State of Alabama Holidays & Observances

Comprehensive list Alabama Official National and State Holidays and how they are observed

Alabama State Day: December 14
Became the 22nd State to join the Union that makes up our Nation.

For a complete State by State listing, click here

Alabama Official State Holidays 

Alabama's State Statutes defines a list of holidays that are to be observed by the closing of state and government offices. It is listed in the Code of Alabama: Title 1, Chapter 3, Section 1-3-8: State Holidays Observed by Closing of State Offices (Source)

Each year, Alabama's government provides a list with the dates of each holiday for that year. Click here to view the PDF listing of Alabama's Official State Holidays. Holidays that fall on a Saturday are observed on Friday and holidays that fall on Sunday are observed on Monday. 

List of Alabama Legal Public Holidays

Alabama's calendar and official holidays includes all of the federal holidays except Juneteenth**. Alabama is one of two states that adds Confederate Robert E Lee to the National celebration of Marin Luther King, Jr Day. In addition to the Federal Holidays, Alabama celebrates Confederate Memorial Day, and Confederate Jefferson Davis' Birthday. Other inclusions are Mardi Gras, Rosa Parks Day, and sharing Columbus Day with Fraternal Day & American Indian Heritage Day.

Sunday - first day of each week

New Year's Day - January 1

Birthdays of Robert E. Lee* & Martin Luther King, Jr. - 3rd Monday in January

Birthdays of George Washington & Thomas Jefferson (Presidents' Day) - 3rd Monday in February

Mardi Gras - Date varies (47 Days after Easter) only observed in Baldwin and Mobile Counties 

Confederate Memorial Day* - 4th Monday on April

National Memorial Day - last Monday in May

Jefferson Davis’ Birthday* - 1st Monday in June

Independence Day - July 4

Labor Day - 1st Monday in September

Columbus Day & Fraternal Day & American Indian Heritage Day - 2nd Monday in October

Veterans' Day - November 11

Thanksgiving Day - 4th Thursday in November

Rosa Parks Day commemorative day - December 1 - each local county or municipality can determine how to celebrate

Christmas Day - December 25

*Alabama still has several Confederate Holidays. A bill was introduced in 2019 by State Rep. John Rogers to attempt to separate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Robert E. Lee’s Birthday. It failed to pass and is now "indefinitely postponed." Another is pending to remove Jefferson Davis day and add State Employee Appreciation day in it's place.

**There are also 2 bills proposing Juneteenth be added as a state holiday. 

Code of Alabama: Title 1, Chapter 3, Section 1-3-8: State Holidays Observed by Closing of State Offices: (Source with Universal Citation)

Holidays enumerated; personal leave days; state holidays observed by closing of state offices; compensatory leave days.

(a) Sunday, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday, Robert E. Lee's birthday, George Washington's birthday, Thomas Jefferson's birthday, Confederate Memorial Day, National Memorial Day, Jefferson Davis' birthday, the Fourth day of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Fraternal Day, Veterans' Day, American Indian Heritage Day, and the day designated by the Governor for public thanksgiving shall each be deemed a holiday. If any holiday falls on Sunday, the following day is the holiday. If any holiday falls on Saturday, the preceding day is the holiday. Veterans' Day shall be observed by the closing of all state, county, and municipal offices, all banks located within this state, and the public schools on such day. Public schools, grades K to 12, inclusive, and all public two-year institutions of higher education shall also be closed on National Memorial Day, and such closing shall be applicable to all students and non-essential employees. The Superintendent of Banks, with the concurrence of not less than two members of the state Banking Board, may authorize any state bank to close on National Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, and on such other days as may be declared by the Governor to be state holidays in honor of a special event. If any authorized state holiday falls on Friday, the Superintendent of Banks may authorize the Saturday following that Friday to be a holiday. The superintendent may also authorize the closing of banks at 12:00 noon on the day prior to Christmas Day, and the day prior to New Year's Day, if such days fall on business days.

(b) Of the above enumerated legal public holidays, the following shall be observed on the dates herein prescribed:

(1) Robert E. Lee's birthday - the third Monday in January.

(2) George Washington's birthday - the third Monday in February.

(3) Confederate Memorial Day - the fourth Monday in April.

(4) Jefferson Davis' birthday - the first Monday in June.

(5) Columbus Day and Fraternal Day - the second Monday in October.

(6) Veterans' Day - the eleventh day of November.

(7) Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday - the third Monday in January.

(8) National Memorial Day - the last Monday in May.

(9) Thomas Jefferson's birthday - the third Monday in February.

(10) American Indian Heritage Day - the second Monday in October.

(c) In addition to the legal holidays provided above, Mardi Gras shall be deemed a holiday in Mobile and Baldwin Counties and all state offices shall be closed in those counties on Mardi Gras.

(d) In addition to the legal holidays provided above all state employees, except those employed in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, shall be granted one personal leave day per year. The personal leave day shall be granted on January 1 of each year. All state employees employed in Baldwin and Mobile Counties shall be granted no personal leave day. All such personal leave days granted in any year shall be used by the end of the calendar year. All such personal leave days shall be scheduled during the year with the approval of the supervisor. Supervisors failing to schedule personal leave days for employees shall justify that action in writing to the Director of State Personnel and the employee shall receive pay at a rate not less than the employee's usual and customary rate of pay for any personal leave day not taken by December 31 of each year.

(e) All state holidays shall be observed by the closing of all state offices. Any state office may remain open on a state holiday upon written notice by the appointing authority to the State Personnel Board at least 60 days in advance of the holiday. Provided, that any state office may be opened in the event of an emergency and the State Personnel Board may grant a blanket approval for the openings of state offices needing to be open on holidays on a regular basis for essential services. Any state employee working on a state holiday shall receive a day of compensatory leave or paid compensation in lieu of the holiday as provided herein.

(f) Each employee shall attempt to schedule any compensatory leave day provided in lieu of a regularly scheduled holiday, subject to the approval of the supervisor, during the quarter that the regularly scheduled holiday occurred. If any compensatory leave day cannot be scheduled during the designated quarter, the compensatory leave day may be accumulated at the request of the employee for up to one year. Supervisors failing to schedule compensatory leave days for employees within the quarter, unless the day is carried forward at the request of the employee, shall justify that action in writing to the Director of State Personnel and the employee shall receive pay at a rate not less than the employee's usual and customary rate of pay for any compensatory leave day to which the employee may be entitled and which has not been taken.

(g)(1) The first day in December of each year is designated as Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day in this state. All citizens of this state are requested to devote some portion of Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day to commemorate the accomplishments of Mrs. Rosa L. Parks, a woman of great courage, vision, love, and faith who helped usher in the modern civil rights movement on December 1, 1955, by refusing to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Each resident of this state is requested to observe the day with appropriate activities.

(2) Each county and municipality may elect to observe Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day as a holiday.

This article updated as of October 2023. While every attempt is made to be sure the information is accurate, we do not guarantee the information provided. States determine these holidays and new calendars and dates observed each year and may eliminate or add holidays and observances. Please check with your local state government website for the most up to date information and legal holiday guidelines. 

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