Holiday Calendar Builder
The Holiday Calendar Builder generates comprehensive public holiday calendars for planning purposes. Select your country and region to get an accurate list of public holidays, including observed dates when holidays fall on weekends. This tool is essential for HR teams setting up absence management systems, project managers planning around holidays, and employees wanting to optimize their leave around public holidays. The calendar covers major regions including UK (with separate English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish holidays), US (federal and state), Ireland, Canada (federal and provincial), and Australia (federal and state).
planning
Category
beginner
Difficulty
1 minute
Time needed
2025-01-15
Last reviewed
Why use this calculator
Accurate 2025 holiday lists
Build a customized public holiday calendar for your country and region.
Regional variations covered
Build a customized public holiday calendar for your country and region.
Observed dates for weekend holidays
Build a customized public holiday calendar for your country and region.
Download and export options
Build a customized public holiday calendar for your country and region.
Multi-country support
Build a customized public holiday calendar for your country and region.
Inputs and outputs
Inputs
Country: select - Select your country and region
Year: select - Select the calendar year
Display format: radio
Show observed dates?: radio
Outputs
Total Public Holidays: text - Number of public holidays in the year
Holiday List: text - Complete list of public holidays
Holidays on Weekends: text - Holidays that fall on weekends
Long Weekend Opportunities: text - Holidays adjacent to weekends
Leave Optimization Tips: text - How to maximize days off with strategic leave
Methodology
Calculation method
Retrieves official public holiday dates for the selected country/region and year. Calculates observed dates when holidays fall on weekends.
How it works
Select your country and region
Choose the calendar year
Select display format preference
Choose whether to show observed dates
View and download your holiday calendar
Compliance note
Holiday dates are based on official government sources at time of publication. Always verify with official sources for critical planning. Regional and employer variations may apply.
Example scenarios
UK England 2025
Bank holidays for England and Wales
Why it matters: England and Wales have 8 bank holidays in 2025.
US Federal 2025
Federal holidays for the United States
Why it matters: US Federal has 11 holidays, many creating long weekends.
Frequently asked questions
Are these dates official?
Yes, dates are sourced from official government publications. UK dates from GOV.UK, US from OPM, etc. Always verify for critical planning.
What is an observed date?
When a public holiday falls on a weekend, an "observed" date is the weekday when it's actually taken as a day off. Usually the following Monday.
Do all employers follow these holidays?
These are public/bank holidays. Private employers are not required to give these days off (in most countries), though many do. Check your contract.
How do I maximize my leave?
Book annual leave on days between public holidays and weekends. For example, taking 4 days between Christmas and New Year can give 10 days off.
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