 Holiday Observances in Massachusetts
(Statewide Legal Holidays are in Bold)
Notes: This list does not include all religious holidays observed by each faith. State and federal law require schools to make reasonable accommodation to the religious needs of students and employees in observance of holy days. For information on other religious holidays observed by members of religions represented in your school community, please contact local clergy.
School vacations are determined by School Districts, not the ESE. Contact the local School Administration Office for details. View contact information for Massachusetts Schools and Districts.
| | 2008-2009
School Yr. | 2009-2010
School Yr. | 2010-2011
School Yr. |
|---|
| Labor Day | Mon., Sept. 1 | Mon., Sept. 7 | Mon., Sept. 6 |
| Rosh Hashanah* | Sept. 30-Oct. 1 | Sept. 19-Sept. 20 | Sept. 9-Sept. 10 |
| Yom Kippur* | Thurs., Oct. 9 | Mon., Sept. 28 | Sat., Sept. 18 |
| Sukkot* | Tues., Oct. 14 | Sat., Oct. 3 | Thurs. Sept. 23 |
| Columbus Day | Mon., Oct. 13 | Mon., Oct. 12 | Mon., Oct. 11 |
| Ramadan** | Sept. 1-Sept. 29 | Aug. 21-Sept. 19 | Aug. 11-Sept. 9 |
| Veterans' Day | Tue., Nov. 11 | Wed., Nov. 11 | Thurs., Nov. 11 |
| Eid al-Fitr** | Wed., Oct., 1 | Sun., Sept. 20 | Fri., Sept. 10 |
| Thanksgiving | Thurs., Nov. 27 | Thurs., Nov. 26 | Thurs., Nov. 25 |
| Chanukah* | Mon., Dec. 22 | Sat., Dec. 12 | Thurs., Dec. 2 |
| Christmas Day | Thurs., Dec. 25 | Fri., Dec. 25 | Sat., Dec. 25 |
| Kwanzaa | Fri., Dec. 26 | Sat., Dec. 26 | Sun., Dec. 26 |
| New Year's Day | Thurs., Jan. 1 | Fri., Jan. 1 | Sun., Jan. 1 |
| Eid al-Adha** | Mon., Dec 8 | Fri., Nov. 27 | Tues., Nov 16 |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Mon., Jan. 19 | Mon., Jan. 18 | Mon., Jan. 17 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon., Feb. 16 | Mon., Feb. 15 | Mon., Feb. 21 |
| Ash Wednesday | Wed., Feb. 25 | Wed., Feb. 17 | Wed., Mar. 9 |
Evacuation Day
(Suffolk County only) | Tues., Mar. 17 | Wed., Mar. 17 | Thurs., Mar. 17 |
| Palm Sunday | Sun., April 5 | Sun., Mar. 28 | Sun., April 17 |
| Passover * | Th., 4/9-Fri., 4/10 | Tues., 3/30-Wed., 4/1 | Tues.,4/19-Wed.,4/20 |
| | Wed., 4/15- Thu., 4/16 | Mon., 4/6-Tues., 4/7 | Mon., 4/25-Tues., 4/26 |
| Good Friday | Fri., April 10 | Fri., April 2 | Fri., April 22 |
| Easter | Sun., April 12 | Sun., April 4 | Sun., April 24 |
| Orthodox Easter | Sun., April 19 | Sun., April 4 | Sun., April 24 |
| Patriots' Day | Mon., April 20 | Mon., April 19 | Mon., April 18 |
| Memorial Day | Mon., May 25 | Mon., May 31 | Mon., May 30 |
| Shavuot* | Fri., May 29 | Wed., May 19 | Wed., June 8 |
Bunker Hill Day
(Suffolk County only) | Wed., June 17 | Thurs., June 17 | Fri., June 17 |
| Independence Day | Sat., July 4*** | Sun., July 4**** | Moni., July 4 |
*According to the Massachusetts Lawyers Diary and Manual, "In addition to dates noted, observant Jews celebrate the second, seventh and eighth days of Passover; the second, eighth and ninth days of Sukkot; and two days of Shavuot. All Jewish holidays begin at sundown, the evening prior to the day of the holiday."
**Due to the lunar calendar these are only approximate dates.
***Under G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 18, legal holidays that fall on a Saturday are observed on that day.
****Under G.L. c. 4, § 7, cl. 18, a legal holiday shall be observed the day following when said holiday shall occur on Sunday.
last updated: August 25, 2008
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