United States Holidays in 2025 are a combination of Federal or national holidays, public holidays and religious holidays. On top of these, there are many local holidays and cultural holidays the provide many ways for Americans to celebrate the beautiful melting pot that makes up American life.
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Table of Contents
Common U.S. Holidays in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027
In addition to these holidays, there are many more celebrated by specific religious and cultural groups as well as state holidays for individual states.
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1, 2025
We kick off the year with New Year’s Day, a time for fresh beginnings and resolutions. It’s a day when people gather with friends and family, watch fireworks, and count down the seconds until the new year begins.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Monday, January 20, 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929. But we always celebrate on the third Monday in January as we honor civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was a champion of equality and justice, and this day is a time to reflect on his dream for a better, more equal America.
Inauguration Day – Monday, January 20, 2025 (Only observed every four years)
Observance of Inauguration Day in the United States is typically held on January 20th every four years. This is the day on which the President-Elect of the United States is formally sworn into office and takes the oath of office, officially becoming the President.
Groundhog Day – Sunday, February 2, 2025
Groundhog Day is a quirky North American tradition on February 2 when a groundhog’s shadow, or lack thereof, is believed to predict the arrival of spring or an extended winter.
Chinese New Year – Wednesday, January 29, 2025 – Wednesday February 12, 2025
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a joyous and vibrant celebration in Chinese culture that marks the beginning of the lunar new year.
Valentine’s Day – Friday, February 14, 2025
Valentine’s Day is all about love and friendship. People exchange greeting cards, gifts, and sweet treats to show their affection for one another.
Presidents’ Day – Monday, February 17, 2025
Presidents’ Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday, pays tribute to two of our country’s greatest leaders, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
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Mardi Gras – Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Mardi Gras is a lively and colorful celebration that precedes Ash Wednesday, often involving elaborate parades, costumes, and revelry.
St. Patrick’s Day – Monday, March 17, 2025
On St. Patrick’s Day, people around the country wear green and celebrate Irish culture with parades, music, and festivities.
Good Friday – Friday, April 18, 2025 (Not a federal holiday)
Good Friday is a solemn Christian observance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 20, 2025
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ with church services, egg hunts, and family gatherings.
Emancipation Day – Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Observed in Washington, D.C.)
Emancipation Day commemorates the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C., in 1862.
Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Earth Day is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about environmental issues.
National Arbor Day – Friday, April 25, 2025
Arbor Day encourages tree planting and environmental conservation.
Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 11, 2025
Mother’s Day celebrates mothers and their contributions, often with family gatherings.
Memorial Day – Monday, May 26, 2025
Memorial Day honors those who have died while serving in the U.S. military.
Father’s Day – Sunday, June 15, 2025
Father’s Day celebrates fathers and their influence in their children’s lives.
Juneteenth – Thursday, June 19, 2025
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. and became a federal holiday in 2021.
Independence Day – Friday, July 4, 2025
Independence Day celebrates America’s independence from British rule with fireworks and patriotic festivities.
Labor Day – Monday, September 1, 2025
Labor Day honors the contributions of American workers and marks the unofficial end of summer.
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Monday, October 13, 2025
Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, while some states recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day to honor Native American history and culture.
Halloween – Friday, October 31, 2025
Halloween is a fun, spooky holiday with costumes, trick-or-treating, and themed decorations.
Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans, living and deceased.
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 27, 2025
Thanksgiving is a day for gratitude, family gatherings, and a feast featuring turkey and other holiday favorites.
Black Friday – Friday, November 28, 2025 (Not a federal holiday)
Black Friday marks the biggest shopping day of the year with significant discounts.
Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25, 2025
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ with festive traditions, decorations, and gift-giving.
New Year’s Eve – Wednesday, December 31, 2025
New Year’s Eve is the final celebration of the year, with parties, fireworks, and countdowns to the new year.
These are the U.S. holidays you can look forward to in 2025. Each holiday has its unique customs and traditions, giving us a chance to come together, learn about our history, and celebrate the things that make our country special. Whether you’re enjoying fireworks on the Fourth of July, giving thanks on Thanksgiving, or spreading love on Valentine’s Day, holidays offer us an opportunity to make lasting memories with our loved ones. So, mark your calendars and get ready for a year filled with joy, reflection, and celebration!
What are U.S. Federal Holidays?
The annual federal holidays in the United States are:
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Inauguration Day (January 20 or 21…every 4 years)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Third Monday in January
- Presidents’ Day – Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
- Independence Day (Fourth of July) – July 4
- Labor Day – First Monday in September
- Columbus Day – Second Monday in October
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving Day – Fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day – December 25
U.S. Federal Holidays Dates Full List For Current Year!
