Why we celebrate
A holiday is a special day of celebration or remembrance. American holidays honour important people and events, celebrate freedom, and bring families and communities together.
The U.S. has eleven federal holidays. Federal offices close on these days, and many schools and businesses do too. States can add their own holidays.
Federal holidays
| Date | Holiday | What it’s about |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | the start of a new year |
| 3rd Monday of January | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | honours the civil rights leader who worked for equality through nonviolence |
| 3rd Monday of February | Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) | honours George Washington and other presidents |
| last Monday of May | Memorial Day | remembers military members who died serving the country |
| June 19 | Juneteenth | celebrates the end of slavery |
| July 4 | Independence Day | the Declaration of Independence (1776) |
| 1st Monday of September | Labor Day | honours workers |
| 2nd Monday of October | Columbus Day; many places observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Columbus’s arrival in the Americas (1492); honouring Native peoples |
| November 11 | Veterans Day | thanks all who served in the military |
| 4th Thursday of November | Thanksgiving | giving thanks; sharing a meal |
| December 25 | Christmas | Christian holiday |
Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. Americans celebrate with fireworks, parades, picnics, barbecues and red, white and blue decorations.
Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people there were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Black communities have celebrated Juneteenth ever since. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
Memorial Day and Veterans Day
- Memorial Day honours those who died in military service. People visit cemeteries and place flags on graves.
- Veterans Day (November 11, the anniversary of the end of WWI) thanks all who served, living or not.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving remembers a harvest feast shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people in 1621. Today, families gather for turkey, stuffing, cranberries and pumpkin pie, and watch parades and football. Many Native Americans also remember the harm that came to their nations after colonists arrived; some observe a National Day of Mourning.
Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Columbus Day marks Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492. Because his arrival led to great harm for Indigenous peoples, many states and cities now celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same day, honouring Native cultures and history.
Heritage months
A heritage month celebrates the history and contributions of a group.
| Month | Celebration |
|---|---|
| February | Black History Month |
| March | Women’s History Month |
| May | Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; Jewish American Heritage Month |
| June | Pride Month |
| September 15–October 15 | Hispanic Heritage Month |
| November | Native American Heritage Month |
Cultural and religious celebrations
Americans come from every part of the world, so families celebrate many festivals: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, Diwali, Eid, Passover, Easter, Día de los Muertos, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and more. These celebrations share each culture’s heritage: its traditions and history passed down through generations.
Try it yourself
- Make a calendar of U.S. federal holidays and heritage months.
- Choose one holiday and research how it began.
- Compare a U.S. holiday with a similar holiday in another country, such as Thanksgiving in Canada.
- Write about a family tradition you have for a holiday.
Quick recap
- The U.S. has eleven federal holidays honouring people, events and values.
- Independence Day celebrates the Declaration of Independence.
- Juneteenth, a federal holiday since 2021, celebrates the end of slavery.
- Memorial Day and Veterans Day honour military service.
- Heritage months and cultural celebrations reflect America’s diversity.