## Halloween: Is October 31st a Public Holiday? Where You'll Get the Day Off Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31st, is a widely recognized holiday in many countries around the world. However, whether or not it is considered a public holiday varies from country to country, impacting whether employees are entitled to a day off work. ### Countries Where Halloween is a Public Holiday In certain countries, Halloween is officially recognized as a public holiday, granting employees a day off from work. These countries include: - **Austria:** Halloween is a public holiday in Austria, known as "Allerheiligen" (All Saints' Day), which falls on November 1st. - **Colombia:** Halloween, known as "Día de las Brujas" (Day of the Witches), is a public holiday in Colombia. - **Ireland:** Halloween is a public holiday in Ireland, where it is celebrated as "Samhain." - **New Zealand:** Halloween is not a public holiday in New Zealand, but it is widely celebrated unofficially. ### Countries Where Halloween is Not a Public Holiday In many other countries, Halloween is not recognized as a public holiday, meaning that employees are not entitled to a day off work. These countries include: - **Germany:** Halloween is not a public holiday in Germany, but it is becoming increasingly popular and is often celebrated unofficially. - **Switzerland:** Halloween is not a public holiday in Switzerland. - **United Kingdom:** Halloween is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom, although it is widely celebrated unofficially. - **United States:** Halloween is not a federal public holiday in the United States, but it is recognized as a state holiday in some states, such as Connecticut and New York.
