Christmas Day 2024: Is Christmas Day a national holiday in the United States?

Christmas is observed on December 25th and is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States. However, the number of families that come together to mark this special occasion does not necessarily indicate whether it is a public holiday. The United States recognizes a total of 11 federal holidays, and Christmas Day is one of them. Christmas Eve, on the other hand, is not.

The winter event became an official public holiday on June 28, 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill designating it as such. This designation makes Christmas one of the oldest holidays celebrated in the country.

Do you work on Christmas Day and federal holidays?

Generally, during official holidays, government entities are required to close, giving government employees a paid day off. Private businesses and organizations, on the other hand, have the discretion to decide whether or not to close during federal holidays.

For example, many businesses, schools, post offices, libraries, and banks typically close on all holidays. However, supermarkets, pharmacies, and restaurants often remain open or have reduced hours on most holidays, only closing for significant occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas Day.

2025 Calendar: Complete List of US Holidays

Of the 11 official federal holidays recognized by the U.S. government, some are observed on specific dates, while others change dates each year. Veterans Day, like Christmas, is always celebrated on the same day: November 11.

On the other hand, if holidays fall on a weekend, they may be observed one day earlier or later. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it will be observed on the previous Friday. On the other hand, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is taken as a holiday.

Although 11 holidays are celebrated each year, workers in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area have an additional holiday: Inauguration Day, which occurs once every four years on January 20, when a new president is sworn into office, which will happen next year.

With that in mind, here are the dates of the official federal holidays in the United States for 2025, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):

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