New Years Day
(January 1) - most businesses closed;
hangovers from parties the previous
night, football parties. Primarily a
secular holiday, and the major
celebration occurs the previous night.
Martin Luther King Day (third Monday
in January) - many government offices
and banks closed; diversity-awareness
programs.
St. Valentine's Day (February 14) -
no significant closures; romantic
evenings out.
Presidents Day (third Monday in
February) - (also Washington's
Birthday) - many government offices
and banks closed; few observances, many
stores have sales.
St. Patrick's Day (March 17) - no
significant closures; Irish-themed
parades during the day, and parties in
the evening. Travelers may want to be
wary of the drunken revelry and
associated drunk driving crackdowns.
Easter (a Sunday in March or April)
- few significant closures; Christian
religious observances.
Passover (timing somewhat similar to
Easter; lasts a week) - Jewish religious
observances.
Memorial Day (last Monday in May) -
most non-retail/tourism businesses
closed; some patriotic observances;
extensive travel to beaches and parks;
traditional beginning of summer
tourism season.
Independence Day / Fourth of July
(July 4) - most businesses closed;
patriotic parades, fireworks after dark.
Labor Day (first Monday in
September) - most businesses closed;
extensive travel to beaches and parks;
traditional ending of summer tourism
season.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
- Jewish religious autumn holidays.
Columbus Day (second Monday in
October) - many government offices and
banks closed; few observances.
Halloween (October 31) - no
significant closures - trick-or-treating
and costume parties in the evening.
Veterans Day (November 11) - many
government offices and banks closed;
some patriotic observances.
Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday in
November, unofficially the Friday and
weekend after) most non-retail
businesses closed; family gatherings, on
Friday major Christmas shopping begins.
Christmas (December 25) - most
businesses and restaurants closed the
evening before and all day; exchanging
gifts, Christian religious observances.
If you need food from a restaurant, your
best bet will be hotels and Chinese or
Indian restaurants. People from
non-Christian religions often go to the
movies and eat at Chinese restaurants on
Christmas.





