Even though there are plenty of religious holidays, they are not the same as federal holidays. A holiday is only considered a federal holiday if the government is closed on that day. If the government is not closed down that day, then it is not considered a federal holiday. Even though there are plenty of employers that will still give their employees a free day off for a religious holiday, this does not necessarily mean that the company itself, or the government, will close. For example, in the United States, there are plenty of religious holidays that are taking off for Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, but they do not necessarily mean that the government will close.
What Country Has the Most Federal Holidays?
Turkey has the most federal holidays of any country in the world. There are 16 federal holidays in Turkey every year. There are several other countries that have a double-digit number of holidays. For example, the Netherlands has 11 federal holidays every year. The United States also has 11 federal holidays every year. In the United Kingdom, there are between eight and ten federal holidays every year. The exact number of federal holidays can vary depending on the country. Scotland, Ireland, and England do not necessarily have the same number of federal holidays, although companies may decide to close for certain days if it aligns with the values of the business.
What Are the Federal Holidays in the United States?
There are a total of 11 federal holidays in the United States. They include New Year's Day, the birthday of Martin Luther King Junior, the birthday of George Washington, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas day. Recently, Juneteenth was added to the calendar. It is a celebration of the day that slavery ended in the United States. If one of these federal holidays happens to fall on a weekend, it will typically be observed either on the preceding Friday or the following Monday. There are several other days that a lot of people take off, such as Easter Monday. These might be religious holidays, but they are not necessarily federal holidays.
Why Does the United States Not Want To Add More Federal Holidays?
There has been some push to add more federal holidays. Proponents of adding more federal holidays indicate that it could be a way to recognize marginalized groups in the United States. On the other hand, the government is reluctant to add more federal holidays because this means that banks and stock markets need to close. A lot of people are nervous about the impact of too many federal holidays on the economy. Particularly during a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, adding more federal holidays is not necessarily going to contribute to economic growth. Furthermore, the federal government allows states and companies to decide when they open and when they close.
FAQs
Among nations worldwide, Cambodia holds the record for the highest number of public holidays, boasting a total of 28 observed annually. Following closely, Sri Lanka has 25 public holidays, while both India and Kazakhstan observe 21.
Which country has the most number of public holidays? ›
Cambodia has the most public holidays in the world. In 2019, the country celebrated approximately 29 public holidays. The country with the second most public holidays is Sri Lanka, which celebrated 26 public holidays in 2019.
Do other countries have as many holidays as the US? ›
There are several other countries that have a double-digit number of holidays. For example, the Netherlands has 11 federal holidays every year. The United States also has 11 federal holidays every year. In the United Kingdom, there are between eight and ten federal holidays every year.
Which country in the world has the least public holidays? ›
10 countries with the fewest public holidays
- Switzerland. Farrukh (flickr) Number of public holidays: 7–15 depending on the canton. ...
- Mexico. Ted McGrath (flickr) ...
- Ecuador. Joe Ross (flickr) ...
- United Kingdom. velodenz (flickr) ...
- Canada. ¡ ...
- Brazil. Terry George (flickr) ...
- Taiwan. Kyle T. ( ...
- Belgium. VisitGent (flickr)
In addition to the eleven annual federal holidays, Inauguration Day is a twelfth holiday designated by Congress for observance every four years on January 20 following a U.S. presidential election.
How many holidays are there in Canada? ›
There are 5 nationwide statutory holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Canada Day, Labour Day, Christmas Day, and many other provincial statutory holidays. Federal employees get 6 additional holidays.
What is the most widespread holiday in the world? ›
1. Christmas. Undoubtedly one of the most celebrated holidays worldwide, Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ in Christian tradition. Observed on December 25th, it transcends religious boundaries, embraced by people of various faiths and cultures.
What are the top 3 holidays in the world? ›
What are the top 3 biggest holidays? Christmas, a global celebration of Jesus Christ's birth with gift-giving and family feasts; Chinese New Year, marking the lunar new year with traditional festivities and reunions; and Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic festival concluding Ramadan with communal prayers and feasting.
Which religion has the most public holidays? ›
Hinduism and Catholicism. If you don't take the spiritual or practical significance of holidays into account, Hindus and Roman Catholics are tied for the most, because pretty much every day of the year has some special significance in the religious calendar of each.
What is a holiday that only the US celebrates? ›
Independence Day, aka the 4th of July, is exclusively celebrated in the U.S.A., as is Thanksgiving Day. Both celebrate events that took place here and nowhere else. We also celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
According to the Federal Holidays Act, all employees in Germany with a 5-day week are entitled to a minimum of 20 vacation days per year. Most collective agreements, however, include entitlements to larger numbers of days.
How many vacation days do Italians get? ›
Vacation Leave Quota (Annual Leave) Employees in Italy have a right to from 22 to 26 days (approximately 4 weeks) of paid annual leave.
What is the least popular holiday? ›
Juneteenth (which commemorates the freeing of enslaved Black people in Texas in 1865), Super Bowl Sunday, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and Election Day are the holidays among those polled about that the largest shares of Americans say are their least favorite days of the year.
How much vacation time is normal in Europe? ›
European countries typically offer anywhere from 20 to 30 paid vacation days per year, and some even go above and beyond that.
Which country has the most school holidays in the world? ›
- Jan 15, 2024. 10 Countries With The Most School Holidays. ...
- Dive into the Public Holiday Richness of 10 Nations. Discover the diverse and vibrant celebrations around the globe with our Web Story on "Countries with the Most School Holidays." ...
- Nepal - 35. ...
- Cambodia - 28. ...
- Sri Lanka - 25. ...
- Myanmar - 21. ...
- India - 21. ...
- Kazakhstan - 21.
All About India Public Holidays You Need To Know. There are seventeen public holidays in India every year based on significant religious and cultural dates. On these days, state and central government employees get a paid holiday. If employees need to work for some reason, their employers will have to compensate them.