Federal holidays are legal public holidays on specific dates recognized by the federal government of the United States of America as official holidays. These holidays are established by law and are observed nationwide. They have special significance because they are recognized and celebrated not only by the federal government but also by local governments, federal employees, and private businesses. The United States Code, Title 5, Section 6103, lists these federal holidays.
On these days, non-essential federal offices are typically closed, and federal employees are granted a day off with pay creating a long weekend. Private businesses often adjust their operations to accommodate these holidays as well, with some providing paid time off to their employees. These holidays are a time for reflection, commemoration, and celebration of significant events or figures in American history.
To find the official list of federal holidays, you can visit the official website of the U.S. Embassy, or you can refer to the United States Code, Title 5, Section 6103, which outlines these holidays in detail. These holidays play an essential role in the nation’s culture and governance, as they provide opportunities to honor and remember key moments and individuals in American history.
2025 List of African American Black Holidays
African American holidays celebrate the heritage, culture and history of Black Americans. Some of these holidays include:
- Black History Month (February): Black History Month is an annual observance dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements, contributions, and history of African Americans.
- Juneteenth (June 19): Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the United States. It’s a day to celebrate African American freedom and culture.
- Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1): Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday that celebrates African and African American culture, emphasizing principles such as unity, self-determination, and collective responsibility.
- African Liberation Day (May 25): African Liberation Day is a pan-African holiday that commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, which later became the African Union (AU).
- Harriet Tubman Day (March 10): Harriet Tubman Day honors the life and achievements of Harriet Tubman, an African American woman who escaped slavery and became a leading abolitionist and conductor on the Underground Railroad.
- Pan-African Day (July 31): Pan-African Day celebrates African identity, heritage, and unity across the African diaspora.
- National Day of Prayer for the African American and African Family (Second Sunday in August): This day encourages African American and African families to come together in prayer and reflection.
While not all of these holidays are celebrated by all African Americans or people of African descent, they provide opportunities to celebrate, reflect upon, and promote African heritage, culture, and history in various ways.
What are the Main Jewish Holidays?
I’ve included Jewish holidays in this list of less common “American holidays” because a large part of the population enjoys some of these even if they don’t celebrate them all. Judaism observes numerous holidays throughout the year, but the main Jewish holidays are as follows:
Major Jewish Holidays Calendar List with Dates
- Shabbat (Sabbath): Shabbat is observed every Friday evening through Saturday evening. It is a weekly day of rest and spiritual reflection, a time when Jews refrain from work and come together for prayers, meals, and relaxation.
- Rosh Hashanah: Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, marking a period of self-reflection and the start of the High Holy Days. It is observed with synagogue services, the sounding of the shofar (a ram’s horn), and special festive meals.
- Yom Kippur: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. It is a Jewish holiday of fasting and intensive prayer, focusing on repentance and seeking forgiveness for sins.
- Sukkot: Sukkot, also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is a week-long festival that commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert. Temporary booths or sukkahs are constructed, and people eat meals in them to remember this period.
- Simchat Torah: Simchat Torah, which immediately follows Sukkot, celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah and the beginning of the new cycle. It is marked by joyful dancing, singing, and the reading of the final and first portions of the Torah.
- Hanukkah: Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day holiday celebrating the miracle of the oil in the Second Temple. Jews light the menorah, exchange gifts, and play games with a spinning top called a dreidel.
- Purim: Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from the plot to destroy them as told in the Book of Esther. It is celebrated with reading the Megillah (the Book of Esther), wearing costumes, giving to charity, and enjoying festive meals.
- Passover (Pesach): Passover is a spring holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It lasts for eight days and includes the Seder, a special ceremonial meal where the story of the Exodus is retold.
- Shavuot: Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It occurs seven weeks after Passover and is a time for Jewish communities to study and reaffirm their commitment to the Torah.
- Tisha B’Av: Tisha B’Av is a day of mourning that commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. It is marked by fasting, reading the Book of Lamentations, and solemn reflection.
These are some of the main Jewish holidays, each with its own unique customs, rituals, and historical significance. While these holidays are central to Jewish life, there are also many other special days and observances that enrich the Jewish calendar.
United States Holidays Celebrate People, History and Culture
United States Holidays represent the melting pot of people, culture and religions that share our land. And these holidays are a wonderful way to understand our history and the cultures that are all around us!
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! After being very socially awkward growing up, she now loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership to their kids!
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