U.S. State Holidays: Official Holidays State by State
In the United States, each state has the authority to create and designate its own holidays in addition to the federal holidays observed nationwide. State governments can add holidays to the federal list for paid time off for government workers and schools. States can also proclaim holidays that typically commemorate events of historical or cultural significance specific to that state, its history, identity and culture. However, the rules and processes for creating and celebrating state holidays can vary from one state to another.
What is the Purpose of State Holidays?
The main purpose of State holidays is to define time off for employees, specifically defining guidelines for government offices, banks and schools. Private businesses can choose and in some states, municipalities can choose whether the day includes time off. The extra official state holidays added to the state (beyond the federal holidays) may also be mandatory for government employees or left up to the governor or municipalities from year to year.
Special Holidays & Observances
Many states also establish various types of holidays that may include special observance days, weeks or months that are recognized but not considered public holidays. Many of these are Daily Fun & Awareness Holidays that have been proposed and passed by the state or proclaimed by the state's governor.
All States Observe Federal Holidays
While states have the authority to establish their own holidays, all states must also observe federal holidays, such as Independence Day (July 4th), Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, which are recognized nationwide. However, when a new holiday, such as Juneteenth, is implemented as a Federal holiday, some states are slow to include it.
How State Holidays are Established
State holidays are typically created through the state's legislative process. Legislators propose and pass bills to establish new holidays. Once a bill to create a state holiday is passed by the state legislature, it typically requires the signature of the state's governor to become law. In some states, the governor may also have the authority to proclaim certain holidays without legislative approval.
Recognition of State Holidays
Its important to note that many of the state holidays are lesser known and even the residents of the state may not be aware of them. Unless it is a designated public day with government, school and bank closures, or there is a special event planned in their community, most state residents do not recognize these days.
Many of the states statutes add recommendations for schools and businesses to recognize any special observances, but most do not include how to celebrate any special holidays. Most states proclaim any additional holidays and special observances in their states statutes and leave it up to the local counties, municipalities and residents to determine how to celebrate.
Alabama State Holidays & ObservancesAlabama State Day: December 14 |
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Alaska State Holidays & ObservancesOfficial Alaska Day: October 18 Alaska State Day: January 3 |
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Arizona State Holidays & ObservancesArizona State Day: February 14 |
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Arkansas State Holidays & ObservancesArkansas State Day: June 15 |
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California State Holidays & ObservancesCalifornia State Day: September 9 |
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Colorado State Holidays & ObservancesColorado State Day: August 1 Colorado Day - first Monday of August |
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Connecticut State Holidays & ObservancesConnecticut State Day: January 9 |
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Delaware State Holidays & ObservancesDelaware State Day: December 7 |
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Florida State Holidays & ObservancesOfficial Florida Day - Pascua Florida Day, April 2 Florida State Day: March 3 |
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Georgia State Holidays & ObservancesGeorgia State Day: January 2 Georgia day: February 12 |
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Hawaii State Holidays & ObservancesHawaii State Day: August 21
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Idaho State Holidays & ObservancesIdaho State Day: July 3 Idaho Day: March 4 |
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Illinois State Holidays & ObservancesIllinois State Day: December 3 |
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Indiana State Holidays & ObservancesIndiana State Day: December 11 |
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Iowa State Holidays & ObservancesIowa State Day: December 28 |
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Kansas State Holidays & ObservancesKansas State Day: January 29 |
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Kentucky State Holidays & ObservancesKentucky State Day: June 1 |
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Louisiana State Holidays & ObservancesLouisiana State Day: April 30 |
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Maine State Holidays & ObservancesMaine State Day: March 15 |
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Maryland State Holidays & ObservancesMaryland State Day: April 28 Maryland Day: March 25 |
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Massachusetts State Holidays & ObservancesMassachusetts State Day: February 6 |
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Michigan State Holidays & ObservancesMichigan State Day: January 26 |
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Minnesota State Holidays & ObservancesMinnesota State Day: May 11 |
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Mississippi State Holidays & ObservancesMississippi State Day: December 10 |
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Missouri State Holidays & ObservancesMissouri State Day: August 10 |
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Montana State Holidays & ObservancesMontana State Day: November 8 |
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Nebraska State Holidays & ObservancesNebraska State Day: March 1 |
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Nevada State Holidays & ObservancesNevada State Day: October 31 |
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New Hampshire State Holidays & ObservancesNew Hampshire State Day: June 21 |
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New Jersey State Holidays & ObservancesNew Jersey State Day: December 18 New Jersey Day: April 17 |
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New Mexico State Holidays & ObservancesNew Mexico State Day: January 6 |
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New York State Holidays & ObservancesNew York State Day: July 26 |
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North Carolina State Holidays & ObservancesNorth Carolina State Day: November 21 |
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North Dakota State Holidays & ObservancesNorth Dakota State Day: November 2 |
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Ohio State Holidays & ObservancesOhio State Day: March 1 |
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Oklahoma State Holidays & ObservancesOklahoma State Day: November 16 Oklahoma Day: April 22 |
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Oregon State Holidays & ObservancesOregon State Day: February 14 |
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Pennsylvania State Holidays & ObservancesPennsylvania Day: December 12 |
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Rhode Island State Holidays & ObservancesRhode Island State Day: May 29 Rhode Island Independence Day: May 4 |
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South Carolina State Holidays & ObservancesSouth Carolina State Day: May 23 |
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South Dakota State Holidays & ObservancesSouth Dakota State Day: November 2 |
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Tennessee State Holidays & ObservancesTennessee State Day: June 1 |
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Texas State Holidays & ObservancesTexas State Day: December 29 Texas Independence Day: March 2 |
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Utah State Holidays & ObservancesUtah State Day: January 4 |
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Vermont State Holidays & ObservancesVermont State Day: March 4 |
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Virginia State Holidays & ObservancesVirginia State Day: June 25 |
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Washington State Holidays & ObservancesWashington State Day: November 11 |
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Washington D.C. Holidays & Observances |
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West Virginia State Holidays & ObservancesWest Virginia State Day: June 20 |
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Wisconsin State Holidays & ObservancesWisconsin State Day: May 29 |
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Wyoming State Holidays & ObservancesWyoming State Day: July 10 Wyoming Day: December 10 |