In accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 4, section 7 clause 18, Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day are holidays in Suffolk county only; provided, however, that all state and municipal agencies, authorities, quasi-public entities or other offices located in Suffolk county shall be open for business and appropriately staffed.

This Law repeals Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day for all counties except for Suffolk County. However, the negotiators of the 364 MOA were aware of the potential Law and protected the interests of MCCC members by mandating that MCCC unit members will continue to receive each of these holidays off or a substitute day off. The impact on professional staff will be that some professional staff will not have to report to work on June 17- Bunker Hill Day and others will have a substitute day off.


Dennis Fitzgerald
MCCC Grievance Coordinator

Massachusetts Legal Holidays

Holiday

2011

2012

2013

New Year's Day - January first
Jan. 1, Sat.
Jan. 1, Sun. (3)
Jan. 1, Tue.
Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday - Third Monday in January
Jan. 17, Mon.
Jan. 16, Mon.
Jan. 21, Mon.
Washington's Birthday
- Third Monday in February
Feb. 21, Mon.
Feb. 20, Mon.
Feb. 18, Mon.
Evacuation Day - March 17th (Suffolk County only, state and
municipal offices are open)
Mar. 17, Thurs.
Mar. 17, Sat.
Mar. 17, Sun. (3)
Patriot's Day
- Third Monday in April
Apr. 18, Mon.
Apr. 16, Mon.
Apr. 15, Mon.
Memorial Day
- Last Monday in May** (1)
May 30, Mon. (1)
May 28, Mon.(1)
May 27, Mon. (1)
Bunker Hill Day - June 17th (Suffolk County only, state and
municipal offices are open)
June 17, Fri.
June 17, Sun. (3)
June 17, Mon.
Independence Day - July 4th**
July 4, Mon.
July 4, Wed.
July 4, Thurs.
Labor Day
- First Monday in September**
Sept. 5, Mon.
Sept. 3, Mon.
Sept. 2, Mon.
Columbus Day - Second Monday in October* (Restrictions until 12 noon) (2)
Oct. 10, Mon. (2)
Oct. 8, Mon. (2)
Oct. 14, Mon. (2)
Veterans' Day
- November 11th*
(Restrictions until 1pm) (2)
Nov. 11, Fri. (2)
Nov. 11, Sun. (2) (3)
Nov. 11, Mon. (2)
Thanksgiving Day
- Customarily the fourth Thursday in November* (1)
Nov. 24, Thurs. (1)
Nov. 22, Thurs. (1)
Nov. 28, Thurs. (1)
Christmas Day
- December 25th* (1)
Dec. 25, Sun. (1) (3)
Dec. 25, Tue. (1)
Dec. 25, Wed. (1)

* - Full restrictions apply for ALL commerce
** - Restrictions apply except to retail
(1) Liquor Stores must be closed for Memorial, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Days. 
(2) Many companies operate all day on these holidays, pending obtaining a local permit.
(3) All holidays falling on Sunday must be observed on Monday, under state law. 
Saturday holidays are observed on Saturday.

For a PDF version please click here. Massachusetts Legal Holidays (PDF, 153KB)

Above is a list of all legal holidays observed in Massachusetts. State, county, and municipal offices are closed on the days listed above with the exception of March 17th and June 17th (See Chapter 4 below). Federal offices are only closed on holidays which the federal government recognizes (i.e. New Year's Day, Martin Luther King's Birthday, George Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas). The term "federal holiday" is not applicable to individual states and the private sector since each state has jurisdiction over its holidays.
In Massachusetts certain holidays are subject to laws which restrict the type of work that may be performed as well as the kind of business and commercial activities that may remain open. Only those holidays followed by asterisks (*) have certain restrictions. On holidays not followed by asterisks, business and commercial activities may operate as usual.