The year 2025 brings with it a comprehensive schedule of federal and non-federal holidays for the United States, offering numerous opportunities for individuals and families to plan vacations, gatherings, and observances. Understanding when these important dates fall can help maximize time off from work and school.
According to the Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays are established as days when federal offices, banks, and financial markets are closed. For 2025, these holidays include:
- Wednesday, January 1: New Year’s Day
- Monday, January 20: Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Monday, January 20: Also serves as the inauguration day
- Monday, February 17: Washington’s Birthday
- Monday, May 26: Memorial Day
- Thursday, June 19: Juneteenth
- Friday, July 4: Independence Day
- Monday, September 1: Labor Day
- Monday, October 13: Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Tuesday, November 11: Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving Day
- Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day
The year begins with New Year's Day, where on January 1, people across the country celebrate the arrival of the new year. Then, on January 20, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. is honored, but it's also notable as it coincides with inauguration day, which adds significance to both events. This year marks the unique circumstance where these two pivotal dates happen simultaneously.
Federal holidays occupy prime time on the calendar and can be spread out across the year, offering multiple long weekends. For example, Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday of May, heralds the unofficial start of summer and is associated with outdoor barbecues and gatherings.
Outside of federal holidays, numerous non-federal observances enrich the calendar with cultural significance. 2025 contains several notable non-federal holidays, including:
- Wednesday, January 29: Chinese New Year
- Sunday, February 2: Groundhog Day
- Friday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
- Friday, February 28 (tentative): Ramadan begins
- Tuesday, March 4: Mardi Gras
- Wednesday, March 5: Ash Wednesday
- Monday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day
- Friday, April 18: Good Friday
- Sunday, April 20: Easter Sunday
- Monday, May 5: May Day and Cinco De Mayo
- Sunday, June 14: Flag Day
- Sunday, June 15: Father’s Day
- Monday, October 20: Diwali
- Friday, October 31: Halloween
- Saturday, November 1 through Sunday, November 2: Day of the Dead
- Friday, November 28: Black Friday
- Monday, December 1: Cyber Monday
- Sunday, December 14: Hanukkah begins
- Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve
- Wednesday, December 31: New Year's Eve
Some of these observances, such as Valentine's Day and Easter, allow people to spend time with loved ones through celebrations of love and faith respectively. Others, like Hanukkah, Diwali, and Ramadan, offer opportunities for cultural reflection within communities.
Importantly, the year also includes key events of national significance. For example, January 9 has been designated by President Joe Biden as the National Day of Mourning to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024. This day adds another layer of meaning to the beginning of the year, inviting reflection on leadership and legacy.
Sports fans can anticipate major events like the Super Bowl on February 9, followed closely by the NBA All-Star game on February 16, which captures the attention of millions and allows for community gatherings around televised events.
With so many observances spanning from January to December, the 2025 holiday schedule presents ample opportunities for individuals and families to come together, reflect on their cultural heritages, and create lasting memories.