Holiday
A holiday is a day of celebration, either tied to religion or national observance. In the U.S. the main holiday season is during the winter when Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years are celebrated. If holidays are recognized at the national level, they’ll usually include time off from work and different hours of operation for businesses like stores and banks. To keep track of the holidays, you can use a holiday calendar. The holiday calendar will show federal holidays, and most weekly and monthly calendars note holidays as well.
How to Celebrate the Holiday Season
Celebrating the holidays varies depending on your religion, family traditions, location, and more. In general, you can count on more celebrations during the winter holidays and small parties and vacations during the summer holiday season. Most holiday celebrations include gift-giving, parties and get-togethers, listening to holiday music, and sending out greeting cards to family and friends.
Winter Holidays
The winter holidays are the biggest time for gift-giving in the U.S. People of all religions and faith typically give gifts for Christmas, Hanukkah, and/or New Years. Leading up to Christmas and New Years, it’s also typical to send out holiday photo cards. If you live far from family and friends, it’s the perfect opportunity to send holiday pictures and offer your greetings for the year. During the winter months, most celebrations also include a holiday party, whether it’s at work or with family.
Summer Holiday Season
The summer holiday season includes Memorial Day in May, Independence Day (or the Fourth of July), and Labor Day in September. To celebrate the summer holidays, many families choose to go on vacation or celebrate with outdoor barbecues and parties. The summer holidays are usually less festive than winter holidays since they’re spread further apart, but they’re still a great time for planning get-togethers and taking travel photos to put into a year-end photo book.
What Are the U.S. Federal Holidays?
A federal holiday is recognized by the U.S. government and includes paid time off for many non-essential employees. Currently, the U.S. recognizes 10 holidays as federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Third Monday in January
- President’s Day (Washington’s Birthday) – Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
- Independence Day (Fourth of July) – July 4
- Labor Day – First Monday in September
- Columbus Day (Also celebrated as Indigenous Peoples Day) – Second Monday in October
- Veterans Day – November 11
- Thanksgiving – Fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas – December 25
Shutterfly Holiday Cards
One of the best ways to send holiday wishes to your loved ones is through a Happy Holiday card. At Shutterfly, you can choose custom cards from our holiday collection that include themes for Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years, and more. With Shutterfly, you can personalize everything to make family photo cards, pet photo cards, and even funny greeting cards featuring silly group pictures. Don’t forget to check the holiday sale promotions and discounts that Shutterfly offers through Black Friday to help make sure you’re stocked up and saving money on holiday cards, gifts, and more.