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Massachusetts Legal Holidays
The following is a list of all legal holidays observed in Massachusetts. State, county, and municipal offices are closed on all of these days. Federal offices are only closed on holidays which the federal government recognizes (i.e. New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, George Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). The term "federal holiday" is not applicable to individual states and the private sector since each state has jurisdiction over its holidays.
In Massachusetts certain holidays are subject to laws which restrict the type of work that may be performed as well as the kind of business and commercial activities that may remain open. Only those holidays followed by asterisks (*) have certain restrictions. On holidays not followed by asterisks, business and commercial activities may operate as usual.
Please note: Only retail establishments may open during the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Retail establishments which operate on New Year's Day, Columbus Day after 12 noon, or on November 11th after 1:00 p.m. are required to pay their employees time and one-half regardless of the number of employees on their payroll. Retail establishments which operate on the summer holidays of Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day must pay time and one-half if at least eight employees are on the payroll in the week the holiday falls (Sunday to Saturday).
For further information on holiday laws, contact Citizen Information Service at cis@sec.state.ma.us.
Holiday |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
New Year’s Day - January first |
Jan. 1, Fri. |
Jan. 1, Sat. |
Jan. 1, Sun. |
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday - Third Monday in January |
Jan. 18, Mon. |
Jan. 17, Mon. |
Jan. 16, Mon. |
Washington’s Birthday - Third Monday in February |
Feb. 15, Mon. |
Feb. 21, Mon. |
Feb. 20, Mon. |
Evacuation Day - March 17th (Suffolk County only) |
Mar. 17, Wed. |
Mar. 17, Thurs. |
Mar. 17, Sat. (3) |
Patriot’s Day - Third Monday in April |
Apr. 19, Mon. |
Apr. 18, Mon. |
Apr. 16, Mon. |
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May** (1) |
May 31, Mon. |
May 30, Mon. (1) |
May 28, Mon.(1) |
Bunker Hill Day - June 17th (Suffolk County only) |
June 17, Thurs. |
June 17, Fri. |
June 17, Sun.(3) |
Independence Day - July 4th** |
July 4, Sun. (3) |
July 4, Mon. |
July 4, Wed. |
Labor Day - First Monday in September** |
Sept. 6, Mon. |
Sept. 5, Mon. |
Sept.3, Mon. |
Columbus Day - Second Monday in October* (Restrictions until 12 noon) (2) |
Oct. 11, Mon. |
Oct. 10, Mon. (2) |
Oct. 8, Mon. (2) |
Veterans’ Day - November 11th* (Restrictions until 1pm) (2) |
Nov. 11, Thurs. |
Nov. 11, Fri. (2) |
Nov. 11, Sun. (2) (3) |
Thanksgiving Day - Customarily the fourth Thursday in November* (1) |
Nov. 25, Thurs. |
Nov. 24, Thurs. (1) |
Nov. 22, Thurs. (1) |
Christmas Day - December 25th* (1) |
Dec. 25, Sat. |
Dec. 25, Sun. (1)(3) |
Dec. 25, Tue. (1) |
* - Full restrictions apply for ALL commerce
** - Restrictions apply except to retail
(1) Liquor Stores must be closed for Memorial, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Days.
(2) Many companies operate all day on these holidays, pending obtaining a local permit.
(3) All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law.
Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday.
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