MMA offers municipal guide to inclusive holidays, recognition days

Scheduling city council or school committee meetings, town board and commission meetings, and other important dates for community members is a challenging yet essential task.

Scheduling conflicts will be inevitable, but there are ways that municipalities can take a more inclusive approach to scheduling that will allow for broader participation.

Towns and cities have the ability to schedule important events months or sometimes even years in advance. Generally, school breaks are avoided, as well as the 12 legal holidays observed by the Commonwealth. Towns and cities also have the autonomy to determine additional days that they include as holidays, during which no business is conducted, such as the day after Thanksgiving, or Good Friday.

Diversity varies in many ways across towns and cities, and each community should be mindful of its demographic makeup when making scheduling decisions. In an effort to foster a more inclusive workplace for municipal employees and more engagement opportunities for community members, municipalities should acknowledge that other religious holidays and days of significance are celebrated and observed beyond the standard 12 recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The MMA has created a list of religious holidays and days of significance for fiscal 2026 that municipalities may want to consider when scheduling important public meetings, events and programs — in an effort to be mindful of staff and community members who may be observing them.

Inclusive scheduling is a proactive approach to creating a culture where staff and community members feel valued, seen and respected. The religious, ethnic and cultural diversity across the Commonwealth highlights the need to be considerate of varying practices and accommodations individuals may need to fully participate in civic events.

Some religious practices include fasting or refraining from work, which can significantly impact an individual’s ability to engage during the workday or at a community meeting. The MMA’s multi-faith holidays and observances glossary provides more details on the numerous days of religious and cultural significance, in order to support deeper understanding and awareness of the diversity that exists within our communities.