Public holiday

A public holiday is a day established by law as a non-working day. These breaks are also known as statutory, legal, federal, or bank holidays. They serve as official pauses in the normal rhythm of life. Most people use these days to rest or celebrate. They are often declared by a government through a statute, edict, or decree. This means that official government arms, such as the court system, are often closed.

There are several distinct types of holidays used around the world. A civic holiday, or civil holiday, is recognized within a specific state or province. In federal states like the United States, federal holidays apply to the whole nation. However, individual constituent states may have their own separate holidays. Some holidays are secular, meaning they are not religious. For example, January 1 is a secular New Year's Day in many places. In some Eastern Orthodox Christian countries, such as Russia, this occurs on January 1 according to the Gregorian calendar.

In the United Kingdom, these days are often called bank holidays. This term comes from laws passed in the late 19th century. These laws were intended to extend labor rights to more citizens. Before these laws, some holidays were only recognized by custom. In England and Wales, Good Friday and Christmas Day are known as common law holidays. These have been celebrated since time immemorial. In Ireland, people also colloquially refer to public holidays as bank holidays.

Public holidays serve a major social function by coordinating leisure time. When everyone is off work at the same time, it is easier to arrange social occasions. However, this coordination can create challenges like congestion and overcrowding. This often happens on transport systems or in leisure facilities. Beyond social planning, holidays are vital for nation building. They act as symbols that foster national unity and social cohesion. They help people feel a sense of popular identification with their country. Some researchers, like Sabine Marschall, suggest holidays are sites of memory. They help preserve representations of historical events and national heroes.

Different nations have very different rules for how many holidays they observe. Nepal has the highest number of public holidays with 36 days per year. Even with this many breaks, they observe a six-day workweek. India has the second highest number with 21 national holidays. Colombia and the Philippines both have 18 holidays each. Japan, China, and Hong Kong each enjoy 17 public breaks. In Cambodia, there are 28 holidays to compensate for a longer six-day workweek.

Rules regarding pay and labor vary significantly by country. In New Zealand, national law sets 12 paid public holidays. If a worker performs labor on a public holiday, they must receive 1.5 times their regular pay. They are also granted an alternate day off. In the United States, there is no national law requiring employers to pay for holidays. However, the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts do have paid holiday laws. In Italy, the parliament establishes holidays that apply nationwide. These include a mix of religious, national, and local observances. For instance, the Italian Christmas season begins on 8 December and ends on 6 January.

Some holidays are considered controversial because of what they represent. In the United States, the federal holiday for Christopher Columbus is sometimes protested. Some people call for it to be changed to Indigenous People's Day. Similarly, Australia Day marks the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. Some Australians view this date as a symbol of European oppression. They have given the holiday the nickname 'Invasion Day.' While the national date remains, some events like citizenship ceremonies have moved to different dates. In South Africa, holidays were revised after Apartheid. These changes aimed to celebrate a new national identity called the rainbow nation.