# Holiday Phone Greeting Examples: 33 Scripts Source: https://insertchat.com/blog/holiday-phone-greeting-examples > 33 holiday phone greetings for closures, each US federal holiday, end-of-year shutdowns, and emergencies, plus 2026 and 2027 dates and a switch-over checklist. Author: Zakaria Mehbi Published: 2026-10-13 A holiday phone greeting tells callers that you’re closed for the holiday, exactly when you reopen, and what to do if something can’t wait. The best ones take about 20 seconds: business name, closure dates, reopening day and time, an urgent contact, and a request to leave a message. A short seasonal wish at the end is optional. Below are 33 holiday greetings you can copy, including versions for every US federal holiday, end-of-year shutdowns, businesses that stay open, and AI receptionists. The 2026 and 2027 holiday dates are listed so you can plan when to switch your greeting. Replace anything in brackets. ## What should a holiday phone greeting say? A holiday greeting should say the business name, that you’re closed for a named holiday or dates, the reopening day and time, how to reach someone for urgent matters, and what the caller should leave. Callers mainly want to know when you’re back, so say the reopening time early and say it clearly. - **Name the closure:** “We’re closed for Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday.” Dates beat “for the holiday.” - **Give the return:** “We reopen Monday, November 30, at 8 a.m.” - **Offer an urgent path:** an on-call number, a keypad option, or an email that someone checks. - **Ask for a message:** name, number, and what they need. - **Keep the wish short:** one line at the end, after the useful information. ## US federal holiday dates for 2026 and 2027 Many businesses close on some or all federal holidays. The dates below are the federal observed dates published by the [US Office of Personnel Management](https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/), checked October 13, 2026. Private businesses choose their own closures, so use these as a planning list. | Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | | --- | --- | --- | | New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1 | Friday, January 1 | | Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Monday, January 19 | Monday, January 18 | | Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) | Monday, February 16 | Monday, February 15 | | Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 | Monday, May 31 | | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Friday, June 19 | Friday, June 18 (observed) | | Independence Day | Friday, July 3 (observed) | Monday, July 5 (observed) | | Labor Day | Monday, September 7 | Monday, September 6 | | Columbus Day | Monday, October 12 | Monday, October 11 | | Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11 | Thursday, November 11 | | Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26 | Thursday, November 25 | | Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 | Friday, December 24 (observed) | Observed dates apply when the holiday falls on a weekend. If your business is open on Saturdays, decide whether you close on the actual day, the observed day, or both, and say which in your greeting. ## General holiday closure greetings These six greetings work for any holiday. Swap in the holiday name and dates. 1. **Standard:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed for [Holiday] and will reopen on [Day, Date] at [Time]. Please leave your name, number, and a short message, and we’ll call you back when we return.” 2. **With an urgent number:** “You’ve reached [Business Name]. Our office is closed for [Holiday]. For urgent matters, call [Urgent Number]. Otherwise, leave a message, and we’ll return your call on [Day] when we reopen.” 3. **With email:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed from [Start Date] through [End Date] for the holiday. Leave a message, or email [Email Address], and we’ll reply when we’re back on [Day].” 4. **With online booking:** “Happy [Holiday] from [Business Name]. We’re closed today, but you can book your next appointment anytime at [Website]. We reopen on [Day] at [Time].” 5. **Short:** “[Business Name]. We’re closed for [Holiday] and back on [Day] at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll call you.” 6. **From the team:** “Hello, and happy holidays from all of us at [Business Name]. We’re taking a few days off to spend with family and will be back on [Day, Date]. Leave a message, and we’ll call you as soon as we return.” ## Phone greetings for specific holidays These 12 greetings cover each federal holiday plus New Year’s Eve. Each one names the holiday and gives the return day, which is the detail callers listen for. 7. **New Year’s Day:** “Happy New Year from [Business Name]. We’re closed on [Day], January 1, and back on [Day], January [Date], at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll start the year by calling you back.” 8. **Martin Luther King Jr. Day:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office is closed on Monday, January [Date], in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We reopen Tuesday at [Time]. Please leave a message.” 