 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.
| | 2007-2008
School Yr. | 2008-2009
School Yr. | 2009-2010
School Yr. |
|---|
| Labor Day | Mon., Sept. 3 | Mon., Sept. 1 | Mon., Sept. 7 |
| Rosh Hashanah* | Sept. 13- Sept. 14 | Sept. 30- Oct. 1 | Sept. 19-Sept. 20 |
| Yom Kippur* | Sat., Sept. 22 | Thurs., Oct. 9 | Mon., Sept. 28 |
| Sukkot* | Thurs. Sept. 27 | Tues., Oct. 14 | Sat., Oct. 3 |
| Columbus Day | Mon., Oct. 8 | Mon., Oct. 13 | Mon., Oct. 12 |
| Ramadan** | Mid-October | Mid-October | Mid-October |
| Veterans' Day | Sun., Nov. 11**** | Tue., Nov. 11 | Wed., Nov. 11 |
| Eid al-Fitr** | Fri., Oct. 13 | Wed., Oct., 1 | Sun., Sept. 20 |
| Thanksgiving | Thurs., Nov. 22 | Thurs., Nov. 27 | Thurs., Nov. 26 |
| Chanukah* | Wed., Dec. 5 | Mon., Dec. 22 | Sat., Dec. 12 |
| Christmas Day | Tues., Dec. 25 | Thurs., Dec. 25 | Fri., Dec. 25 |
| Kwanzaa | Wed., Dec. 26 | Fri., Dec. 26 | Sat., Dec. 26 |
| New Year's Day | Tues., Jan. 1 | Thurs., Jan. 1 | Fri., Jan. 1 |
| Eid al-Adha** | Jan/Feb | Jan/Feb | Jan/Feb |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Mon., Jan. 21 | Mon., Jan. 19 | Mon., Jan. 18 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon., Feb. 18 | Mon., Feb. 16 | Mon., Feb. 15 |
| Ash Wednesday | Wed., Feb. 6 | Wed., Feb. 25 | Wed., Feb. 17 |
Evacuation Day
(Suffolk County only) | Mon., Mar. 17 | Tues., Mar. 17 | Wed., Mar. 17 |
| Palm Sunday | Sun., March 16 | Sun., April 5 | Sun., Mar. 28 |
| Passover * | Sun., 4/20-Mon., 4/21 | Th., 4/9-Fri., 4/10 | Tues., 3/30-Wed., 4/1 |
| | Sat., 4/26-Sun., 4/27 | Wed., 4/15- Thu., 4/16 | Mon., 4/6-Tues., 4/7 |
| Good Friday | Fri., March 21 | Fri., April 10 | Fri., April 2 |
| Easter | Sun., March 23 | Sun., April 12 | Sun., April 4 |
| Orthodox Easter | Sun., April 27 | Sun., April 19 | Sun., April 4 |
| Patriots' Day | Mon., April 21 | Mon., April 20 | Mon., April 19 |
| Memorial Day | Mon., May 26 | Mon., May 25 | Mon., May 31 |
| Shavuot* | Mon., June 9 | Fri., May 29 | Wed., May 19 |
Bunker Hill Day
(Suffolk County only) | Tues., June 17 | Wed., June 17 | Thurs., June 17 |
| Independence Day | Fri., July 4 | Sat., July 4*** | Sun., July 4**** |
* All Jewish holidays begin at sundown, the evening prior to the day of the holiday. 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."
**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: March 25, 2008
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