Texas State Holidays
Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Texas and start planning to make the most of your time off.
Texas celebrates many holidays that are specific to their state. On January 19, Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day which commemorates those who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War. On March 2, Texas celebrates Texas Independence Day which marks the adoption of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico in 1836. On April 21, Texans celebrates San Jacinto Day, recognizing the final battle for the state’s independence.
Emancipation Day is celebrated in the state on June 19 as the day slavery is abolished in 1865. Lyndon Baines Johnson Day is celebrated on August 27 to honor the 36th President of the United States who was born in Texas. The day before and after Christmas as well as the day after Thanksgiving are also recognized as holidays in Texas.
State employees are given paid leave on recognized federal holidays. On state holidays, except the day after Thanksgiving, December 24 and December 26, there must be enough state employees working in state offices so that public business may be conducted. Employees who choose to work that day are given another day off as compensation.
State employees are also able to take off on Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur or Good Friday in place of any other observed holiday. There are no laws requiring private employers to provide paid holidays to employees. Employers are also not required to pay a higher rate of pay if an employee works on a holiday or provide compensatory time on another day if the employee works.
Although the state law does not require employers to do so, many offer paid holidays to employees as a benefit. For those that must remain open on holidays, many employers do offer higher rates of pay or compensatory time for employees who work on the holiday.