9. **Presidents’ Day:** “You’ve reached [Business Name]. We’re closed Monday for Presidents’ Day and back Tuesday at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll call you then.” 10. **Memorial Day:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed Monday, May [Date], for Memorial Day, and we’ll reopen Tuesday at [Time]. Please leave a message, and we’ll call you back.” 11. **Juneteenth:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed on [Day], June [Date], in observance of Juneteenth, and back on [Day] at [Time]. Please leave a message after the tone.” 12. **Independence Day:** “Happy Fourth of July from [Business Name]. We’re closed on [Day], July [Date], and back on [Day] at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll call you when we return.” 13. **Labor Day:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed Monday for Labor Day and reopen Tuesday at [Time]. Leave a message, and enjoy the long weekend.” 14. **Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day:** “You’ve reached [Business Name]. Our office is closed on Monday, October [Date], for the holiday. We’re back Tuesday at [Time]. Please leave a message.” 15. **Veterans Day:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office is closed on [Day], November 11, in honor of Veterans Day. We reopen on [Day] at [Time]. Thank you to everyone who has served.” 16. **Thanksgiving:** “Happy Thanksgiving from [Business Name]. We’re closed Thursday and Friday, November [Date] and [Date], and back on Monday at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll call you when we return.” 17. **Christmas:** “Merry Christmas from all of us at [Business Name]. We’re closed on [Day], December 25, and reopen on [Day] at [Time]. For urgent matters, call [Urgent Number]. Otherwise, please leave a message.” 18. **New Year’s Eve, closing early:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closing early today, December 31, at [Time], and we’re closed New Year’s Day. We’ll be back on [Day] at [Time]. Happy New Year.” ## End-of-year and extended closure greetings Longer closures need the full date range and, ideally, a way to reach someone. These four cover the week between the holidays and other planned shutdowns. 19. **Holiday shutdown:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. Our office is closed from [Start Date] through [End Date] for the holidays. We reopen on [Day], January [Date], at [Time]. For urgent matters, email [Email Address]. Happy holidays.” 20. **Limited holiday hours:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. Between [Start Date] and [End Date], we’re open [Days] from [Open Time] to [Close Time]. We’re closed right now. Leave a message, and we’ll call you during our next open hours.” 21. **Christmas Eve, closing early:** “You’ve reached [Business Name]. We closed early today for Christmas Eve and reopen on [Day], December [Date], at [Time]. Leave your name and number, and we’ll be in touch. Season’s greetings.” 22. **Inventory or staff closure:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed on [Date] for our annual [Inventory or Team Day] and reopen on [Day] at [Time]. Please leave a message after the tone.” ## Holiday greetings when you’re open If you stay open on a holiday, or your hours change, say so. Callers often assume businesses are closed on holidays and won’t try again. 23. **Open on the holiday:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. Yes, we’re open today, [Holiday], until [Time]. This is [Your Name]. How can I help?” 24. **Extended hours:** “Thank you for calling [Business Name]. During the holidays, we’re open late, until [Time], every night through [Date]. How can I help you today?” 25. **Limited staff:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re open today with a small holiday team, so there may be a short wait. Stay on the line, or leave a message, and we’ll call you back today.” 26. **Busy season:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. Holiday appointments are filling up fast, so book now at [Website], or stay on the line, and we’ll help you find a time.” ## Holiday greetings with an emergency option Businesses that handle emergencies should give the emergency option first, even on a holiday message. See how InsertChat handles urgent calls for [home services](https://insertchat.com/industries/home-services), [dental offices](https://insertchat.com/industries/dental), and [property managers](https://insertchat.com/industries/property-management). 27. **Home services:** “Happy holidays from [Business Name]. If you have an emergency, such as no heat, a burst pipe, or a gas smell, press 9 now for our on-call technician. For everything else, leave a message, and we’ll call you when we reopen on [Day].” 28. **Medical or dental practice:** “Thank you for calling [Practice Name]. If this is a medical emergency, hang up and call 911. Our office is closed for [Holiday] and reopens on [Day] at [Time]. For urgent needs, call [On-Call Number].” 