About the Embassy
Franco-American Holidays
The federal government proclaims ten holidays per year. They are as follows:
- Christmas Day: December 25th
- Columbus Day: 2nd Monday in October
- Independence Day: July 4th
- Labor Day: 1st Monday in September
- Martin Luther King's Birthday: 3rd Monday in January
- Memorial Day: Last Monday in May
- New Year's Day: January 1st
- Thanksgiving: 4th Thursday in November
- Veterans' Day: November 11th
- Washington's Birthday: 3rd Monday in February
In 1971, the dates of many federal holidays were officially moved to the nearest Monday by then-President Richard Nixon.
There are four holidays, which are not necessarily celebrated on Mondays: Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Independence Day, Christmas.
When New Year's Day, Independence Day, or Christmas falls on a Sunday, the next day is also a holiday.When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday, the previous day is also a holiday.
Federal government offices, including the post office, are always closed on all federal legal holidays.
Schools and businesses close on major holidays like Independence Day and Christmas but may not always be closed, for example, on George Washington's birthday or Veterans' Day.
2008 | Day | Holiday | French/U.S. |
Jan. 1 | Monday | New Year's Day | American/French |
Jan. 21 | Monday | Martin Luther King's Birthday | American |
Feb. 18 | Monday | President's Day | American |
March 24 | Monday | Easter Monday | French |
May 1 | Thursday | Labor Day/Ascension Day | French |
May 8 | Thursday | Veteran's Day | French |
May 26 | Monday | Memorial Day | American |
July 4 | Friday | Independence Day | American |
July 14 | Monday | French National Day | French |
Aug. 15 | Friday | Assumption Day | French |
Sept. 1 | Monday | Labor Day | American |
Oct. 13 | Monday | Columbus Day | American |
Nov. 1 | Saturday | All Saints' Day | French |
Nov. 11 | Tuesday | Veterans' Day | American/French |
Nov. 27 | Thursday | Thanksgiving | American |
Dec. 25 | Thursday | Christmas | American/French |
2009 | Day | Holiday | French/U.S. |
Jan. 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | American/French |
Jan. 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King's Birthday | American |
Feb. 16 | Monday | President's Day | American |
April 13 | Monday | Easter Monday | French |
May 1 | Friday | Labor Day | French |
May 8 | Friday | Veteran's Day | French |
May 21 | Thursday | Ascension Day | French |
May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | American |
July 4* | Saturday | Independence Day | American |
July 14 | Tuesday | French National Day | French |
Aug. 15 | Saturday | Assumption Day | French |
Sept. 7 | Monday | Labor Day | American |
Oct. 12 | Monday | Columbus Day | American |
Nov. 1 | Sunday | All Saints' Day | French |
Nov. 11 | Wednesday | Veteran's Day (WWI) | American/French |
Nov. 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving | American |
| Dec. 25 | Friday | Christmas | American/French |
*To be observed Friday, July 3