US Federal Holidays in 2024: History, significance, and celebration of national holidays of America

National holidays, also called federal holidays, are some fixed holidays observed by the people of the United States. Non-essential offices and schools remain closed on these US national holidays. Federal holidays in the US are paid leaves and the employees receive a full day salary even with closed offices. Every official holiday in the US has its own history and tradition and is observed by the countrymen with great enthusiasm. Here in this article, we present the list of all US federal holidays in 2024 along with some details about the associated history and traditions.

United States Federal Holidays 2024

Below is given the list of all national holidays in the United States in 2024. By getting a former idea of holidays people can get a chance to plan their year, especially if it involves any vacation, beforehand.

Check: List of Important Days and Dates

Important US Federal Holidays 2024

Check out some interesting information about some important US national holidays in 2024:

1. Martin Luther King Day

Often referred to shorthand as MLK Day, Martin Luther King Day is observed as a federal holiday in the United States. The day marks the birth anniversary of the great civil rights movement activist Martin Luther King Jr. The law to observe Martin Luther King Day was passed in the year 1983 and the first observation was held three years later in 1986. It was only in 2000 that the day was officially observed in all 50 states of the US.

2. Presidents’ Day

Known officially as Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day is another important federal holiday in the United States. Observed every year on the third Monday of February, the day honors the lives of all the presidents of the United States. Presidents’ Day also commemorates the birth anniversary of the Founding Father and the first president of the United States George Washington as well as Abraham Lincoln.

3. Memorial Day

Memorial Day is observed in honor of the US military personnel who sacrificed their lives for the service of the country. It was originally known as Decoration Day and has been observed on the last Monday of May every year since 1971. One of the nation’s oldest continuously running parades is observed every year in Doylestown, Pennsylvania on Memorial Day. This parade is claimed to be observed since 1868.

4. Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known officially as Juneteenth National Independence Day, celebrates the end of slavery in the US. The name Juneteenth is the combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”, and is observed every year on June 19. The last slaves of the Confederacy were freed on this very date after the Emancipation Proclamation was brought into effect. Juneteenth has been a federal holiday since 2021.

5. Independence Day

Independence Day, more popular as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States. The day commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and others. Fourth of July is celebrated every year with fireworks, parades, picnics, family reunions, etc.

6. Labor Day

Labor Day is celebrated every year on the first Monday in September to honor the American labor movement. The holiday also recognizes the work and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the nation. Labor Day was first observed as an official public holiday in the state of Oregon in 1887.

7. Columbus Day

Columbus Day is a national holiday observed in America as well as other countries including Italy. The holiday celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. The first Columbus Day was observed on October 12, 1792, by the Columbian Order of New York. It is observed in the United States on the second Monday in October and the first Monday in November in Italy.

8. Veterans Day

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11 and honors the military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The holiday coincides with Remembrance Day observed in other countries to mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Originally observed as  Armistice Day, it was renamed Veteran’s Day after the request of US veteran organizations in 1954.

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