Both state and federal government, through acts of there respective legislatures, have set forth official holidays recognize and during which most federal offices are not open (obviously there are some that must work, like law enforcement).
Congress, through federal statute, 5 U.S.C. § 6103, established ten “legal public holidays” that occur every year:
- New Year’s Day, January 1.
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January.
- Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February.
- Memorial Day, the last Monday in May.
- Independence Day, July 4.
- Labor Day, the first Monday in September.
- Columbus Day, the second Monday in October.
- Veterans Day, November 11.
- Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November.
- Christmas Day, December 25.
There is also one public holiday that occurs “each fourth year after 1965” on January 20 for inauguration day (unless January 20 is a Sunday, in which case inauguration day will be January 21).
The federal government didn’t want to leave behind the little guy, though, so it established a rule that said (I’m paraphrasing), if the holiday falls on a day when you weren’t going to work anyway (like if it falls on a Saturday, or if it falls on a Thursday when you don’t normally work Thursdays), then you still get a day off.
Nevada’s lawmakers have set forth eleven state holidays, which you can find in NRS 236.015:
- January 1 (New Year’s Day)
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is on January 15 but is to be observed on the third Monday in January
- Washington’s birthday is on February 22 but is to be observed on the third Monday in February
- Last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
- July 4 (Independence Day)
- First Monday in September (Labor Day)
- Nevada Day is October 31 but is to be observed on the last Friday in October
- November 11 (Veterans Day)
- Fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day)
- Friday following the fourth Thursday in November (Family Day)
- December 25 (Christmas Day)
Nevada also built in a rule to save those holidays that fall on a weekend. “If January 1, July 4, November 11 or December 25 falls upon a: (a) Sunday, the Monday following must be observed as a legal holiday. (b) Saturday, the Friday preceding must be observed as a legal holiday.”
You’ll notice that the holidays differ from federal and state. The federal government recognizes Columbus day as a holiday, while Nevada does not. Conversely, Nevada recognizes Nevada Day and Family Day (a.k.a. Black Friday) as holidays, whereas the federal government does not.
That means the post office will be closed on Columbus day, but your kids may still have to go to school.
For 2017, here’s where the holidays (observed) fall:
- New Year’s Day—Monday, January 2.
- MLK Day—Monday, January 16
- Presidents’ Day—Monday, February 20
- Memorial Day—Monday, May 29
- Independence Day—Tuesday, July 4
- Labor Day—Monday, September 4
- Columbus Day—Monday, October 9 (federal only)
- Nevada Day—Friday, October 27 (Nevada only)
- Thanksgiving—Thursday, November 24
- Family Day—Friday, November 25 (Nevada only)
- Christmas—Monday, December 25
