Past year · United States
The year of a financial crash, an historic election, eight Phelps golds and the App Store
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 2 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 3 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 4 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 5 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 8 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 9 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | ||||||
| 10 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 12 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 13 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 14 | 30 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 15 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 16 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 17 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 18 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 19 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 20 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| 21 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 22 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 24 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| 25 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| 26 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 27 | 29 | 30 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 28 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 29 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 30 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 31 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | 2 | |||||
| 32 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 33 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
| 34 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 35 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 36 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 37 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 38 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 39 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 40 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 41 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 42 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 43 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 44 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 1 | ||||||
| 45 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 46 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 47 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 48 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 49 | 30 |
| Wk | S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 50 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 51 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 52 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 53 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Free printable 2008 calendars: the Year PDF fits all twelve months on one US Letter page, and the Monthly PDF gives each month its own page with holidays written in the day boxes. Both are landscape and print well on A4 with "fit to page".
2008 had 10 federal holidays. The list below also includes 32 widely observed religious, cultural and civic dates, the start of each season and the daylight saving time changes. Federal holidays are shaded red on the calendar.
Every federal holiday in 2008 fell on a weekday, so no substitute "observed" days were needed.
| Date | Holiday or observance | Type |
|---|---|---|
| January | ||
| 1 Tue | New Year's Day | Federal holiday |
| 21 Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal holiday |
| February | ||
| 2 Sat | Groundhog Day | Observance |
| 5 Tue | Mardi Gras | Cultural |
| 6 Wed | Ash Wednesday | Religious |
| 7 Thu | Lunar New Year | Cultural |
| 14 Thu | Valentine's Day | Observance |
| 18 Mon | Presidents' Day The official federal name is Washington's Birthday. | Federal holiday |
| March | ||
| 9 Sun | Daylight Saving Time begins Clocks move forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time (except Arizona and Hawaii). | Clock change |
| 17 Mon | St. Patrick's Day | Observance |
| 20 Thu | March Equinox (Spring begins) At 1:48 a.m. ET. | Season |
| 21 Fri | Good Friday | Religious |
| 23 Sun | Easter Sunday | Religious |
| April | ||
| 1 Tue | April Fools' Day | Observance |
| 20 Sun | Passover (first day) Begins at sundown on Saturday, April 19, 2008. | Religious |
| 22 Tue | Earth Day | Observance |
| May | ||
| 5 Mon | Cinco de Mayo | Cultural |
| 11 Sun | Mother's Day | Observance |
| 26 Mon | Memorial Day | Federal holiday |
| June | ||
| 14 Sat | Flag Day | Observance |
| 15 Sun | Father's Day | Observance |
| 19 Thu | Juneteenth Recognized by many states at the time. It became a federal holiday in 2021. | Observance |
| 20 Fri | June Solstice (Summer begins) At 7:59 p.m. ET. | Season |
| July | ||
| 4 Fri | Independence Day | Federal holiday |
| September | ||
| 1 Mon | Labor Day | Federal holiday |
| 1 Mon | Ramadan begins Date follows the Umm al-Qura calculation. Many US communities rely on moon sighting, so the day observed can differ by one day. | Religious |
| 7 Sun | National Grandparents Day | Observance |
| 11 Thu | Patriot Day | Observance |
| 22 Mon | September Equinox (Fall begins) At 11:44 a.m. ET. | Season |
| 30 Tue | Rosh Hashanah Begins at sundown on Monday, September 29, 2008. | Religious |
| October | ||
| 1 Wed | Eid al-Fitr Date follows the Umm al-Qura calculation. Many US communities rely on moon sighting, so the day observed can differ by one day. | Religious |
| 9 Thu | Yom Kippur Begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. | Religious |
| 13 Mon | Columbus Day Many states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples' Day on this date. | Federal holiday |
| 31 Fri | Halloween | Observance |
| November | ||
| 2 Sun | Daylight Saving Time ends Clocks move back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time. | Clock change |
| 4 Tue | Election Day (Presidential) | Observance |
| 11 Tue | Veterans Day | Federal holiday |
| 27 Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal holiday |
| 28 Fri | Black Friday | Observance |
| December | ||
| 8 Mon | Eid al-Adha Date follows the Umm al-Qura calculation. Many US communities rely on moon sighting, so the day observed can differ by one day. | Religious |
| 21 Sun | December Solstice (Winter begins) At 7:03 a.m. ET. | Season |
| 22 Mon | Hanukkah (first day) Begins at sundown on Sunday, December 21, 2008. | Religious |
| 24 Wed | Christmas Eve | Observance |
| 25 Thu | Christmas Day | Federal holiday |
| 26 Fri | Kwanzaa begins | Cultural |
| 31 Wed | New Year's Eve | Observance |
History
The financial crisis defined 2008. JPMorgan Chase agreed in March to buy Bear Stearns with Federal Reserve assistance after the investment bank lost access to short-term funding. The housing and credit collapse intensified in September: the government placed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into conservatorship, Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, the Federal Reserve supported AIG, and money-market and lending systems seized up. Congress rejected an initial rescue bill, then enacted the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program on October 3.
