Feb. 2025 holiday schedule: Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, more

Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
Updated ·4 min read

Anyone who looks at all the holidays lined up for the month of February can tell it's a time to celebrate Black history, love, football and, um, groundhogs? Here are February's federal holidays and important dates lined up for the second month of the year.

While there aren't too many federal holidays in February, there are a lot of other significant holidays this month. While the bank may not close for the sake of a psychic rodent or a day all about love, these holidays are still fun to acknowledge and celebrate.

In total, there are 12 federal holidays in 2025 across 11 days, according to the Office of Personnel Management, OPM. One of those holidays falls in February.

How many holidays are in the shortest month of the year?
How many holidays are in the shortest month of the year?

While there's only one holiday that actually gives people the day off (unless your boss is really cool or super into groundhogs), make sure to mark your calendars so you don't forget to order extra wings and tortilla chips for Super Bowl Sunday or flowers and sweets for someone special on Valentine's Day.

February is also Black History Month.

Here is what to know about this month's important dates.

Groundhog Day: What to know about the rodent, the shadow, and the weather

February's federal holidays

There's only one federal holiday in February, according to the OPM:

  • President's Day/ George Washington’s Birthday- Monday, Feb. 17

Will banks be closed on President's Day?

President's Day is a bank holiday, so some organizations will likely be closed.

The United States Postal Service, schools, and most banks, like Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, Truist, and others, will also be closed on Feb. 17.

Other special dates

Unfortunately, the only extra day off in February is President's Day, but here are a few more significant dates:

  • National Freedom Day- Saturday, Feb. 1

  • Imbolc- Saturday, Feb. 1

  • Groundhog Day- Sunday, Feb. 2

  • Superbowl Sunday- Sunday, Feb. 9

  • Valentine's Day- Friday, Feb. 14

When is Black History Month?

Black History Month takes place throughout the entire month of February. It starts on Saturday, Feb. 1.

This year's theme is African Americans and Labor, and "focuses on the various and profound ways that work andworking of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collectiveexperiences of Black people," according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, ASALH.

When is National Freedom Day?

National Freedom Day kicks off Black History Month on Saturday, Feb. 1, according to Awareness Days.

The day commemorates the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln signing the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Feb. 1, 1865, according to the California African American Museum.

The amendment abolished "slavery across the United States and in every territory under its control, except as a criminal punishment," the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum stated on its website.

While it isn't a federal holiday, the president of the United States can issue a proclamation every year that designates the day as National Freedom Day, according to the United States House of Representatives.

When is Imbolc?

Imbolc, the Pagan holiday, is celebrated from Saturday, Feb. 1, to Sunday, Feb. 2, at sundown, according to Pacific Lutheran University.

The holiday, also known as Candlemas, is one of four Cross-Quarter days, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Though it is debated, some believe ancient Celts used these days to divide the year and reflect the way Earth moved through all four seasons.

Its name, "Imbolc," means "lambs' milk" because it marked the start of lambing season, the Almanac states. It also marked the in-between period between the winter solstice and spring equinox.

It was later celebrated as Candlemas, as churches would light candles on the day to celebrate Jesus Christ being presented to the temple of Jerusalem.

Groundhog Day is derived from the ancient holiday.

When is Groundhog Day?

Speaking of Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil and his other weather-predicting cohorts will let us know if we will have a longer-than-normal winter early in the morning on Sunday, Feb. 2.

When is Super Bowl Sunday?

The Chiefs and Eagles will face each other during the big game on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9.

Super Bowl 59 will kick off at 6 p.m. ET in New Orleans.

When is Valentine's Day?

Valentine's Day is on Friday, February 14!

The best part is that it falls on the Friday before a long weekend, so make sure to have any dinner reservations, hotel bookings, or flower deliveries squared away before then.

When is President's Day/George Washington’s Birthday?

President's Day, which is also George Washington’s Birthday, falls on Monday, Feb. 17, making Valentine's Day weekend a long weekend for most.

February 2025 National Days

There are also some notable National Days in February. They include:

  • National Tater Tot Day (Feb. 1)

  • National Pizza Day (Feb. 8)

  • Galentine's Day (Feb. 13)

  • Singles Awareness Day (Feb. 15)

  • Random Acts of Kindness (Feb. 17)

  • National Love Your Pet Day (Feb. 20)

  • National Margarita Day (Feb. 21)

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Feb. 2025 holiday schedule: List of dates for federal holidays, more

Latest Stories