the cherry tree.
Mount Rushmore
Easter Sunday
Easter is a Christian holiday that falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
In the United States, Easter is not a federal holiday. However, because it always falls on a Sunday, many people are already off work or school.
Families often celebrate with traditional food, church services, decorated eggs and Easter egg hunts. Egg hunts are especially popular with children and are organised in homes, schools, parks and local communities.
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on 5 May and has become an important celebration of Mexican culture in the United States.
The date commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Although it is not Mexico’s Independence Day, it is often misunderstood as such outside Mexico.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is marked with parades, music, dancing, food and cultural events, especially in areas with large Mexican and Mexican American communities.
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, while Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of June.
Neither is a federal holiday, but both are widely celebrated across the country.
Families often mark the day with cards, gifts, meals out or time spent together at home. Schools may also encourage younger children to make handmade presents for their parents.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May.
It is a federal holiday dedicated to remembering members of the United States Armed Forces who died while serving their country.
Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, place flags on graves or attend parades and public ceremonies. The holiday is also widely seen as the unofficial start of summer in the United States.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is observed on 19 June and became a federal holiday in 2021.
The day marks the end of slavery in the United States, specifically the moment in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Today, Juneteenth is commemorated with community gatherings, educational events, music, food, parades and reflections on African American history and freedom.
Independence Day
Independence Day is one of the most important holidays in the United States. It is celebrated every year on 4 July.
The holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, when the thirteen American colonies declared independence from Great Britain.
Across the country, people celebrate with fireworks, parades, concerts, barbecues and family gatherings.
One of the oldest and best-known celebrations is the Bristol Fourth of July Celebration in Rhode Island, which describes itself as America’s oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration, dating back to 1785.
Labor Day
Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September.
It honours workers and the labour movement in the United States. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City in 1882, organised by the Central Labor Union.
Today, many Americans see Labor Day weekend as the unofficial end of summer. It is often marked with barbecues, short trips, sales and outdoor events.
Halloween
Halloween is celebrated on 31 October.
Children and adults dress up in costumes, often as ghosts, monsters, celebrities, film characters or pop culture figures.
The most famous Halloween tradition is trick-or-treating. Children go from house to house in costume, asking for sweets. Many homes are decorated with pumpkins, cobwebs, lights and spooky decorations. Adults often celebrate with costume parties, horror films and themed events.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day is observed on 11 November.
It began as Armistice Day, marking the end of the First World War. In 1954, it became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to honouring all American military veterans.
The date is marked with parades, ceremonies and public events across the country. It is a day of thanks and recognition for those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November.
In the United States, the holiday is traditionally linked to a 1621 harvest gathering involving English colonists and Indigenous people. Today, Thanksgiving is mainly seen as a time for family, gratitude and shared meals.
Traditional Thanksgiving dishes often include roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
The following day is Black Friday, when many shops offer large discounts. For many people, it marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is celebrated on 25 December.
In the United States, Christmas traditions vary widely because the country is home to people from many different cultural and religious backgrounds. For many families, the season includes decorations, gift-giving, festive meals, music, religious services and time with loved ones.
Homes, shops and streets are often decorated with lights, Christmas trees and ornaments throughout December.
One well-known festive destination is McAdenville in North Carolina, known as Christmas Town U.S.A., where the town holds an annual tree lighting ceremony and is decorated with Christmas lights each December.
Rockefeller Tree in NYC
Planning to experience the holidays in the United states while studying abroad?
A study holiday in the United States gives you the chance to improve your English while experiencing everyday American culture first-hand. From fireworks on Independence Day to pumpkin decorations at Halloween, all of these holidays can help you understand the country beyond the classroom.
With Astrolabio, you can choose a study holiday that gives you language learning, cultural experiences and memories you will carry with you long after you return home.
