Legal Holidays

views updated

19. Legal Holidays

The diversity of our country is reflected in the various holidays recognized by the individual states. While many holidays, including New Years Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day, are considered legal holidays in all states, others, such as Good Friday and Robert E. Lees Birthday, are recognized in only a handful, while a few are particular to only one state, for example Alaska Day and Pioneer Day.

The recognition of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.s birthday has sparked a great deal of controversy. In some of the states where it is recognized, it is not a paid holiday for state employees.

Due to the myriad local holidays in the states, only the major holidays are featured below for comparison.

Table 19: Legal Holidays
StateCode SectionHolidays
ALABAMA1-3-8New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Mardi Gras (Mobile & Baldwin Counties only); Washingtons and Jeffersons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Fraternal Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Jefferson Davis Birthday; Confederate Memorial Day; Robert E. Lees Birthday; American Indian Heritage Day
ALASKA44.12.010New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Alaska Day; Sewards Day
ARIZONA1-301New Years Day; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Mothers Day; Fathers Day; American Family Day; Constitution Commemoration Day
ARKANSAS1-5-101New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s and Robert E. Lees Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; Christmas; employees birthday; Washingtons birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day
CALIFORNIAGov. Code §6700 §19853 State EmployeesNew Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Admission Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Cesar Chavez Day
COLORADO24-11-101New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washington-Lincoln Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Labor Day
CONNECTICUT§1-4New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
DELAWARETit. 1 §501New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Day of biennial general elections; Friday following Thanksgiving
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA§28-2701New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
FLORIDA110.117; 683.01; legal holidays-public holidaysNew Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas. Following are official holidays but not paid days off for state employees: Robert E. Lees Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Susan B. Anthonys Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Shrove Tuesday; Good Friday; Pascua Florida Day; Confederate Memorial Day; Jefferson Daviss Birthday; Columbus Day; Flag Day; Veterans Day
GEORGIA1-4-1; Ga. Gov. Memos dated 10/18/90 and 10/16/91New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; Christmas; Confederate Memorial Day; Washingtons Birthday is holiday but paid day off is taken by state employees at Christmastime; Friday after Thanksgiving is designated as paid day off in honor of Robert E. Lees Birthday
StateCode SectionHolidays
HAWAII8-1New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Day; King Kamehameha Day; Election Day except primary election; Statehood Day
IDAHO73-108New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday and Idaho Human Rights Day; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
ILLINOIS205 ILCS 630/17New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Lincolns Birthday; Casimir Pulaskis Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
INDIANA1-1-9-1, 2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; day of any primary or general election for national, state, or city officials (Election Day)
IOWA1C.1, 1C.2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday (public holiday but not paid day off for state employees); Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas; Lincolns Birthday (not paid day off for state empl.)
KANSAS§35-107New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
KENTUCKY2.110New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Jefferson Daviss Birthday; Robert E. Lees Birthday; Confederate Memorial Day; Franklin D. Roosevelts Birthday
LOUISIANA1:55New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Mardi Gras; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Good Friday; general election day in even numbered years; Also, governor has authority to declare following paid holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Robert E. Lees Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Confederate Memorial Day; Acadian Day; s/he must declare 2, including national Memorial Day every year; Battle of New Orleans; Huey P. Long Day; All Saints Day
MAINETit. 4, §1051; 20-A, §4802New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Patriots Day
MARYLANDArt. 1 §27New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Maryland Day; Defenders Day; any day of general or congressional election
MASSACHUSETTSCh. 4 §7, cl. EighteenthNew Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Patriots Day
StateCode SectionHolidays
MICHIGAN435.101New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
MINNESOTA645.44 subd. 5New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons and Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day (not a holiday for executive branch); Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving (for executive branch); Christmas
MISSISSIPPI3-3-7New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s and Robert E. Lees Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day and Jefferson Daviss Birthday; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Confederate Memorial Day
MISSOURI9.010New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Truman Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
MONTANA1-1-216New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Lincolns and Washingtons Birthday; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas Day; state general election day; Memorial Day; Independence Day
NEBRASKA25-2221New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Arbor Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; day after Thanksgiving; Christmas
NEVADA236.015New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving (Family Day); Christmas; Nevada Day
NEW HAMPSHIRE288:1, 2New Years Day; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil Rights Day
NEW JERSEY36:1-1, 1.2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; any general election day
NEW MEXICO12-5-2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Washingtons and Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
NEW YORKGen. Constr. Law §24, 25New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas Flag Day; any general election day
NORTH CAROLINA103-4New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Good Friday; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Memorial Day; Robert E. Lees Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Greek Independence Day; Anniversary of signing of Halifax Resolves; Confederate Memorial Day; Anniversary of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence; Yom Kippur; Columbus Day; and the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in election years
StateCode SectionHolidays
NORTH DAKOTA1-03-01, 01.1New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; state offices close at noon on Christmas Eve
OHIO1.14New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons and Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
OKLAHOMATit. 25 §§82.1, 82.2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas
OREGON187.010, 020New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
PENNSYLVANIATit. 44, §11New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Flag Day; Election Day
RHODE ISLAND25-1-1New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Rhode Island Independence Day; Victory Day; Election Day
SOUTH CAROLINA53-5-10New Years Day; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas; Day after Christmas; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Confederate Memorial Day
SOUTH DAKOTA1-5-1New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons and Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Native American Day
TENNESSEE15-1-101New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; any day set apart for county, state, or national elections throughout the state
TEXASU.T.C.A. Government Code §662.003New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; Christmas; day after Christmas; (Confederate Heroes Day; Texas Independence Day; San Jacinto Day; Emancipation Day in Texas; Lyndon Baines Johnson Day; state holidays)
UTAH63-13-2New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washington and Lincoln Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Pioneer Day
VERMONTTit. 1 §371New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Town Meeting Day; Bennington Battle Day
VIRGINIA2.2-3300New Years Day; Lee-Jackson Day; Washingtons Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus and Yorktown Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday
StateCode SectionHolidays
WASHINGTON1.16.050New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Friday after Thanksgiving; Christmas
WEST VIRGINIA2-2-1New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Washingtons Birthday; Lincolns Birthday; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Columbus Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; West Virginia Day; any national, state, or other election day throughout any district or municipality
WISCONSIN995.20New Years Day; Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; Presidents Day; Good Friday (11am-3pm observed for purpose of worship); Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; any primary election day in September; Columbus Day; any general election day in November; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas
WYOMING8-4-101New Years Day; *Martin Luther King, Jr.s Birthday; *Washingtons and Lincolns Birthday; Memorial cDay; Independence Day; Labor Day; *Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; Christmas; *Wyoming Equality Day; *public school not dismissed except by order of board of trustees of the district

More From encyclopedia.com