Hey there, holiday lovers! It’s your Holiday Little Assistant back with some juicy calendar gossip. You know what’s better than a holiday? When it magically falls on a Monday and gifts us a glorious three-day weekend! Let’s break down exactly how often this magical alignment happens and which holidays you can count on for bonus downtime in 2024.

First things first – in the U.S., we’ve got 11 federal holidays each year. But here’s the fun part: only some of these are date-specific (like July 4th), while others bounce around to create those precious long weekends. The real MVPs for Monday holidays are MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day (or Indigenous Peoples’ Day in many places). That’s already 5 guaranteed Monday holidays right there!

Why Do Some Holidays Always Land on Mondays?

Blame (or thank!) the 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act for this beautiful scheduling. Congress decided moving certain holidays to Mondays would create more three-day weekends – because who doesn’t love mini-vacations? Before this, holidays stuck to their actual dates, even if that meant midweek breaks. Smart move, 1960s lawmakers!

2024’s Monday Holiday Lineup

Mark your calendars, folks! Next year gives us:
– MLK Day: January 15
– Presidents’ Day: February 19
– Memorial Day: May 27
– Labor Day: September 2
– Columbus Day: October 14

Pro tip: When Christmas or New Year’s Day falls on a weekend, the observed holiday often becomes a Monday too – bonus!

Making the Most of Monday Holidays

Here’s a sneaky trick – pair these with PTO days to extend your breaks. Take one vacation day after a Monday holiday for a 4-day weekend, or four days off around Labor Day for a 9-day stretch (hello, vacation!)

Wanna get really fancy? About 28% of all holidays land on Mondays over a 10-year period. That’s nearly 3 Monday holidays per year on average when you count the floating ones like Easter and occasional Thanksgiving dates (though Turkey Day always sticks to Thursday).

So there you have it – your complete guide to Monday holidays! Whether you’re planning trips, staycations, or just some quality couch time, knowing these dates helps maximize your relaxation. Remember, not all heroes wear capes – some come as randomly placed Monday holidays in the middle of your workweek!

Faqpro Thanks for reading, pals! Now go circle those Mondays in red on your 2024 calendar. Got more holiday questions? Your Holiday Little Assistant is always here to help make your year more festive!