The short answer: plan the holidays in this order: check the dates, set a spending limit, then plan food, gifts and events around it. 2026 holidays lists the 11 federal holidays with observed dates, plus Easter, Mother's Day and Hanukkah.
- Big seasons: the Christmas guides and the Thanksgiving guides, with New Year and Hanukkah and Kwanzaa pages.
- Spending: how to make a holiday budget, Black Friday and holiday shopping and Christmas on a budget.
- Dates and what is open: holidays in January, February holidays and when is Easter.
Our picks for holidays
Save 38%Bundles
Holiday Season Bundle
Plan Christmas, save for it all year, and host without the January money hangover.
$15.99 $25.94Buy
Printables
Christmas Budget & Gift Planner
Set a budget for every person, log each purchase, and watch what's left - plus printable gift, card, menu and to-do pages.
$4.99Buy
Browse holidays by season
Holiday dates and what is open (15)
- 2026 holidays Start hereAll 2026 holidays in one list: the 11 federal holidays with observed dates, plus Easter, Mother's Day, Hanukkah and other key 2026…
- Columbus Day HolidayIs the Columbus Day holiday a day off? Columbus Day 2027 is Monday, October 11. See what closes, dates to 2030, the history and In…
- February holidaysFebruary holidays for 2027, including Presidents Day on February 15, Valentine's Day, Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday an…
- Good Friday 2027Good Friday 2027 is Friday, March 26, two days before Easter on March 28. See whether it is a holiday, what is open, what the day …
- Holidays in JanuaryAll the holidays in January 2027, including New Year's Day, MLK Day on January 18, Epiphany and Orthodox Christmas, plus observanc…
- Is Halloween a bank holidayIs Halloween a bank holiday? No. Halloween is not a federal holiday, so banks, the Post Office and offices keep normal hours. Date…
- Juneteenth 2027Juneteenth 2027 is Saturday, June 19, so the federal holiday is observed Friday, June 18. See what is closed, dates to 2030, the h…
- Labor Day 2027Labor Day 2027 is Monday, September 6. See Labor Day dates to 2030, what is closed, how the holiday began and a plan for the last …
- MLK Day 2027MLK Day 2027 is Monday, January 18. See Martin Luther King Day dates to 2030, what is closed, the history of the holiday and ideas…
- Mothers Day 2027Mothers Day 2027 is Sunday, May 9. See Mother's Day dates to 2030, how Anna Jarvis started the holiday, and budget-friendly ideas …
- When is EasterEaster 2027 is Sunday, March 28. See Easter dates through 2035, Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, Orthodox Easter and a simple Easter pl…
- When is Father's DayWhen is Father's Day? In 2027 it's Sunday, June 20. See Father's Day dates to 2030, why it's the third Sunday in June, its history…
- Holiday Countdown Planner: Week-by-Week ChecklistHow many days until Christmas, Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve? Use the live holiday countdown, then follow a week-by-week checklis…
- How Many Days Until Easter? Live CountdownA live Easter countdown: how many days and weeks until Easter Sunday, the Easter dates for the next few years, and how the date is…
- How Many Days Until Halloween? Live CountdownA live Halloween countdown: how many days, weeks and weekends until October 31, plus a simple costume, candy and party plan and a …
Parties and gatherings (6)
- Ugly sweater partyUgly sweater party ideas with a planning timeline, contest categories, games, an easy food menu, decor, a budget table and tips fo…
- White elephant rulesSimple white elephant rules for any group: how to draw numbers, how steals and freezes work, how the first player gets a turn, plu…
- Gift exchange ideasCompare 20 gift exchange ideas for family, friends and coworkers, with game rules, total-spend checks and copyable invitation word…
- Host a cookie exchangeHow to host a cookie exchange: how many guests and cookies, simple rules, a three-week timeline, host supplies, packaging and alle…
- Holiday open housePlan a holiday open house: a week-by-week timeline, make-ahead menu, how much food per guest, invitation wording and a budget for …
- Holiday party planning checklistPlan a holiday party in four weeks: budget, guest list, invites, menu and drinks, low-cost Christmas party ideas, a day-of timelin…
Holiday costs and etiquette (4)
- Hidden holiday expensesA checklist of 25 hidden holiday expenses, from shipping and postage to tips, hosting extras and return fees, plus a buffer to kee…
- Holiday stressHoliday stress mostly comes from money, gifts and too much to do. Use this stress audit, a simple spending plan and kind scripts f…
- Holiday tipping guideCommon holiday tip ranges for sitters, cleaners, teachers, mail carriers and more, how to budget for them, and thoughtful options …
- How to split holiday costsFive fair ways to split holiday costs with family, from equal shares to by-household splits and assigned dishes, plus scripts and …
More holiday ideas (7)
- Lunar New Year 2027Lunar New Year 2027 is Saturday, February 6, the start of the Year of the Goat. See the dates, zodiac animal, traditions, lucky fo…
- DIY Halloween Costumes: 25 Ideas From Everyday ClothesMake DIY Halloween costumes from everyday clothes with 25 flexible ideas, simple construction notes, a supply checklist and practi…
- Duo Halloween Costumes: 30 Pairing Ideas, Closet-FriendlyPlan duo Halloween costumes with 30 recognizable pairings, closet-based options, separate outfit checklists and practical tips for…
- Giving TuesdayGiving Tuesday 2026 is Tuesday, December 1. What it is, how it works, how to check a charity and how to set a giving amount that f…
- Halloween Movies: 25 Picks for Different Scare LevelsChoose Halloween movies for a cozy night or a scarier marathon with 25 film ideas, practical content checks and a simple plan for …
- Pumpkin Carving Ideas: 35 Designs You Can Plan at HomeFind pumpkin carving ideas from simple faces to bold silhouettes, with 35 design prompts, pattern-planning tips and practical ways…
- Valentine's Day on a budgetValentine's Day guide for a real budget: date ideas under $50, gifts under $25, a spending cap worksheet mindset and free planning…
More holiday guides (5)
- 2027 Holiday CalendarThe 2027 holiday calendar with all 11 federal holidays, Easter, Mother's Day and more, plus bank closures, long weekends and a hol…
- Cleaning before holiday guestsClean house before holiday guests in three days: what guests notice, the order to clean in, guest room and bathroom checklists and…
- Easter Dinner Ideas60 Easter dinner ideas: ham, lamb and chicken mains, sides, deviled eggs, desserts and drinks, plus 3 menus for 8 priced at $35 to…
- Holiday freezer meal prep planStock easy dinners before December gets busy: a four-week holiday freezer meal prep plan, meals that freeze well, and safe storage…
- Holiday travel budgetBuild a holiday travel budget for your family in 8 steps: list every cost, compare driving and flying, pack gifts the TSA-friendly…
How this holidays hub is organized
This hub groups our holiday pages by season, from dates and countdowns to menus, gifts and budgets. Christmas and Thanksgiving have their own full guide hubs, and the topic hubs below cover gifts, traditions, recipes and shopping.
Our holiday printables (a season bundle and a Christmas budget gift planner) help with the spending and planning side.