What Holidays Are Always on a Monday?
U.S. Federal holidays that are always on a Monday include Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Columbus Day. Many federal offices close, allowing for a three-day weekend to celebrate the holiday. Outside of the federal government, the choice to observe any federal holiday is left up to individual states and private companies.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 selected Mondays to observe certain federal holidays in order to allow federal employees a three-day weekend. Proponents of the act believed this would allow for more family and travel time.
Although not in the original act, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the first federal Monday holiday of the year, falling on the third Monday of January. Washington’s Birthday, widely referred to as President’s Day, is observed on the third Monday of February. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May, Labor Day on the first Monday in September and Columbus Day on the second Monday in October.
Most states generally follow the federal government’s lead, closing state government offices and public schools. Some states allow school districts to determine which of these federal holidays to observe. However, private companies and schools can decide for themselves which holidays to observe.
