In Massachusetts, as in the rest of the United States, Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. This date is fixed by federal law and does not change from year to year, distinguishing it from holidays that are observed on a particular Monday of a month.
The selection of November 11 is historically significant, as it commemorates the armistice that ended the fighting in World War I in 1918, which took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Originally known as Armistice Day, the holiday was renamed in 1954 to honor American veterans of all wars. Unlike holidays affected by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the observance of Veterans Day was returned to its traditional November 11 date due to its profound historical meaning.
As a state and federal holiday, government offices, public schools, and financial institutions in Massachusetts are closed on this day. If November 11 falls on a Saturday, the holiday is typically observed by state and federal entities on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, the observance for government employees occurs on the following Monday.
