Holidays for the United States and Canada

January 1

New Year's Day

Third Monday in January

Martin Luther King Jr. Day (USA)

February 12

Lincoln's Birthday (USA)

February 14

Valentine's Day

February 17

Heritage Day (Saskatchewan)

February 22

Washington's Birthday (USA)

Third Monday in February

President's Day (USA)

Family Day (Alberta)

Friday before the last Sunday in February

Heritage Day (Yukon)

Second Sunday in March

Daylight Savings Time (DST) begins (for more information, see our Time Zones page).

March 17

St. Patrick's Day

Easter is observed on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25

'Ash Wednesday' occurs 46 days prior to Easter Sunday.

'Palm Sunday' occurs 7 days prior to Easter Sunday.

The Friday prior to Easter Sunday is called 'Good Friday'.

The Monday following Easter Sunday is called 'Easter Monday' and is a holiday in Canada.

See below for more information about the calculation of the Easter.

April 23

St. George's Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)

May 5

Cinco de Mayo

Second Sunday in May

Mother's Day

Monday prior to May 25

Victoria Day (Canada)

Last Monday in May

Memorial Day (USA)

June 14

Flag Day

June 24

Discovery Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)

St. Jean-Baptiste Day - or National Day (Quebec)

Third Sunday in June

Father's Day

July 1

Canada Day (Canada)

Memorial Day (Newfoundland and Labrador)

July 4

Independence Day (USA)

July 12

Orangemen's day (Newfoundland and Labrador)

First Monday in August

British Columbia Day (British Columbia)

Civic Holiday (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan)

Heritage Day (Alberta)

Natal Day (Nova Scotia, except in Halifax, which varies)

Natal Day (Prince Edward Island, usually by proclamation)

New Brunswick Day (New Brunswick)

Third Monday in August

Discovery Day (Yukon)

First Sunday in September

Grandparent's Day

First Monday in September

Labor Day (USA)

Labour Day (Canada)

Second Monday in October

Columbus Day (USA)

Thanksgiving Day (Canada)

October 31

Halloween

Election Day (USA)

The first Tuesday, after the first Monday in November, during even numbered years.

First Sunday in November

Daylight Savings Time (DST) ends (for more information, see our Time Zones page).

November 11

Veteran's Day (USA)

Remembrance Day (Canada)

Fourth Thursday in November

Thanksgiving Day (USA)

December 24

Christmas Eve

December 25

Christmas Day

December 26

Boxing Day (Canada)

December 31

New Year's Eve

Easter-based Holidays

Easter

Easter occurs on a Sunday, between March 22 and April 25.

Easter is generally described as occurring on the first Sunday after the full moon which occured after the vernal equinox. A more precise statement can be made by following the ecclesiastical rules:

Easter must be on a Sunday.

Easter Sunday must follow the 14th day of the Paschal Moon. The Paschal Moon is not the astronomical Full Moon, but an ecclesiastical defined Moon that is roughly in step with the astronomical Moon.

The Equinox is fixed as March 21st.

The western Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestent) churches base their calculation of Easter on tables based on the Gregorian calendar. Some eastern Christian (Orthodox) churches use older tables based on the Julian Calendar.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days prior to Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday occurs 7 days prior to Easter Sunday.

Good Friday

Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter Sunday.

Notes

In the United States: When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, it is observed the following Monday.

In Canada: When a holiday falls on either Saturday or Sunday, it is observed the following Monday.