A federal holiday is a holiday which has received recognition by the US government. Every year during these holidays federal offices are closed and employees are given paid time off. In 1870 he original federal holidays were: New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  George Washington’s birthday was added to the list in 1880. In 1888 and 1894 Memorial Day which was then called decoration day was created along with Labor Day. There have been other days which have been proposed to become federal holidays but generally receive opposition and become difficult to be recognized at the state level.