29. **Property management:** “You’ve reached [Company Name] Property Management. Our office is closed for [Holiday]. For maintenance emergencies, press 1 for the on-call team. For routine requests, leave your name, unit, and the issue, and we’ll call you on [Day].” ## AI receptionist holiday greetings An AI receptionist can answer holiday calls instead of a voicemail box. These four greetings fit InsertChat’s 200-character limit and tell callers they’re speaking with an AI. 30. **General:** “Happy holidays from [Business Name]. The team is off until [Day], and I’m the AI assistant. I can answer questions, book a time after we reopen, or take a message. How can I help?” 31. **Thanksgiving:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed for Thanksgiving and back on [Day]. I’m the AI assistant, and I can book your visit or pass a message to the team.” 32. **End-of-year shutdown:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. The office is closed until [Date]. I’m the AI assistant, and I can help with questions and bookings. What can I do for you?” 33. **Emergency services:** “Thanks for calling [Business Name]. We’re closed for [Holiday], and I’m the AI assistant. If this is an emergency, tell me now and I’ll alert our on-call team.” ## When should you switch your holiday greeting? Switch to your holiday greeting at closing time on your last working day before the holiday, and switch back before you open again. Most greeting mistakes happen on the way back, when last week’s holiday message keeps playing to customers who called during business hours. 1. **Write the greeting a week ahead,** with the exact dates and reopening time. 2. **Update your other channels too:** website hours, your business listings, email auto-replies, and any chat or text messages. 3. **Set two reminders:** one to switch the greeting on, one to switch it off. 4. **Call your own number** after switching, and again after switching back. 5. **Tell your on-call person** which number or option the greeting gives out. For ordinary evenings and weekends, use the [after-hours message examples](https://insertchat.com/blog/after-hours-message-examples), and when you switch back, the [business phone greeting examples](https://insertchat.com/blog/business-phone-greeting-examples) cover your everyday greeting. ## How does InsertChat handle holiday calls? InsertChat answers holiday calls with your assistant’s greeting and the holiday hours you add to its knowledge. Before a closure, add a question and answer such as “Are you open on Thanksgiving?” with your dates and reopening time, and the [AI receptionist](https://insertchat.com/product/phone) will give the same answer on calls, [website chat](https://insertchat.com/product/website), [texts](https://insertchat.com/product/sms), and email. Routing in InsertChat follows your weekly hours, so for a holiday when nobody will answer, switch the routing mode to “AI always” for the closure and back to your usual mode when you reopen. Block the closure days on your connected calendar so they aren’t offered, and callers can still book appointments for after you return within your [scheduling rules](https://insertchat.com/product/scheduling). Anyone who describes an emergency hears the safety steps you wrote while your team gets an urgent alert. The [after-hours answering](https://insertchat.com/product/after-hours) page explains the routing modes in detail. ## Let InsertChat cover the holidays for you Holidays are when a missed call stays missed the longest. InsertChat’s AI receptionist picks up every call you route to it, answers from your knowledge, books within your rules, and leaves your team a transcript and summary of each call in the [shared inbox](https://insertchat.com/product/inbox), ready for the day you reopen. In the US and Canada, you keep your business number with [call forwarding](https://insertchat.com/call-forwarding). Plans start at $98 per month with one phone number and 5,000 monthly credits, and new customers can try Pro free for 7 days with 500 credits (a card is required). [Start your free trial](https://app.insertchat.com/onboarding) before your next closure, or [explore the demo](https://insertchat.com/demo) to see how calls are handled in a sample workspace. ## What should a holiday voicemail greeting say? Name the business, say you’re closed for the holiday, give the exact day and time you reopen, explain how to reach someone for urgent matters, and ask callers to leave a name, number, and message. A short seasonal wish at the end is optional. ## When should I change my phone greeting for a holiday? Switch to the holiday greeting at closing time on your last working day before the holiday, and switch back before you open on the first day you return. Set two calendar reminders when you plan the closure, so the old message never stays up after you reopen. ## Should I say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy holidays” on a business greeting? Use the wording that fits your customers and your brand. “Happy holidays” and “Season’s greetings” work for a mixed audience and cover the whole end-of-year period. If you name a specific holiday, keep the rest of the message focused on your closure dates and reopening time. ## Do I need a holiday greeting if I’m open on the holiday? Yes, if your hours change. Callers often assume businesses are closed on holidays, so a greeting that says “We’re open today, Labor Day, until 2 p.m.” keeps those calls coming. If your hours are normal, a holiday greeting is optional. ## Can an AI receptionist give holiday hours? Yes. Add your holiday closure dates and reopening time to the assistant’s knowledge before the holiday, and it will tell callers, website visitors, and people who text or email. In InsertChat, routing follows your weekly hours, so also change the routing mode for the closure days if your team won’t be answering.