The holiday season is upon us, and preparations are in full swing for Christmas. While December 25 is a recognized federal holiday for US citizens, Christmas Eve is not on the list. However, Maryland has made the season festivities extra special for its state employees as the government announced December 24, Tuesday, a state holiday on Sunday.
Governor Wes Moore confirmed the holiday in a news release. According to the statement, state offices and agencies will remain shut on Tuesday, December 24. The holiday has been declared to celebrate the hard work of Maryland state employees, and the day off has been granted.
Maryland announces Christmas Eve as a state holiday
Maryland is celebrating the festive season with extra cheer. Governor Wes Moore noted that December 24 will be "treated like any other state employee holiday." He showered appreciation for the state employees and stated,
“Our state employees have worked tirelessly all year long ensuring that Maryland is safer, more affordable, more competitive and the state that serves."
He added,
“We hope that all of our incredible public servants across the state can take a much-needed day to be with their loved ones this holiday season.”
This is not the first time Maryland has seen a Christmas Eve holiday. The state employees were granted holidays previously in 2022 and 2018. While Christmas Eve is not a federal holiday, it has been announced as a state holiday from time to time. Former President Trump's Government had previously announced Christmas Eve as a holiday in 2018 and 2019.
In 2025, Inauguration Day has been added to the list of federal holidays. Unlike the other 11 typical federal holidays, the day off will only be for federal employees in Washington, D.C., and other federal offices. Since it's not a regular holiday, the final decision will be made by the organization and employer. Here is a complete list of federal holidays for 2025:
- January 1: New Year's Day
- January 20: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
- January 20: Inauguration Day
- Feb 17: Washington's Birthday
- May 26: Memorial Day
- June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- July 4: Independence Day
- September 1: Labor Day
- October 13: Indigenous People's Day
- November 11: Veterans Day
- November 27: Thanksgiving
- December 25: Christmas Day
This festive season, Maryland state employees are getting an additional day off to rest and recuperate from the year's hard work. While Christmas Eve is not a federal holiday, it had been previously declared as a state holiday in the US.