CELEBRATIONS
Is Halloween a federal holiday in 2024?
Halloween is an important celebration to many in the United States but questions arise about its official status.
Since the 8th century, All Saint’s Day has been celebrated on November 1st. The day preceding this religious holiday was established as a hallowed day and named Halloween. Over time, Halloween has become a part of America’s traditions and is well-known among people of all ages for the parties where celebrants wear masks and costumes or go “trick or treating” from house to house.
Although many classify Halloween as a holiday, is it really? We thought we’d have a look.
Is Halloween a holiday?
The answer is no. Though it is a popular celebration, Halloween is not one of the listed official federal holiday, meaning that workers do not have the day off.
Although October 31 is not a federal holiday, it is widely celebrated by children across America who eagerly await its arrival. Every year, millions of kids get to dress up in costumes and enjoy a variety of sweets and treats. The tradition calls for “creepy” costumes, meaning that ghosts, skeletons, witches, vampires, and malevolent pumpkins steal the show. In fact, any supernatural being is welcome to join in on the Halloween festivities, and they can often be seen roaming the streets of the United States on the last day of October.
Will Halloween be made a federal holiday?
It is highly unlikely for Halloween to be elevated to the standard of a federal holiday. In the United States, all federal holidays commemorate important dates in American history such as MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans’ Day, and Thanksgiving.
The only exceptions to this rule are Christmas and New Year’s Day, which are recognized because a vast number of citizens celebrate them.