Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, is behind us, but there are three more three-day weekends ahead before the start of fall.
Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, Fourth of July on July 4 (observed on Friday, July 3) and Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 7, are federal holidays that offer long weekends to Michigan residents this summer.
Here’s what to know about summer’s upcoming three-day weekends.
When is the next three-day weekend?
These upcoming federal holidays will create three-day weekends for Michiganders:
Why do federal holidays mean a three-day weekend?
Federal holidays, also referred to as public holidays, are designated by Congress and recognized by the government.
All federal offices, including courts, post offices, social security offices close, and typically so do schools, banks, financial markets, major grocery chains and retailers on federal holidays. The holidays are scheduled and paid days off for non-essential federal government employees.
Many businesses close and offer employees those days off.
When the holiday falls on Friday or Monday, it provides a long weekend for many Americans.
When is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is Friday, June 19, making the three-day weekend June 19-21.
What does Juneteenth celebrate?
The holiday celebrates Black freedom, marking June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed Black people that the Civil War was over and slavery had been ended in the U.S. It’s become known as America’s second independence day, the National Museum of African American History & Culture says.
The day came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but the proclamation could only be enforced in areas under Union control. Confederate Texas was not under Union control until 1865.
When is the Fourth of July?
The Fourth of July is Saturday, July 4, and the three-day weekend will run from Friday, July 3, until Sunday, July 5. The government and many businesses will observe the holiday on July 3, making it a three-day weekend.
When is Labor Day?
Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 7, making the three-day weekend Saturday, Sept. 5 through Monday, Sept. 7.
When does summer begin?
Meteorological summer begins on June 1 while astronomical summer, when the Northern Hemisphere points most directly toward the sun, begins on June 21.
Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Worked on Memorial Day? Don’t worry, these 3-day weekends are ahead
Reporting by Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
