Update 9/2010: The holiday file included with Outlook 2010 contains errors, mainly Easter Monday is on the wrong date in a number of years. An updated version is here
Update 9/2007: Outlook 2003 users can download the update at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/924423. You’ll need to install the Holiday file using Tools, Options, Calendar options, Holidays. See the note below to avoid duplicate holidays. The update installs the same holiday file available here and in the Outlook 2002 update.
The Holiday file downloads at the end of this article contains holidays for older versions of Outlook through 2012 or 2020.
Each version of Outlook includes holidays you can add to your calendar by going to Tools, Options, Calendar options, Holidays. Select the country (or countries) that has the holidays you want on your calendar and import. If you use a version of Outlook longer than 3 years or so, you’ll need to find an alternate source for holidays. If you upgrade to the newest version of Outlook, go to Tools, Options, Calendar and Add Holidays again to get the newest holidays list installed. Click Yes when asked if you want to install the holidays again. In Outlook 2010, go to File, Option, Calendar to find Add Holidays.
| Version | Holidays supplied through the end of |
| Outlook 97 | |
| Outlook 98 | |
| Outlook 2000 | 2003 |
| Outlook 2002 | 2005 |
| Outlook 2003 | 2007 |
| Outlook 2007 | 2012 |
| Outlook 2010 | 2020 for movable dates such as Easter and Mother’s Day; 2028 for fixed holidays such as New Years Eve and Valentine’s Day |
When you upgrade to a newer version of Outlook you can use Add Holidays to update your calendar with the new holiday list. If you wish, you can use a Category view and delete the events in the Holiday category before using Add Holidays. This is not required, but doing so eliminates possible duplicates of older holidays.
You may receive a warning that the holidays are already installed. You can ignore this warning (and click Yes) if you are installing the holidays in an upgraded version of Outlook if you don’t have a current holiday list installed (with dates through 2012).
Deleting the events in the Holiday category before importing holidays will eliminate this message.
For Outlook 2000 and earlier versions, the list of holidays is stored in a text file named Outlook.txt, found in the language specific subfolders of the Office folder. Starting with Outlook 2002, the file is named Outlook.hol. You can edit this file using notepad or create your own holiday list.
The holiday list is in the format of [country or company name] # of lines of holidays, followed by one line per holiday, in the format of Holiday name (Subject),yyyy/m/d, as shown below. Save the file as Outlook.hol (or outlook.txt if you use Outlook 2000 or earlier), place it in the proper folder and import it from Tools Options, Calendar options, Add Holidays.
Note: You don’t need to put the Outlook.HOL in “the proper folder” to use it. You can double click on it from any folder (or an email attachment) to open the Add Holidays dialog. It only needs to be in the folder if users will be going through Options, Calendar Options. The text file needed for Outlook 2000 and earlier does need to be in the proper folder.
Administrative Professionals Day,2003/4/23
Administrative Professionals Day,2004/4/21
Administrative Professionals Day,2005/4/27
Administrative Professionals Day,2006/4/26
Administrative Professionals Day,2007/4/25
Christmas Day,2003/12/25
Christmas Day,2004/12/25
Christmas Day,2005/12/25
Christmas Day,2006/12/25
Christmas Day,2007/12/25
If you don’t want to create your own holiday file, you can download a holiday file from several Internet sites, such as Calendar Updates. There you’ll find Holidays, your favorite sports team schedule, and other useful calendar appointments. (Next year’s holidays will be available near the end of this year.)
Note: You will have duplicates for 2012 and earlier if holidays for those years were previously added. Use the By Category view and delete the items in the Holiday category before importing to eliminate duplicates.
Holiday Files:
Outlook Holiday file with dates through 2020/2028 – for Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010 (has corrected Easter Monday). Choose Run or Save then double click on this file to bring up the Add Holidays dialog.
You can replace your Outlook.HOL file with this one. Look for it in your Program Files Office [language id] folder then install the holidays using Tools, Options, Calendar Options, Add Holidays.
This holiday file adds floating dates (such as Easter) through 2020 and holidays that don’t move, such as Christmas and New Years, through 2028.
Holidays for 2006 through 2012 – Unicode version for Outlook 2002/2003. Double click to run in Outlook 2002 or 2003. Does not contain holidays prior to 1/1/2006.
Outlook 2000 holidays through 2007 (from Microsoft Downloads)
For Outlook 2000/98/97 versions, use this file to add 2006-2012 holidays. Place in the proper folder (use search to find the original outlook.txt file, usually found at C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice1033), then use Outlook’s Tools, Options, Calendar Options menu to install them. This is the same file as the one for Outlook 2002/2003 but is saved as ANSI format text and renamed to Outlook.txt.
If you use Outlook 2000 and are unable to import the Jewish Holidays for 2008 -2012, download this PST, open it in Outlook using File, Open, Personal Files and drag the holidays to your calendar. Or download this spreadsheet and use File, Import.: Excel Spreadsheet with Jewish Holidays 2008-2012
Links
Outlook 2010 has incorrect holidays for UK and many other countries – Adam Vero
Related posts:
« « Create a Custom View in Microsoft OutlookUsing Outlook’s Automatic Formatting » »
I’m trying to add holidays in 2013 and beyond to Outlook 2007.
When I clock on your file “Outlook Holiday file with dates through 2020/2028,” I opens into a list of dates without giving me the option to save it or to run it.
Is there a problem with the current version of the file, or am I doing something wrong?
Please advise.
Thanks for your help.
Doug Collins
Hermosa Beach, California
Are you using Firefox? Right click on it and choose Save link as… to save it.
I was having the same problem as Doug. I tried your solution, Diane. It worked for me. Thank you!
The “Outlook Holiday file with dates through 2020/2028 – for Outlook 2002, 2003, 2007, 2010 (has corrected Easter Monday” link is giving me an error message when clicked.
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for letting me know. It should be fixed now. Holidays for 2006 through 2012
The fifth time I tried it – it worked. Sorry to be a bother.
I’m using Firefox – I am trying to update my Outlook 2007 calendar with future holidays.
I downloaded the OUTLOOK.HOL file, replaced the original one with the new one and then attempted to add the holidays using the ADD HOLIDAYS option within the Outlook Calendar.
However as soon as I click on the ADD HOLIDAYS button, I get an error message that the file cannot be opened that it might be damaged.
Thank you for any help you might be able to offer.
Harry G.
@Leon: Not a bother at all – it looks like the URL is wrong. The correct URL is http://www.outlook-tips.net/files/OUTLOOK.HOL
Thank you, Diane. The new link worked like a charm. Appreciate your help. Have a wonderful week.
Harry G.
@Harry – right click on the link and choose Save Link as then double click to open it after it downloads. This will bring up the dialog (possible behind other windows, so bring outlook into focus after double clicking on the HOL file and it *should* work ok. (It did when i double checked it here.)
I want to automatically make the Holiday’s SHOW AS show as OUT OF OFFICE – any suggestions
This is not possible when you import the holidays using the HOL file. If you import from a spreadsheet, you can set the Show time as flag. You can bulk change events by adding the show time as field to a List view and grouping by it, then setting one event to OOF. Drag the items you want mark OOF to the OOF group.
I have made a custom list of Holidays to distribute to people in our office. It works on a PC, but what about a MAC? How can I create a file that will work on a MAC? I asked someone in the office to try adding the custom holidays using the file I had created on my PC, but he was unable to open it on his MAC.
If you are using a HOL file, it won’t work on a mac. I’ll have to check on what format macs use.