# What new Federal holiday would you like to see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 20, 2021, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673 "2021-06-20T05:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![omenran](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omenran/32/3318_2.png) [@omenran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omenran)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/41 "2021-06-22T02:03:01Z")
You should remember that at least one state has made anything like that coffee stand illegal, but also there are places with hours long waits at the poll. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/42 "2021-06-22T11:35:01Z")
Maybe not a Federal holiday as such, but I’d like to see one day every year set aside solely for the taking old dumb laws off of the books. Maybe it would include a time limit such as “only laws 100 years or older”. Robert Heinlein floated a similar idea in “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress” - having an entire legislative body with the purpose of revoking laws. That would be taking things to a ridiculous extreme. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/43 "2021-06-22T12:37:52Z")
We need an August holiday. We have too many winter holidays all clumped together. I propose moving MLK day to August. We also have too many holidays of all sorts. We should get rid of Columbus Day. It was a gift to the then-powerful Italian Americans. Besides, what does one do on Columbus Day? Buy hammers for $14.92? Finally, while the idea of one federal holiday a month seems to make good sense, why name them? Let us have the January holiday, the February holiday and so on. You can honor the March holiday as Pride Day. I can honor it as Columbus Day. I hope I can count on your support in November. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/44 "2021-06-22T17:26:28Z")
There’s one that should just be fixed. Veterans should get Veteran’s Day off. The way it is now, the vet wants to go to the bank or get his mail, but he can’t because everybody is off honoring him. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/45 "2021-06-22T18:30:06Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > We need an August holiday. I feel like August of when little take their flexible holidays and go in vacation. It’s probably best to already that out, and not encourage everyone to try to incorporate August bank holiday into their family vacation. So i oppose this idea. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/46 "2021-06-22T19:57:02Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > As I said, it should be up to the states, not the feds. If a state already has all mail-in voting, they needn’t bear the costs and inconvenience of another holiday. It still is. Many states don’t observe Columbus Day, even though it’s a federal holiday. There’s no obligation for state and local governments or private employers to celebrate Juneteenth or election day as holidays. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/47 "2021-06-24T22:14:32Z")
> [@anny\_m](#): > > I was very surprised to find out that Inauguration Day is a holiday for federal employees. Only for those Federal employees whose duty station is in the D.C area, fairly narrowly defined. Per [5 U.S.C. 6103(c)](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/6103): > January 20 of each fourth year after 1965, Inauguration Day, is a legal public holiday for the purpose of statutes relating to pay and leave of employees as defined by [section 2105 of this title](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2105) and individuals employed by the government of the District of Columbia employed in the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church in Virginia. When January 20 of any fourth year after 1965 falls on Sunday, the next succeeding day selected for the public observance of the inauguration of the President is a legal public holiday for the purpose of this subsection. I think the rationale is largely to reduce traffic to a minimum on that day. In non-pandemic years, the inauguration is a big to-do, with a ton of people, including lots of VIPs, coming in from out of town. Closing the Federal government down for that day gets rid of rush hour and gets the Federal work force out from underfoot. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/48 "2021-06-25T00:03:15Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > But we need one for August. Poor August has no celebrations at all. Neither does March or April. And it’s that stretch that _really_ needs a Federal holiday. There are no Federal holidays between Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day, and the respective holidays are either 98 or 105 days apart, depending on the year. There are also no Federal holidays in between Independence Day and Labor Day, but they’re ‘only’ between 58 and 65 days apart. Not shedding any tears for August; give me a Federal holiday in the springtime! ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/49 "2021-06-25T00:16:37Z")
There’s one more intermittent Federal holiday that hasn’t been mentioned. I don’t think it’s codified anywhere, but by long tradition at least, when a former President dies, Federal workers get a day off for his funeral. During my time as a Federal employee, Reagan, Ford, and Bush the Elder have each given me a day off by leaving this mortal coil. Jimmy Carter, who was born in 1924, is by far the oldest currently living former President (Clinton, Bush II, and TFG were all born in 1946, and Obama was born in 1961), so we may get a day off on account of him one of these years, but he certainly doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave this world. Not that I have a problem with that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/50 "2021-06-25T04:14:08Z")
