In the United States, public holidays are set by federal, state, and local governments and are often observed by closing government offices or giving government employees paid time off. The federal government does not require any private business to close or offer paid time off, as is the case for most state local governments, so employers determine which holidays to observe.
A jack-o'-lantern, one of the symbols of Halloween
Saint Patrick's Day parade in Atlanta, 2012
The 1979 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years it has occasionally fallen in the last week of March. In Nippon Professional Baseball, this day typically falls during the last week of March.
2009 Opening Day at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
The Findlay Market Parade at Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati in 2015. The parade has been held annually since 1920 to celebrate Opening Day in Cincinnati.
Opening Day introductions at Minute Maid Park on April 2, 2007
President Woodrow Wilson throws out the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day in 1916