Symbols

The United States has 11 federal holidays — days when most federal government offices are closed. **Independence Day — July 4** A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence from Britain. Also called "the Fourth of July" or "the country's birthday." The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. **Memorial Day — Last Monday of May** A holiday to honor **soldiers who died in military service**. Observed by visiting cemeteries, holding parades, and flying the flag at half-staff. Do not confuse with Veterans Day. **Veterans Day — November 11** A holiday to honor **all people who have served in the U.S. military** — both living and deceased. Observed on November 11 (the anniversary of the armistice ending World War I). **Thanksgiving Day — Fourth Thursday of November** A holiday giving thanks for the harvest and the blessings of the past year. Rooted in the tradition of the Pilgrims celebrating their first harvest in 1621. Celebrated with family gatherings and a large meal. **Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — Third Monday of January** Honors the birthday and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. (born January 15, 1929). **Presidents Day (Washington's Birthday) — Third Monday of February** Honors the birthdays of George Washington (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12), and all U.S. presidents. **Labor Day — First Monday of September** Honors the American labor movement and the contributions of workers. **Columbus Day — Second Monday of October** Commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Some states and cities celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. **Juneteenth — June 19** Celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people were free — months after the Civil War ended. Made a federal holiday in 2021. **New Year's Day — January 1** Celebrates the start of a new calendar year. **Christmas Day — December 25** A federal holiday marking Christmas, a Christian religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and widely observed as a cultural holiday.