US Holidays 1981 — Dates, Weekdays & Countdowns
All 11 US federal holidays and major observances in 1981: the exact date, the day of the week, the federally observed date, and a live countdown to each.
| Holiday | Date | Day of week | Observed | Countdown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 1981 | Thursday | — | passed |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19, 1981 | Monday | — | passed |
| Presidents' Day | February 16, 1981 | Monday | — | passed |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 1981 | Monday | — | passed |
| Juneteenth | June 19, 1981 | Friday | — | passed |
| Independence Day | July 4, 1981 | Saturday | July 3, 1981 | passed |
| Labor Day | September 7, 1981 | Monday | — | passed |
| Columbus Day | October 12, 1981 | Monday | — | passed |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 1981 | Wednesday | — | passed |
| Thanksgiving | November 26, 1981 | Thursday | — | passed |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 1981 | Friday | — | passed |
When a fixed-date federal holiday falls on a Saturday it is observed the Friday before; on a Sunday, the Monday after. Monday-rule holidays (like Memorial Day or Labor Day) never need an observed date.
| Holiday | Date | Day of week | Countdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valentine's Day | February 14, 1981 | Saturday | passed |
| Mother's Day | May 10, 1981 | Sunday | passed |
| Father's Day | June 21, 1981 | Sunday | passed |
| Halloween | October 31, 1981 | Saturday | passed |
| New Year's Eve | December 31, 1981 | Thursday | passed |
How many federal holidays are there in 1981?
There are 11 US federal holidays in 1981: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
When is Thanksgiving 1981?
Thanksgiving 1981 falls on Thursday, November 26, 1981 — the fourth Thursday of November, as set by federal law.
What does the "observed" date mean?
When a fixed-date federal holiday lands on a weekend, federal employees get the nearest weekday off instead: the Friday before if it falls on Saturday, or the Monday after if it falls on Sunday. That weekday is the observed date; the holiday itself does not move.
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