This memo, which supersedes the last holiday memo issued December 6, 2010, contains a list of paid legal holidays and the schedule of dates when they will be observed as set forth in MGL Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause Eighteen.
The following is a list of legal holidays and the dates on which they will be observed for calendar years 2012, 2013 and 2014. Consult the Red Book or the relevant collective bargaining agreements with regard to compensatory time off or compensation for employees who work on holidays. Also see: http://www.mass.gov/bb/gaa/fy2011/os_11/h5.htm
Legal Holidays
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
| New Year's Day | January 1 ** | January 1 | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Day | January 16 | January 21 | January 20 |
| President's Day | February 20 | February 18 | February 17 |
| Patriots' Day | April 16 | April 15 | April 21 |
| Memorial Day | May 28 | May 27 | May 26 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | July 4 | July 4 |
| Labor Day | September 3 | September 2 | September 1 |
| Columbus Day | October 8 | October 14 | October 13 |
| Veterans' Day | November 11 ** | November 11 | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 22 | November 28 | November 27 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | December 25 | December 25 |
Suffolk County Holidays
Legal Holidays 2012 2013 2014
+ Evacuation Day (Suffolk County) March 17* March 17** March 17
+ Bunker Hill Day (Suffolk County) June 17** June 17 June 17
March 17 and June 17 remain legal holidays. However, all state offices will remain open for business on these dates. March 17 and June 17 are no longer holidays under the Red Book (Rules Governing Paid Leave and Other Benefits for Managers and Confidential Employees).
Additionally, they are no longer holidays for many statewide bargaining units, including but not limited to, Units 1, 2, 3, 4A, 6, 8, 9, and 10. If your bargaining unit is not listed here, please refer to your latest collective bargaining agreement or memorandum of understanding (MOU) to determine if these two dates are still recognized holidays for your bargaining unit.
Saturday Holidays
*In the event a legal holiday falls on a Saturday, all offices under the jurisdiction of any department of state government shall be open to the public for business on the Friday immediately preceding any Saturday holiday.
Managers and confidential employees: As many employees as possible should be given off the Friday immediately preceding the Saturday holiday. Whenever possible, the following Monday shall be used as the alternative day off. Employees assigned to work shall be given an additional day off (Red Book).
Bargaining unit employees: See the relevant collective bargaining agreement.
Sunday Holidays
** In the event a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the following Monday.
Please download the printable version
Legal Holiday Memo 
- Last Update: October 4, 2012
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This information provided by the Human Resources Division.