HOLIDAY, any day set apart as a religious or national festival. (See FESTIVALS). Cer tain days are fixed by law as bank-holidays for England and Scotland, and it is enacted that all business transactions which would have been valid on any such holiday shall be held as valid if performed on the day following. Thus, when a bill of exchange becomes due, or notice of dishonor fails to be given, on a the bill •is payable or the notice stands good on the following day. The days fixed for England are Easter Monday, the Monday in Whitsun Week, the first Monday in August and the 26th of December if a week-day. These are in addi tion to Christmas Day, Good Friday and other holidays previously established. The days fixed as bank-holidays for Scotland are New Year's Day, Good Friday, the first Monday of May, the first Monday of August and Christmas Day; and if either New Year's Day or Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, the Monday after is held as a holiday. The same act em powers the sovereign to appoint by proclama tion a special day to be observed as a bank holiday, and to alter by order in council any of the days settled by the act.
In the United States there is no national holiday, not even 4 July. The 53d Congress passed an act making Labor Day a public holi day in the District of Columbia, and various States have followed with a similar act. The proclamation of the President designating a day of Thanksgiving makes it a legal holiday only in the District of Columbia and in the Ter ritories. New Year's Day is a legal holiday in all the States and in Porto Rico and Hawaii.
Lincoln's birthday (12 Feb.) is a legal holiday in Arkansas, California,. Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. Washington's birthday (22 Feb.) is a legal holiday in all the States and in Porto Rico and Hawaii. Decoration Day (30 May) in all the States except Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Caro lina, South Carolina and Texas. Independence Day (4 July) in all the States and Territories. Labor I (in general, the first Monday in September in all the States and in Porto Rico and Hawaii. Election Day and Christmas Day are generally observed as legal holidays in all the States and Territories. There are various States holidays, such as Patriot's Day (19 April) in Maine and Massachusetts, Pioneer's Day (16 in Utah, All Saints' Day (1 Nov.) in Louisiana, Admission Day (9 Sept.) in California, and Confederate Memorial Day (10 May) in North and South Carolina. Every Saturday after 12 o'clock noon is a legal holi day in many of the States and cities and in the District of Columbia and the Territories. In Canada eight public holidays are generally observed exclusive of Thanksgiving Day New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Victoria Day, King's Birthday, Dominion Day and Labour Day; but in the province of Que bec there are others in addition, chiefly Church anniversaries.