US Holidays 2024: Your Ultimate Guide to Dates, Celebrations & Office Events

As HR professionals and team leaders, staying on top of the US holiday calendar lets them plan events effectively and foster a positive work environment. 

Whether you're finalizing your company's holiday calendar or brainstorming engaging activities for each celebration, this calendar will help you plan out each holiday and give you opportunities for team building and employee appreciation events.

Federal Holidays 2024

1. New Year's Day (Mon, Jan 1): Celebrating the start of a new year.
2. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Mon, Jan 15): Honoring the civil rights leader's life and legacy.
3. Presidents Day (Mon, Feb 19): Commemorating U.S. presidents, particularly Washington and Lincoln.
4. Memorial Day (Mon, May 27): Remembering those who died while serving in the U.S. military.
5. Independence Day (Thu, Jul 4): Marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
6. Labor Day (Mon, Sep 2): Honoring the American labor movement and workers' contributions.
7. Columbus Day (Mon, Oct 14): Commemorating Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas.
8. Veterans Day (Mon, Nov 11): Honoring all U.S. military veterans.
9. Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov 28): Expressing gratitude and celebrating harvest traditions.
10. Christmas Day (Wed, Dec 25): Celebrating the Christian holiday and promoting goodwill.

Notable Non-Federal Holidays and Observances:

1. Groundhog Day (Fri, Feb 2): Folklore tradition predicting the arrival of spring.
2. Lunar New Year (Sat, Feb 10): Celebrating the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.
3. Valentine's Day (Wed, Feb 14): Celebrating love and affection.
4. St. Patrick's Day (Sun, Mar 17): Honoring Irish culture and heritage.
5. Earth Day (Mon, Apr 22): Promoting environmental protection.
6. Mother's Day (Sun, May 12): Honoring mothers and maternal bonds.
7. Father's Day (Sun, Jun 16): Honoring fathers and paternal bonds.
8. Hispanic Heritage Month (Sun, Sep 15 - Tue, Oct 15): Celebrating Hispanic and Latino American culture.
9. Halloween (Thu, Oct 31): Celebrating All Hallows' Eve with costumes and festivity.
10. Diwali (Starts Fri, Nov 1): Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains.
11. Hanukkah (Wed, Dec 25 - Thu, Jan 2, 2025): Jewish eight-day "Festival of Lights."
12. Kwanzaa (Thu, Dec 26 - Thu, Jan 2, 2025): Celebration of African American culture.

Additional US Holidays and Observances:

1. Black History Month (February): Recognizing the contributions of African Americans.
2. Women's History Month (March): Celebrating women's contributions to history and society.
3. Pride Month (June): Celebrating LGBTQ+ communities and promoting equality.
4. National Hispanic American Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15): Recognizing Hispanic Americans' contributions.
5. National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October): Celebrating workers with disabilities.
6. Native American Heritage Month (November): Honoring Native American cultures and contributions.

Here are a few ideas that you can implement during the following holidays and bring about more smiles and happiness at the workplace.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 15):

Partner with local non-profits to set up various volunteer opportunities. Offer employees a choice of activities like sorting donations at a food bank, cleaning up a park, or reading to children at a local school.

Conclude with a reflection session where teams share their experiences and discuss how to incorporate MLK's values into their work and their lives as well.

2. Earth Day (April 22):

Day 1: Sustainable commute day (encourage biking, walking, or carpooling).

Day 2: Zero-waste lunch challenge.

Day 3: Energy savings competition between departments.

Day 4: Plant a tree or start an office garden.

Day 5: Eco-friendly innovation contest for improving office sustainability.

3. Independence Day (July 4):

Set up food stations representing different regions of the U.S.

Organize a quiz about American history and cultural contributions. You can take it a step further and include other cultures as well. This promotes more diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Create a "Map of Our Origins" where employees can pin theirs or their ancestors' places of origin.

Hold a patriotic karaoke contest with songs celebrating America's diversity. And not every song need to be patriotic, you can ask your employees to sing what they like too.

4. Halloween (October 31):

Divide the office into themed zones (haunted forest, mad scientist lab, etc.) This can create more excitement and engagement.

Host a costume contest with categories like "Most Creative", "Best Group Costume", or the "Funniest"! Wait, even better - The "most Scary" - ooooo! 👻

Set up a trick-or-treat trail through the office with staff giving out treats.

Organize a pumpkin carving contest, displaying entries in the office for a week.

5. Thanksgiving (November 28):

Monday: Launch a digital "Gratitude Wall" where employees can post what they're thankful for.

Tuesday: Host a canned food drive competition between departments.

Wednesday: Organize a "Thanksgiving-inspired" potluck with diverse dishes.

Thursday & Friday (Thanksgiving break).

The following Monday: Reflect on the week and announce food drive winners.

6. Diwali (starts November 1):

Decorate the office with strings of lights and colorful rangoli patterns.

Host a traditional Indian lunch.

Organize a workshop on the art of henna.

Set up a station for employees to create their own small diyas (oil lamps).

End the day with a cultural show featuring Indian music and dance.

7. Christmas 🎄 Holiday Season (December):

Day 1: Office decoration contest launch.

Day 2: Holiday movie trivia.

Day 3: Gingerbread house building competition.

Day 4: Ugly sweater day.

Day 5: Holiday recipe exchange and potluck.

Day 6: Secret Santa gift exchange.

Day 7: Charity gift wrapping station.

Day 8: Winter-themed photo booth.

Day 9: Holiday karaoke.

Day 10: Cookie decorating contest.

Day 11: Holiday craft workshop (make ornaments or cards).

Day 12: Holiday party with awards for the various contests.

Remember to make these activities optional and be inclusive of different cultures and beliefs. Respect diversity and create a festive atmosphere that brings people together.

A well-planned holiday calendar can significantly boost employee morale and company culture. By incorporating these dates and creative ideas into your yearly plan, you can create memorable experiences for your people that can enhance team cohesion and workplace satisfaction.