HOLIDAY, originally the "holy day," a festival set apart for religious observances as a memorial of some sacred event or sacred person; hence a day on which the ordinary work or business ceases. For the religious sense see FEASTS AND FESTIVALS ; SUNDAY; and WAKE. It will suffice to deal here with public holi days, the observance of which is prescribed by the State. In one respect these have been diminished, in so far as saints' days are no longer regarded as entailing non-attendance at the Govern ment offices in England, as was the case at the beginning of the 19th century. But while the influence of religion in determining such holidays has waned, the importance of making some com pulsory provision for social recreation has made itself felt. In England four days, known as Bank Holidays (q.v.), are set apart by statute to be observed as general holidays, while the sovereign may by proclamation appoint any day to be similarly observed. In the British colonies there is no uniform practice, but in some Arbor day, Labour day, etc., have been added.
In the United States there is no legal holiday in the sense of the English bank holidays. A legal holiday is dependent upon State and territorial legislation. It is usual for the President to proclaim the last Thursday in November as a day of thanks giving; this makes it a legal holiday only in the District of Columbia, and in the territories, but most States make it a general holiday. Independence day (July 4) and Labour day (first Mon day in September) are legal holidays in most States. There are other days which, in connection with particular events or in remembrance of particular persons, have been made legal holi days by particular States. The following list gives the most im portant of these.
The chief legal or public holidays are: Jan. 1—New Year's Day—all the States, Territories and colonial possessions.
Feb. I2-Lincoln's Birthday—birthday of Abraham Lincoln, six teenth president of the United States, celebrated in Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, and observed by governor's proclamation in Massachusetts.
Feb. 22-Washington's Birthday—birthday of George Washington, first president of the United States, celebrated in all the States, Territories and possessions.
Good Friday—movable religious holiday in memory of Christ's Crucifixion and death, celebrated legally in Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Porto Rico and Tennessee. In Connecticut Good Friday is usually proclaimed by the governor as a day of fasting and prayer. May 30—Memorial or Decoration Day—holiday observed in tribute to those who died in the military and naval service of the United States, observed on this date in all the States and possessions except Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. Most of the southern States have a corresponding memorial day but the date is not uniform.
July 4—Independence Day—anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the thirteen original States from Great Britain, in 1776, celebrated throughout the United States and its possessions.
Labor Day—First Monday in September—set apart by the labor organizations in the United States to be observed as a holiday, every State and Territory except Alabama, Wyoming and the Philippines.
Oct. I2-Columbus Day—anniversary of the day on which Colum bus first sighted islands of the New World, celebrated in Arkansas, Arizona, California. Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Porto Rico. In Arkansas and Kansas it does not affect notes or judicial proceedings.
Election Day—day of national and generally State elections (1st Tuesday after 1st Monday in November) . Observed in every State and Territory except Alaska, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Philippines and Vermont. In Illinois it is a legal holiday in Chicago and certain other cities. In Ohio it is a half holiday. In Maine it is a legal holiday only as to the courts.
Nov. 1I—Armistice Day—anniversary of the signing of the Armis tice in the World War, Nov. i i, 1918, observed in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Hawaii. In other States by governor's proclamation only.
Thanksgiving Day—last Thursday in November, a semi-religious day of giving thanks, instituted by the Pilgrim Fathers at the gather ing of their first harvest in the New World 1621, and since 1863 set apart by presidential proclamation as an annual holiday through out the United States and its possessions.
Dec. 25—Christmas Day—Christian holiday in memory of the birth of Christ, celebrated throughout the United States and its possessions.
See M'Curdy, Bibliography of Articles relating to Holidays (Boston, 1905). (T. A. I.)