Democracy day or voting day. It’s a holiday but one that promotes good citizenship, not sloth. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/51 "2021-06-25T05:17:27Z")
Why? IMHO that would mean less voters not more. People would take the day off and go to the beach or to grandmas or something. And just because it is a Federal Holiday it does not mean that the wage slaves get that day off. There is no requirements to give holiday pay or even a day off for most businesses, just banks and government offices. > [@Smapti](#): > > The thing is, the majority of people who don’t have time to vote on Election Day are the same class of people who don’t get a day off for federal holidays either. Right. > [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Do you not have a statutory entitlement to time off to vote? That’s what we have in Canada. Not a holiday, but the employer must ensure each employee has three consecutive hours off to vote. Yes, in CA four hours- IF the polls are not open long enough for you to vote with your shift. > [@Smapti](#): > > It is absolutely insane that we continue to insist that voting be confined to a single day. Exactly. > [@penultima\_thule](#): > > At my local polling booth, the local school approx 120m away one of the locals sets up a coffee cart outside the precinct. Not in a black neighborhood in a state with a Republican Legislature. Lines of 8 hours were reported. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/52 "2021-06-25T05:20:39Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > We need an August holiday. We have too many winter holidays all clumped together. I propose moving MLK day to August. > **[August 2021 Calendar (With Holidays) - Calendarr](https://www.calendarr.com/united-states/calendar-august-2021/)** > > August 2021 Calendar with Holidays and Celebrations of the United States. I like Lazy Day and Beach day. > [@RTFirefly](#): > > Neither does March or April. And it’s that stretch that _really_ needs a Federal holiday. Due to Easter, Good Friday, etc. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/53 "2021-06-25T17:55:31Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Due to Easter, Good Friday, etc. Could you clarify, please? I’m not sure what your meaning is. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/54 "2021-06-25T20:18:55Z")
Easter moves around in those two months. So if we picked a Holiday that was scheduled on say the first Friday in April or whatever, there is a one chance in eight it will land on the same weekend as Easter, etc. This would not fly. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/55 "2021-06-25T20:55:36Z")
Can’t see how that’s a problem. Our holidays typically get observed on the nearest Monday. If a holiday’s observance fell on the day after Easter, not only would it not interfere with Easter celebrations, but for those who traveled a ways to visit relatives, it would give them a free day to travel home. Here in Maryland, the schools are off on Good Friday and ‘Easter Monday.’ (What sacred event does the Bible describe that happens on the day after Easter? 😁) But for everyone besides the school kids, that’s a day at the office. Wouldn’t mind if a Federal holiday fell on the same day. And if it fell on the Monday following Palm Sunday, why would anyone get ticked off about that? ETA: Actually, before Governor Stupid decreed that schools couldn’t open before Labor Day anymore, but still had to finish up by the second week of June like they always had, the schools were closed for all of Easter week plus ‘Easter Monday’ which of course meant that a lot of families went to Disney World or wherever for the week. I don’t recall anyone being upset about that either. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/56 "2021-06-25T21:59:31Z")
Well, this year, Juneteenth moved to Friday for us Feds. So, people consider it a issue, and people say that is why no Federal holidays in those months. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/57 "2021-06-25T22:05:58Z")
“people say”?? Oh lordy. Name three. When was the last time the MLK holiday, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, or Columbus Day was observed on any day besides a Monday? It’s not like this is a challenge to pull off, if having an April holiday being on some other day of the week is a problem. Not to mention, Easter can happen in a particular 5-week interval. That’s 35 days. There’s at least 98 days between Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day. There’s room to have a holiday in there, and avoid Easter altogether. Seriously, this isn’t fucking rocket surgery. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673/58 "2021-06-25T22:08:02Z")
Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and perhaps other states celebrates Patriot’s (or Patriots’ depending on the state) Day in April on the third Monday. It was originally on April 19 to mark the anniversary of the battles of Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy (now Arlington) which was actually the biggest battle of the day. And if you’ve ever been on the Lexington Green where it took place you’d be amazed at how small it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-new-federal-holiday-would-you-like-to-see/944673.md?page=2)