Is Memorial Day a federal holiday? The full list of…

Is Memorial Day a federal holiday? The full list of 2022 dates

With summer nearly here, it’s time to start marking the date of the next federal holiday on our calendars.

On May 30, those living in the US will observe the fourth federal holiday of the year, Memorial Day. Memorial Day is annually observed on the last Monday of May and honours those who have lost their lives serving in the US military.

The date, which is marked by people wearing red poppies in tribute to the fallen soldiers and with parades, will see most Americans receive the day off as a federal holiday.

Memorial Day, which also marks the unofficial start to summer, didn’t become a federal holiday until 1971. When it was added to the list, it became one of 11 US federal holidays.

First introduced by Congress in 1885 when it was decided that federal employees should have certain days off from work, the list of US federal holidays is made up of 11 days of significance that Americans recognise - and celebrate.

To ensure that these holidays are observed, certain guidelines have been put in place, with federal holidays that fall on a Saturday observed by federal employees on the previous Friday, while holidays that fall on Sunday are observed the following Monday.

While employees in the private sector may or may not get the day off, depending on their employer, a federal holiday means that non-essential federal government offices are closed and banks, post offices and schools may also be closed.

From Memorial Day to Thanksgiving, these are the dates of the 2022 federal holidays.