Here, we will give you the complete list of federal holidays in 2018. Mark them in your calendar so that you can plan your year ahead accordingly.
Another year has gone by and we have yet another year to look forward to. The most important thing that we all want to know at the beginning of any year is the list of holidays in the year to come. We plan accordingly for vacations, weddings, special occasions, and business trips. Not only that, a lot of our day-to-day activities and planning depends on this list. To make the planning easier, we have complied a complete list of federal holidays for 2018. So read it, mark it, and you can decide what event should be organized and when.
Check it Yourself
- Log on to the official site of the United States Office of Personnel Management.
- Go to the federal employees section.
- Select ‘Federal Holidays’. A click on this tab will direct you to the list of holidays.
- You can also check these holidays for years before and after 2018 by clicking on the corresponding years tab in the ‘Federal Holidays’ section.
Welcoming the New Year
The most celebrated tradition is observed at Times Square in New York City where a giant ball starts descending at 11:59.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
To acknowledge the remarkable efforts of the great leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a legislation was passed to declare a national holiday. However, it was not until 2000 that all the states in America accepted to commemorate the great hero.
Washington’s Birthday
Washington Day was introduced as a federal holiday in 1885. 22nd February was first celebrated as Washington Day but it was later changed to the third Monday of February.
Memorial Day
Before World War I, Memorial Day commemorated the fighters who fought the Civil War. After World War I, the Memorial Day recognized all the American soldiers who lost their life while serving for the country.
Independence Day
In 1870, the U.S. Congress declared 4th July as a federal holiday.
Labor Day
In the 1800’s, during the industrial revolution, laborers worked for 12 hours and 7 days a week under unfriendly conditions. On 5th September 1882, U. S. history saw its first ever Labor parade where 10,000 workers took unpaid hours to rally from City Hall to Union Square in New York City.
Columbus Day
Columbus Day is celebrated in the memory of Christopher Columbus – the one who discovered America. This day also marks the celebration of
Italian-American heritage.
Veterans Day
Under the Uniform Monday Act which was passed in 1968, Veterans day was moved to a Monday. This day honors all the veterans, living and dead for their commitment towards the country. The New York City has been hosting The Veterans Day Parade to commemorate all the military veterans.
Thanksgiving Day
On the occasion of Thanksgiving, families come together to cook and enjoy delicious food like turkey, mashed potatoes and pies. It is the day when people thank for everything good that happened to them. This day instills a feeling of gratitude among-st people.
Christmas Day
Christmas is celebrated as the day when God’s son Jesus was born. 25th December also celebrates the Jewish festival Hanukkah, the festival of lights. This festival is marked as an important event in the Jewish history as on this day they could again dedicate and worship in their temple after many years of not being able to practice their religion.
Now let us see the holidays that you will enjoy in the year 2018.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Day Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st January | Monday | New Year’s Day | First day of the new year |
| 15th January | Monday | Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Third Monday in January |
| 19th February | Monday | Washington’s Birthday | Third Monday in February |
| 28th May | Monday | Memorial Day | Last Monday in May |
| 4th July | Wednesday | Independence Day | 4th of July every year |
| 3rd September | Monday | Labor day | First Monday in September |
| 8th October | Monday | Columbus Day | Second Monday in October |
| 12th November | Monday | Veterans Day | 11th of November every year |
| 22nd November | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November |
| 25th December | Tuesday | Christmas Day | 25th of December every year |
As per the Office of Personnel Management of the United States of America, all Saturdays and Sundays are mandatory holidays. Hence, if a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, then its corresponding holiday is given to the employees on the Friday immediately preceding it. And if a federal holiday falls on a Sunday, its corresponding holiday is given to the employees on the immediately succeeding Monday, like in the case of Veteran’s Day for the year 2018.
Another doubt that most people have is, whether the US Postal Service will be functional on the federal holidays. Here’s the answer: generally, the official website of the U.S.P.S. declares its list of holidays too. And even if it does not, it can be taken for granted, that since the U.S.P.S. is government-run, it will most definitely be closed on federal holidays too. So, if you have any important packages to be sent, you need to make sure that you calculate the number of days that it will take to reach after taking these holidays into account.
Now that you have the complete list of US federal holidays for 2018, you can plan for the entire year. So go ahead and plan a wonderful year ahead. Best wishes!
