Here Is A List Of Federal Holidays

In the United States, a federal holiday is a holiday recognized by the United States Government. Non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday receive wages for that day in addition to holiday pay. Private banks, stock and futures exchanges are generally closed on these days as well.

Currently there are 11 Federal Holidays

• New Year's Day - first day in January
  
  
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - third Monday in January
  
  
• Inauguration Day - January 20, every fourth year, following Presidential election
  
  Observed only by federal government employees in Washington, D.C., and certain counties and cities of Maryland and Virginia, in order to relieve congestion that occurs with this major event. Note: Takes place on January 21 if the 20th is a Sunday (although the President is still privately inaugurated on the 20th).
  
  
• Washington's Birthday - Third Monday in February - Often popularly observed as "Presidents Day" in recognition of other American presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln (who was born February 12). The legal name of the federal holiday, however, is "Washington's Birthday", not "Presidents Day". (historically observed on February 22, prior to passage of the Monday Holiday Bill by Congress)
  
  
• Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
  
  
• Independence Day - July 4
  
  
• Labor Day - First Monday in September
  
  
• Columbus Day - Second Monday in October
  
  
• Veterans Day - November 11
  
  
• Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November
  
  Traditionally celebrates giving thanks for the autumn harvest, and customarily includes the consumption of a turkey dinner. (historically observed on various days, but finally becoming so fixed to the fourth Thursday in November in the hearts and minds of Americans, that Americans rebelled (albeit politely) when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attempted to move it to the third Thursday of November, at the request of numerous powerful American merchants)
  
  
• Christmas Day - December 25

source
Wikipedia

January Is Volunteer Blood Donor Month

In response to the general shortage during the winter months, January is Volunteer Blood Donor Month.

If you are of age, at least 110 pounds and in good health, consider giving blood through your local chapter of the Red Cross. With each donation, you will help save a life somewhere around the world.

To learn more about how you can donate blood or to host your own blood drive, read this article from the American National Red Cross.

Boxing Day

Wikipedia

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, a public holiday in most countries in The Commonwealth. It originated as a day for giving gifts to employees and poor people. It has sporting traditions, especially fox hunting, and is the day when stores launch the most significant sales period in the retail cycle.

It is usually celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day;[1][2], but can move to 27 December or 28 December if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday. The movement of Boxing Day varies between countries.

The public holiday is recognised in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African American heritage.[1] It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Dr. Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967, timed to coincide with Christmas so that it would be remembered. Dr. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures.

source
Wikipedia

Other Links With More Information About Kwanzaa

• The Official Kwanzaa Website
  
  
• Everything About Kwanzaa
  
  
• Kwanzaa Recipies
  
  
• Kwanzaa Crafts
  
  
• The Truth About Kwanzaa

Christmas Day!

Fun Facts!

• Americans send three billion Christmas cards a year. If you have the average number of friends, you should get at least 12 cards a year.

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Christmas Freebies

If you are still looking for some "last minute" Christmas Freebies, then here are a few links that I have found:

• Freebies For Everyone
  
  
• ChristmasFreebies.com
  
  
• Screen Savers, Fonts, Graphics

First Day Of Winter

In the northern hemisphere, the Winter solstice is day of the year (near December 22) when the Sun is farthest south. However, in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged so that the winter solstice is the day on which the Sun is farthest north. The winter solstice marks the first day of the season of winter. The declination of the Sun on the (northern) winter solstice is known as the tropic of capricorn (-23° 27').

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, respectively, in the sense that the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset on this day is a minimum for the year. Of course, daylight saving time means that the first Sunday in April has 23 hours and the last Sunday in October has 25 hours, but these human meddlings with the calendar and do not correspond to the actual number of daylight hours. In Chicago, there are 9:20 hours of daylight on the winter solstice of December 22, 1999.

source
Holiday Smart.com

A Bit Of History!

On this date:

• In Ireland, the 8th of December has always been the day that busy farmers took off work to do their Christmas shopping. The towns would all be bustling with country people, who stood out by their dress and accents. Whole families descended on Cork City and it was the day that the rest of the townspeople would stay at home, and let the country folk get on with their business. Of course, it never did seem to happen that way because watching everything that was going on came to be a favorite pasttime!
  
  
  
  This whole tradition seemed to have been created because for the many that traveled the long miles into the town on that day, it really was their only chance to get the presents and make sure that Santa would visit their children on the 25th December.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is the annual Jewish festival celebrated on eight successive days beginning on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the Jewish calendar, corresponding, approximately, to December in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, Feast of Dedication, and Feast of the Maccabees, Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 BC after the Temple had been profaned by Antiochus IV Epiphanes, king of Syria and overlord of Palestine.

source
History.com

When Do I Start Putting Up Christmas Decorations?

I like to wait well after Thanksgiving (but before December 1st) before I start putting up Christmas decorations. I like to be able to fully enjoy Thanksgiving and give it all its "props"!

Thanksgiving

Of course this is the day that we all give thanks!

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and on the second Monday of October in Canada.

Thanksgiving-Related Links:

• Wikipedia
  

• When Is Thanksgiving (future Thanksgiving dates)
  

• Thanksgiving Recipies
  

• Government Website With Thanksgiving Holiday Safety Information
  

• The Food Network's Thanksgiving Website
  

• The ButterBall Hotline Website