About New Year's Day in the United States
New Year's Day is a United States federal holiday on 1 January. It marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar year and begins the federal holiday schedule.
The federal calendar date
Federal law fixes New Year's Day on 1 January. Unlike a Monday-based holiday, its weekday changes each year.
When 1 January falls on Saturday, most Monday-to-Friday federal employees observe the holiday on the preceding Friday. When it falls on Sunday, the following Monday is generally observed. An observed New Year's holiday can therefore appear on 31 December of the previous calendar year.
What federal holiday status means
OPM's rules describe holiday treatment for covered federal employees and different work schedules. They are not a general law requiring every private employer in the United States to provide a paid day off.
State and local government, school, bank and private-business calendars often recognize New Year's Day, but their hours and employment policies should be checked independently.
Planning across the year boundary
New Year's events usually begin on 31 December, while the legal holiday is 1 January. Travel, late-night services and opening hours can therefore change across both dates.
Check the exact year shown in the dates table and note whether an entry is the actual date or an observed federal weekday. Confirm time-sensitive appointments with the organization involved.
Common questions about New Year's Day
Is New Year's Day always on 1 January?
Yes. The holiday date is fixed on 1 January, although most affected federal employees may receive a nearby observed weekday when it falls on a weekend.
Can the observed holiday fall in December?
Yes. When 1 January is a Saturday, the preceding Friday, 31 December, is generally the observed federal holiday for Monday-to-Friday employees.