Other Holidays
Holidays of the United States vary with local observance. Strictly speaking, the United States does not have national holidays. The federal government recognizes ten annual and one quadrennial holiday for its employees. more...
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The annual federal holidays are widely observed by state and local governments, however they may alter the dates of observance or add or subtract holidays according to local custom. Pursuant to the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 (taking effect in 1971), most official holidays are observed on the Monday closest to the actual date of the holiday, except for New Year's Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. There are also U.S. state holidays particular to individual U.S. states.
In the U.S., most retailers are closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, while they are open all other holidays. Larger private businesses tend to observe most of the ten federal holidays, and the day after Thanksgiving. Smaller businesses often observe only the "big six" holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas).
Most American holidays recognize events or people from U.S. history, although two are shared in common with many other countries: Christmas Day and New Year's Day. These two and three more are shared with Canada, namely Labor Day/Labour Day, Veterans Day/Remembrance Day, and Thanksgiving. The latter falls on different days: In Canada it's the second Monday in October (Columbus Day in the USA), while in the United States, it's on the fourth Thursday in November.
The holiday season, commonly said to run between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day and often encompassing the Winter solstice (see Cultural aspects), Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa is generally celebrated as a nonsectarian winter holiday. Summer is traditionally considered to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Federal holidays
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Federal holidays are designated by Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103). If a holiday falls on a Saturday it is celebrated the preceding Friday; if a holiday falls on a Sunday it is celebrated the following Monday.
Federal Holidays Calendars from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.;
Patriotic and national observances
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36 U.S.C. § 101 — American Heart Month;
36 U.S.C. § 102 — Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month;
36 U.S.C. § 103 — Cancer Control Month;
36 U.S.C. § 104 — Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day;
36 U.S.C. § 105 — Child Health Day;
36 U.S.C. § 106 — Citizenship Day;
36 U.S.C. § 107 — Columbus Day;
36 U.S.C. § 108 — Constitution Week;
36 U.S.C. § 109 — Father's Day;
36 U.S.C. § 110 — Flag Day;
36 U.S.C. § 111 — Gold Star Mother's Day;
36 U.S.C. § 112 — Honor America Days;
36 U.S.C. § 113 — Law Day, U.S.A.;
36 U.S.C. § 114 — Leif Erikson Day;
36 U.S.C. § 115 — Loyalty Day;
36 U.S.C. § 116 — Memorial Day;
36 U.S.C. § 117 — Mother's Day (see also: Mother's Day (United States));
36 U.S.C. § 118 — National Aviation Day;
36 U.S.C. § 119 — National Day of Prayer;
36 U.S.C. § 120 — National Defense Transportation Day;
36 U.S.C. § 121 — National Disability Employment Awareness Month;
36 U.S.C. § 122 — National Flag Week;
36 U.S.C. § 123 — National Forest Products Week;
36 U.S.C. § 124 — National Freedom Day;
36 U.S.C. § 125 — National Grandparents' Day;
36 U.S.C. § 126 — National Hispanic Heritage Month;
36 U.S.C. § 127 — National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day;
36 U.S.C. § 128 — National Maritime Day;
36 U.S.C. § 129 — National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day;
36 U.S.C. § 130 — National Poison Prevention Week;
36 U.S.C. § 131 — National Safe Boating Week;
36 U.S.C. § 132 — National School Lunch Week;
36 U.S.C. § 133 — National Transportation Week;
36 U.S.C. § 134 — Pan American Aviation Day;
36 U.S.C. § 135 — Parents' Day;
36 U.S.C. § 136 — Peace Officers Memorial Day;
36 U.S.C. § 137 — Police Week;
36 U.S.C. § 138 — Save Your Vision Week;
36 U.S.C. § 139 — Steelmark Month;
36 U.S.C. § 140 — Stephen Foster Memorial Day;
36 U.S.C. § 141 — Thomas Jefferson's birthday;
36 U.S.C. § 142 — White Cane Safety Day;
36 U.S.C. § 143 — Wright Brothers Day;
36 U.S.C. § 144 — Patriot Day;
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