As of 2020 how many U.S. states recognize Good Friday as a holiday?

As of 2020, 12 U.S. states recognized Good Friday as a state holiday. Those states were Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Good Friday is observed by Christians as the day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday, so its date changes each year according to the Christian calendar. In 2020, Good Friday occurred on April 10.

Good Friday was not a federal holiday in the United States, and recognition varied by state. In some states, it was a public holiday for state employees or affected government operations, while private businesses and schools could follow different schedules. Some states also recognized it only in specific counties, cities, or institutions, which explains why different lists may produce slightly different counts.

The 12-state figure refers to official statewide recognition, not every local observance. Easter Sunday itself is also not a federal holiday, although it is widely observed religiously and culturally across the country.