Georgia State Holidays
Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Georgia and start planning to make the most of your time off.
The state of Georgia recognizes federal holidays like New Year’s Day, Memorial Day and Christmas. On these dates, state and local offices as well as schools and banks are closed. Private employers may also close on these holidays. If the holiday falls on a weekend, the state may choose to celebrate either Friday or Monday, depending on which day of the weekend the holiday falls.
In addition to holidays recognized by the federal government, Georgia also recognizes state holidays. The state considers the day after Thanksgiving a holiday. Like many states in the South, Georgia also recognizes Confederate Memorial Day in late April as a holiday. The holiday honors those who died for the Confederacy during the American Civil War.
In Georgia, employees who work for any state department or agency may request time off to observe religious holy days not already noted as recognized holidays. The request must be made at least seven days prior and the holy day observance may not be charged to accrued leave.
Private employers are not required to provide employees with paid holiday leave, although state employees are entitled to payment for holidays. Most private employers in Georgia recognize at least seven holidays and many do offer paid holidays to staff members as a benefit.