There are 12 U.S. federal holidays celebrated each year. Employees who are employed by the federal government are not expected to work on federal holidays, and federal offices and buildings will be closed on these days. Certain states may celebrate local or regional holidays as well, which may be omitted from the following list. In addition to federal holidays, business holidays may also exist.
Holidays that fall on a weekend are typically observed on a weekday. For example, if the holiday itself is on a Sunday, it's observed on the following Monday since Sunday is considered a non-working day for federal employees. However, if a holiday falls on a non-working day, such as a Saturday, the holiday is typically observed on the preceding Friday. Employees employed through the federal government receive compensation for their time off, also known as a paid holiday
Federal holidays were implemented by Congress in 1870 with only four original holidays created. These holidays included New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. The remaining holidays were incorporated between 1870 through 2021, with Juneteenth being the last U.S. federal holiday being added.
Fun Fact:
Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.
