We’re working with a company that’s headquartered San Antonio. (We’re a subcontractor to them on a government project.) During yesterday’s teleconference they informed us that tomorrow was a holiday and that no one would be at work.
“Huh? What holiday? Does Texas have a state holiday or something?”
They just laughed and called me a Yankee… 
So please explain to this Yankee… what’s up with this “Texas holiday”? 
San Jacinto Day. Just Google “Texas holiday” and you’ll get the whole list, including Lyndon Baines Johnson Day, etc.
And it’s not like the state shuts down or many businesses give the employees the day off. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have even known it was today.
I work for County Government in Colorado. We have non-priority holidays. If normal businesses don’t recognize holiday (say MLK), we stay open.
Workers have to coordinate with each other to make sure there is enough staff to cover. If you don’t take the day off, you can take it another time.
Works pretty well. And since some businesses do get the particlar holiday, it gives the public an opertunity to come do business with the County on their day off.
Ghaaaa. Spelling. Spelling, spelling. That’ll teach me not to preview.
This is the final weekend of Fiesta, which is a pretty big party in San Antonio.
Just to give a little warning, a lot of people in San Antonio are going to take Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) off as well.
Easy. Passover is an official holiday in Texas. ;j
Well, most non-essential state workers get it off (my client is the DOT and they’re off). There’s something like fifteen official state holidays workers can take. Sometimes I think it’s be worth the 12 grand paycut to get that many holidays…
“What? They get Earth Day off in Texas? That’s so cool! Do they eat Boca Burgers and discuss ways of using less fossil fuels? No? Oh.”
A lot of folks get half a day off so they can make it to the Battle of Flowers parade.
This the best time of year to visit, it’s a whole week of partying.
Remember Goliad! Remember the Alamo!
OH yeah?! I had to postpone a project 3 1/2 years in the planning because eveyone at SBC (HQ in San Antonio) would be off this week.
A couple of years ago our HR office sent around a ballot that allowed employees to choose between two different holiday schedules. One of the options included San Jacinto Day, Sam Houston Day, and Heros of the Confederacy Day.
El Paso is approximately 80% Hispanic.
You do the math.
Texas Independance Day, the battle of San Jacinto.
For a good history of the battle, click here
Kizarvexius, I think I know what you’re getting at.
I can only speak for myself and several of my Hispanic friends but we are very happy to be Americans. Texas independence led to eventual statehood so this is a time of year that I pay respect to those who fought so long ago. Now I hear other Hispanics who are also Americans speak of the irony of “Mexicans” celebrating and I wonder where their loyalties really are.
And oh yeah, the Confederacy and any who associate themselves with it can dry up and blow away.
I’m in Austin, and (looking around at work) I don’t get today off.
I didn’t when I lived in Houston or El Paso, either.
Not off here, either. Texas has a few “Texas Only” holidays, another example is Juneteenth (which falls on a Sunday this year, and is shared with Father’s Day). Cinco de Mayo is another great party, although not limited to Texas, it’s big here! Even if you’re not black or hispanic, both celebrations are cause enough to enjoy some excellent food and reflect on history.
Now that you mention it, they did say something about “Fiesta”…
LBJ gets a holiday??? Damn! How come we Californians don’t get a Richard Nixon day? 
I would appear that this is incorrect, but Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur seem to have made the cut.