<P> As of 2012, there were eleven federal holidays in the United States, ten annual holidays and one quadrennial holiday (Inauguration Day). Pursuant to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 (effective 1971), official holidays are observed on a Monday, except for New Year's Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas . </P> <P> While all current federal holidays have also been made public holidays in all 50 states for federal organizations, each state is not bound to observe the holidays on the same dates as the federal holidays . Many states also have additional holidays that are not observed by the U.S. federal government . Many businesses likewise observe certain holidays as well, which are also not mandated by any government agency . A list of "recommended diversity holidays" recognizes many cultures that range from Christianity to Islam, as well as racial diversity where various ethnic holidays such as St. Patrick's Day, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo are celebrated by individuals in the workplace, as a matter of best practice . In light of recent race issues in the United States, many municipalities both at the city and state levels have begun celebrating Malcolm X Day and Rosa Parks Day in addition to Martin Luther King, Jr . Day to embrace the mostly disenfranchised African American community in the form of festivals and parades if not done as a legal public holiday . Illinois and Berkeley, California are two places where Malcolm X is honored with a legal holiday with offices closed whereas Missouri honored Rosa Parks on her birthday . Today, the United States is the 85th most ethnically diverse country in the world . While the popularity of each public holiday cannot easily be measured, the holiday with the highest greeting card sales is Christmas . Major retail establishments such as malls, shopping centers and most retail stores close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas and some on Easter Sunday as well, but remain open on all other holidays (early closing on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and sometimes on other major holidays). Virtually all companies observe and close on the major holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). Some non-retail business close on the day after Thanksgiving, while some (such as federal banks and post offices) are not allowed to close on the day after Thanksgiving . Some smaller businesses normally open on Sunday will close on Easter Sunday, if it is their experience they will have very few customers that day . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Holiday </Th> <Th>% of Americans celebrating </Th> <Th> USD sales (in billions) </Th> <Th> Music symbolic of holiday </Th> <Th> Remarks </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> December 25 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> Christmas </Td> <Td> 92%--96% </Td> <Td> $630.5 </Td> <Td> Many Christmas carols and songs, including "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing", "Silent Night", and "Jingle Bells" </Td> <Td> Christmas celebrations are evidenced by decorations which give off light and exchanging of gifts between family members and friends . Most popular based on greeting card sales . About 6.5 billion cards per year or $8 billion annual sales . Also known for having the second highest church attendance . Major symbols of this holiday are the Christmas tree and Christmas music . Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> November 22--28 (Floating Thursday) </Td> <Td> Thanksgiving </Td> <Td> 87%--90% </Td> <Td> (part of Christmas sales) </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> One sixth of all turkeys eaten annually happens around Thanksgiving . Holiday accounts for 46 million turkeys, compared with 22 million consumed on Christmas and 19 million on Easter . Reduced turkey prices usually occur around Thanksgiving . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> May 8--15 (Floating Sunday) </Td> <Td> Mother's Day </Td> <Td> 84% </Td> <Td> $19.9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Known for having the strongest restaurant sales, even compared with Valentine's Day . It is also known for high church attendance after Easter and Christmas . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> March 23--April 24 (Floating Sunday) </Td> <Td> Easter </Td> <Td> 80%--81% </Td> <Td> $16.4 </Td> <Td> Many Christian hymns </Td> <Td> Highest church attendance happens on Easter . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> July 4 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> Independence Day (Fourth of July) </Td> <Td> 78%--79% </Td> <Td> $68.0 (Part of Back to School sales) </Td> <Td> Many American patriotic songs, including "The Star - Spangled Banner", "America the Beautiful", and "Yankee Doodle" </Td> <Td> Holiday is best known for fireworks and barbecues. 45% of American celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks, accounting for about $675 million in fireworks sales . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> January 25--February 7 (Floating Sunday) </Td> <Td> Super Bowl Sunday </Td> <Td> 76% </Td> <Td> $14.3 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Not a real holiday, considered as such essentially by American football fans . Americans eat about 1.25 billion chicken wings annually during Super Bowl Sunday . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> June 15--21 (Floating Sunday) </Td> <Td> Father's Day </Td> <Td> 75% </Td> <Td> $12.7 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Holiday accounts for the highest sales of ties and neck wear annually, around $12.7 billion . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> October 31 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> Halloween </Td> <Td> 64%--65% </Td> <Td> $6.9 </Td> <Td> A few songs, including "Monster Mash", "Thriller (song) and "This Is Halloween" </Td> <Td> Halloween celebrations are evidenced by children knocking door to door asking for treats, and costumed adolescents playing tricks on various households . Most popular based on candy sales, amounting to $2.6 billion in 2015 . Sales of $6.9 billion in 2015 includes candy, costumes, and pumpkin sales, all of which are directly attributed to this holiday . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> February 14 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> Valentine's Day </Td> <Td> 55% </Td> <Td> $18.9 </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> Holiday accounts for 224 million roses grown for the holiday . 24% of American adults purchased flowers for Valentine's Day in 2015 . Holiday comes in second in terms of annual restaurant sales . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> March 17 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> Saint Patrick's Day </Td> <Td> 51% </Td> <Td> $4.4 </Td> <Td> Irish pub songs, such as "The Wild Rover" </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> December 31 (Fixed) </Td> <Td> New Year's Day (New Year's Eve) </Td> <Td> 37%--45% </Td> <Td> (Part of Christmas sales) </Td> <Td> A few songs, including "Auld Lang Syne" </Td> <Td> Known for being the most drunk holiday . This is evidenced by the spike in sales around "the holidays", which usually happens between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Date </Th> <Th> Holiday </Th> <Th>% of Americans celebrating </Th> <Th> USD sales (in billions) </Th> <Th> Music symbolic of holiday </Th> <Th> Remarks </Th> </Tr>

What is the most popular holiday in america