Houston - Holiday calendar

It is useful to know the holiday calendar in your new assignement, to be able to plan reconaissance trip accordingly. Nothing is more frustrating then having crossed the ocean to find out that the schools you wanted to visits are closed for vacation.

Local customs vary from state to state and celebrations differ depending on religion. Government offices and some businesses may close on national holidays, if they fall on a weekday. If you aren't sure a particular shop is open on a holiday, give them a call in advance.

In and around Houston, work establishments choose the holidays they want to observe.

School districts and international schools also follow independent and differing holiday schedules. Fortunately, schools give out calenders in advance, so parents can plan future vacations and holidays. 

New Year's Eve, December 31st 
A day for celebrating

New Year's Day, January 1 
Is usually a day off for all, except for retail and food places. On this day, most American men to stay home and watch football!

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Honors the civil rights leader and usually falls on the 2nd or 3rd Monday of January and is usually marked by parades. This holiday is observed by government, banks and schools, but not by all businesses.

Presidents’ Day
3rd Monday of February and celebrates past presidents of the United States. This holiday is observed by government, banks and schools, but not by all businesses.

Spring Break
Is for Schools only and starts the 2nd or 3rd week of March.

Good Friday
Is in late March, early April, the date varies annually. 
Most American office establishments have a long weekend over Easter to coincide with the Easter school break. On the weekend, children enjoy Easter egg hunts. Many people use this long weekend to travel or to visit relatives. 

Easter Sunday
Is in late March, early April and the date changes yearly.|
This holiday is observed by all retail and restaurant sectors. 

Easter Monday
No school on this day.

Memorial Day
Last Monday in May.
All government offices, banks and most officies and schools are closed. You'll find restaurants and retail shops open. 

4th July - American Independence Day
All government offices, banks and most officies and schools are closed. You'll find restaurants and retail shops open. Many communities celebrate with fireworks and bangers and people plan cook-outs in community parks or in their backyards. You'll see many American flags hanging outside houses on this day. 

Labor Day
1st Monday in September
All government offices, banks and most officies and schools are closed. You'll find restaurants and retail shops open. 

Columbus Day
2nd Monday in October.
All government offices, banks and most officies and schools are closed. You'll find restaurants and retail shops open. The Italian/American communities hold parades.

Veterans' Day
11th of November.
Observed by government offices and banks, but not by many private sector establishments or schools. Special ceremonies are staged at all National Cemeteries and War Shrines.

Thanksgiving Day
fourth Thursday in November

Day after Thanksgiving
This is the biggest family holiday in the year and the busiest retail period. Many establishments in all sectors close and observe Thanksgiving Day. The Friday following Thanksgiving Day is the biggest single shopping day of the year and inaugurates the four-week Christmas shopping extravaganza. Many Americans families unite and celebrate Thanksgiving together, which makes it a very heavy travel time both on the roads and at the airports.

Christmas break
(Schools) – usually last week of December and the first week of January.

Christmas Eve, December 24th
Most companies close early to allow employees to go home or shopping for ‘last minute’ items for Christmas.

Christmas Day, 25th of December 
Observed by all sectors as a holiday.

American celebrations
Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas and Halloween are all celebrations where many Americans will decorate their home and use tableware and crockery that is in keeping with the holiday theme. At Christmas, many people also decorate their front gardens with Christmas lights and at Halloween, ghouls, witches and ghosts are seen adorning gardens. 
These celebrations are usually observed by Americans (and the retail sector, which celebrates financially) by sending cards or small gifts, home baked cookies or candy/sweets - check with your neighbor or American friends, if any custom is expected. For example, at Valentine's Day, the nursery school attended by our children distributes a list and your child gives a small gift to each of the children on the list.
Be sensitive to religious seasons, for example some Americans do not celebrate Halloween due to religious connotations, but most Americans do participate. Do make yourself aware of Ramadan when Muslims will be fasting etc.

Valentine's Day, 14th of February
Restaurants tend to be very busy and many retail establishments hold sales during this period. Cards are exchanged with loved ones and often by children.

Saint Patrick’s day, 16th of March 
Irish Saints day, but widely celebrated during the evening by both the Irish and Americans with many functions at Irish establishments. Everyone is Irish for a day!

Mother's Day
2nd Sunday in May
A day when Americans send 'mother' or 'mother figure' a card or flowers.

Flag Day, June 14th
A day when Americans ‘fly the flag’ – observed by flying the American flag outside your house.

Father's Day
3rd Sunday in June 
Another ‘retail celebration’ when a card is sent to 'father' or 'father figure'.

Halloween, 31st of October
During the evening of Halloween, neighborhood children follow a tradition of ‘trick or treat’, whereby they dress up in costume and visit neighbors' houses asking for candy/cookies/sweets to be handed over if the dare is not to be carried out.