American Holidays: Non-Federal Holidays
Here’s a list of some notable non-federal holidays in the United States in 2024:
| Holiday | Date | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Groundhog Day | Friday, Feb. 2 | Marks the tradition of predicting weather based on a groundhog’s shadow, a cultural event in North America. |
| Chinese New Year | Saturday, Feb. 10 | Celebrates the beginning of the lunar new year, a significant cultural and traditional holiday for Chinese communities worldwide. |
| Mardi Gras | Tuesday, Feb. 13 | Culminates the carnival season with festive parades, music, and parties, particularly in New Orleans. |
| Valentine’s Day | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | Celebrates love and affection, often marked by the exchange of cards, flowers, and gifts between romantic partners. |
| Ash Wednesday | Wednesday, Feb. 14 | Begins the season of Lent in Christianity, observed with fasting, repentance, and reflection among some Christian denominations. |
| Ramadan | Evening of March 10 through April 8 | A month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community for Muslims worldwide, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. |
| St. Patrick’s Day | Sunday, March 17 | Celebrates Irish culture and the patron saint of Ireland, observed with parades, wearing green, and cultural festivities. |
| Nowruz | Wednesday, March 20 (varies) | Marks the Persian New Year and the beginning of spring, celebrated with cultural events, family gatherings, and feasting. |
| Holi | Monday, March 25 | Hindu festival of colors, celebrating the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring, observed with vibrant festivities. |
| Good Friday | Friday, March 29 | Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Christianity, observed with fasting, prayer, and solemn ceremonies. |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday, March 31 | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, a central event in Christianity, observed with joyous festivities. |
| Cinco de Mayo | Sunday, May 5 | Commemorates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, celebrated with parades, music, and Mexican culture. |
| Mother’s Day | Sunday, May 12 | Honors mothers and motherhood, celebrated with gifts, cards, and expressions of love and gratitude. |
| Flag Day | Friday, June 14 | Commemorates the adoption of the United States flag, observed with patriotic displays and events. |
| Father’s Day | Sunday, June 16 | Honors fathers and fatherhood, celebrated with gifts, cards, and expressions of love and gratitude. |
| Halloween | Thursday, Oct. 31 | Celebrates the eve of All Saints’ Day, observed with costume parties, trick-or-treating, and spooky decorations. |
| Diwali | Begins Friday, Nov. 1 | Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, celebrated with lamps, sweets, and fireworks. |
| Christmas Eve | Tuesday, Dec. 24 | Marks the evening before Christmas Day, often celebrated with family gatherings, festive meals, and church services. |
| Hanukkah | Evening of Dec. 25 through Jan. 2 | Jewish festival of lights, commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, observed with menorah lighting, gifts, and traditional foods. |
| Kwanzaa | Thursday, Dec. 26 through Jan. 2 | African-American cultural holiday, celebrating family, community, and African heritage, observed with feasting, storytelling, and gift-giving. |
| New Year’s Eve | Tuesday, Dec. 31 | Celebrates the end of the current year and the anticipation of the upcoming one, often marked by parties and countdowns to midnight. |
American Holidays in 2024
American Holidays: In the United States, people from different backgrounds celebrate special days that are important to them. Some celebrate Easter if they’re Christian, others have special days like Diwali if they’re Hindu. It’s like a big mix of traditions that make the country colorful and interesting. These celebrations help each group show who they are and where they come from, making America a diverse and exciting place.
In this article, we will take a look at the Federal and Non-Federal Holidays celebrated in the United States of America. Let’s get started!