You wake up. The living room is a disaster zone of shredded wrapping paper and half-eaten gingerbread men. Your head is a bit fuzzy from too much eggnog or maybe just the sheer social exhaustion of Christmas Day. You look at your phone. It's December 26. The big question hitting everyone’s brain at exactly 7:00 AM is simple: Do I have to go to work today? Or, more specifically, is December 26 a federal holiday?
The short answer is no. Honestly, it usually isn't.
But there’s a massive "except" that catches people off guard every few years. If you’re staring at a closed bank or a silent post office, there’s a legal reason for it that has nothing to do with "Boxing Day" (which isn't a thing in the U.S. federal system) and everything to do with how the United States government handles weekends.
The Rule of the "Observed" Holiday
Federal law, specifically 5 U.S.C. § 6103, outlines exactly which days are legal public holidays. Christmas Day is on that list. December 26 is not. However, the federal government has this specific quirk: if a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is treated as the holiday for pay and leave purposes.
So, if Christmas Day (December 25) happens to land on a Sunday, then—and only then—is December 26 a federal holiday.
This happened in 2022. It’ll happen again in 2033. In those specific years, federal employees get the day off, the mail doesn’t move, and the stock markets take a breather. But for the vast majority of years, December 26 is just another Tuesday or Wednesday where the rest of the world expects you to be productive while you’re still trying to assemble a Lego Technic set.
Why people get confused about the 26th
We live in a globalized world. If you have friends in the UK, Canada, or Australia, they are absolutely post-gaming on December 26. They call it Boxing Day. It’s a massive deal there—think Black Friday but with more soccer and leftover turkey sandwiches. Because we see them posting about their day off on Instagram, we start to wonder if we missed a memo.
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We didn't.
The U.S. never adopted Boxing Day. Historically, the day after Christmas in America has been the busiest return day of the year for retail, not a day of rest.
The Presidential Wildcard
Sometimes, the President of the United States just decides to be a nice boss. There is a long-standing precedent where a President can issue an Executive Order giving federal employees an extra day off. This usually happens when Christmas falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday.
Take 2019, for example. President Trump gave federal workers Christmas Eve (the 24th) off because Christmas was on a Wednesday. While it’s much rarer for a President to grant December 26 as a day off, it isn't impossible. It’s a "gift" day. But even when this happens, it doesn't technically make December 26 a federal holiday in the permanent, legal sense. It’s just a one-time administrative closing.
If you work in the private sector, this is even more confusing. Your boss isn't legally required to follow the federal schedule. Some tech companies or high-end law firms might shutter for the entire week between Christmas and New Year's—the "Golden Week" of American corporate life. Others expect you in your seat at 8:00 AM sharp on the 26th.
What stays open and what closes?
If the 26th isn't a federal holiday, life mostly hums along.
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- The Post Office: They are out there. Moving packages. They have to. The backlog from Christmas is a nightmare, so unless it's an "observed" holiday Monday, the USPS is full-steam ahead.
- Banks: Most follow the Federal Reserve schedule. If the Fed is open, your local branch is likely open.
- The Stock Market: The NYSE and NASDAQ generally only close if the 26th is the "observed" Christmas holiday.
- Schools: Most are in the middle of winter break, but that's a district decision, not a federal one.
The State-Level Exceptions
Here is where it gets weird. While we’re asking is December 26 a federal holiday, we should actually be asking if it’s a state holiday.
A few states actually do recognize the day after Christmas as a paid holiday for state employees. Texas, for instance, lists December 26 as a state holiday. Kentucky, Michigan, and North Carolina often have similar arrangements. In these places, state courts might be closed and DMV workers might be home, even while the local FBI office or Social Security administration stays open.
It creates this bizarre patchwork of "who is working?" that makes scheduling meetings in late December a total crapshoot.
The "Holiday Creep" in Corporate America
Over the last decade, there has been a noticeable shift. More companies are realizing that productivity on December 26 is basically zero. Nobody wants to be there. Everyone is "circling back" or "touching base" without actually doing anything.
Because of this, many private-sector businesses have started adding "Floating Holidays" or simply closing the office. It’s a retention tactic. If you’re a recruiter trying to keep top talent, telling them they have to work the day after Christmas while their kids are home playing with new toys is a great way to make them polish their resumes.
Practical Steps for Managing the 26th
Don't just assume you have the day off because you feel like you should. Check the official OPM (Office of Personnel Management) website if you’re a fed. If you’re in the private sector, look at your employee handbook—not the one from five years ago, the current one.
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Verify your banking needs early. If you have a major wire transfer or a closing that needs to happen, don't wait until the 26th to find out your bank has decided to take a "bridge day."
Check the trash schedule. This is the one that gets everyone. Even if it's not a federal holiday, many municipal waste departments move their pickup schedules during Christmas week.
Plan for retail chaos. If you’re planning on hitting the stores for those 75% off wrapping paper deals, be prepared. The 26th is the busiest day for "reverse logistics" (returns). It’s the day people realize the sweater doesn't fit or the "must-have" gadget is actually a dud.
Ultimately, December 26 is a "liminal space" day. It’s neither fully a holiday nor fully a workday for a huge chunk of the population. Unless the calendar aligns perfectly to make it an observed Monday holiday, you’re likely on the hook for work. But hey, at least the coffee is usually fresh, and the office is quiet because half your coworkers probably called in "sick" anyway.
Actionable Insights for the Day After Christmas
- Audit your state's calendar: Check your specific state government's "Public Holidays" page, as states like Texas or North Carolina offer perks that the federal government doesn't.
- Sync with the Fed: If you handle finances, bookmark the Federal Reserve's holiday schedule to see exactly when the payments system clears.
- Automate your "Out of Office": If you are working, set expectations low. Use the day for deep work or administrative cleanup rather than trying to reach external partners who are likely unresponsive.