Show legal holidays according to the constitution neither congress nor the president has the power to prescribe legal holidays except in the district of columbia and the TJ S territorial possessions says colliers nevertheless erth eless congress has recognized the following days as public holidays now new years day birthday memorial day the fourth of july labor day and christmas since most of these Foli holidays days have been declared local holidays by the individual states they can be said to be national and legal holidays the president proclaims thanksgiving a holiday |