The presidential campaign unfolded against that emergency. Barack Obama defeated Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and chose Joe Biden; John McCain chose Alaska governor Sarah Palin. On November 4, Obama won 365 electoral votes and became the first African American elected president. The Supreme Court's District of Columbia v. Heller decision recognized an individual Second Amendment right to possess a handgun for lawful purposes such as self-defense in the home, while California voters approved Proposition 8 before courts later overturned it.
Sports and technology supplied different milestones. Michael Phelps won eight swimming gold medals in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz's record for one Olympics. The New York Giants ended New England's unbeaten season in the Super Bowl, and the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series. Apple opened the App Store with about 500 applications, and SpaceX's fourth Falcon 1 flight became the first privately developed liquid-fueled rocket to reach orbit. No Country for Old Men won Best Picture, Flo Rida's Low topped Billboard's year-end chart, and Time chose Obama as Person of the Year.
The Giants defeated New England 17-14 in Glendale, Arizona, denying the Patriots a 19-0 season. Eli Manning escaped pressure on the winning drive, David Tyree made a helmet-assisted catch, and Manning found Plaxico Burress for the decisive touchdown with 35 seconds left.
After a rapid run on Bear Stearns's short-term funding, JPMorgan Chase agreed to acquire the investment bank in a deal backed by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The rescue prevented an immediate disorderly bankruptcy but revealed how vulnerable the shadow-banking system had become.
Read the full storyThe Court ruled 5-4 that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with militia service and to use a handgun for lawful self-defense in the home. It struck down the District's handgun ban while noting that the right is not unlimited.
Read the full storyApple launched the App Store through iTunes in 62 countries, offering about 500 native applications for iPhone and iPod touch. Downloads passed 10 million in the first weekend, establishing a centralized software marketplace that reshaped mobile computing and digital businesses.
The United States won the 4x100-meter medley relay, giving swimmer Michael Phelps his eighth gold medal of the Beijing Games. He surpassed Mark Spitz's seven-gold performance from 1972 and finished with seven world records and one Olympic record across his eight events.
Read the full storyThe Federal Housing Finance Agency took control of the two mortgage-finance companies, and the Treasury committed financial support. Their losses and central role in housing credit made officials fear that failure would deepen the mortgage crisis and disrupt markets worldwide.
Unable to secure a buyer or government-supported rescue, the 158-year-old investment bank filed what was then the largest US bankruptcy. The failure accelerated a global panic, froze key short-term funding markets and was followed one day later by Federal Reserve support for AIG.
Read the full storyFalcon 1 lifted off from Kwajalein Atoll and reached orbit, making SpaceX the first privately funded company to orbit a liquid-fueled rocket. The success followed three failed launches and provided technical and financial momentum for the later Falcon 9 and Dragon programs.
President George W. Bush signed a law authorizing up to $700 billion for the Troubled Asset Relief Program after the House rejected an earlier version. Treasury soon shifted from buying troubled mortgages toward injecting capital into banks to stabilize the financial system.
Obama defeated Republican John McCain with 365 electoral votes to 173 and became the first African American elected US president. He won about 69.5 million popular votes and carried states including Virginia, Indiana and North Carolina that Democrats had not recently won.
Read the full storyTen attackers struck hotels, a railway station, a Jewish center and other sites across Mumbai, India. The assault continued into November 29 and killed 166 victims. Americans followed the siege closely, and six US citizens were among those killed.
The Federal Open Market Committee lowered the federal funds target to a range of zero to 0.25 percent as recession and financial stress deepened. With conventional rate cuts exhausted, the Fed turned toward large-scale asset purchases and other emergency credit programs.
Gold dots on the calendar above mark these dates. Articles are researched from primary and authoritative sources listed on each page.
At a glance
Quick facts about 2008 — from key dates and calendar statistics to major events and achievements.
Important dates in 2008
Earth Rat
Notable winners and milestones in 2008
How many of each weekday 2008 had.
How many of each weekday 2008 had. A common year has 52 of every weekday plus one extra—the weekday it starts on; a leap year gets two extras.
Sky calendar
All times are US Eastern Time, calculated with standard astronomical algorithms (Meeus). Dates can differ by a day in other time zones.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
1:48 a.m. ET
Friday, June 20, 2008
7:59 p.m. ET
Monday, September 22, 2008
11:44 a.m. ET
Sunday, December 21, 2008
7:03 a.m. ET
Sunday, March 9, 2008. Clocks move forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time (except Arizona and Hawaii).
Clock changeSunday, November 2, 2008. Clocks move back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local time.
| Month | New Moon | First Quarter | Full Moon | Last Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8 6:37 a.m. | 15 2:46 p.m. | 22 8:34 a.m. | 30 12:03 a.m. |
| February | 6 10:44 p.m. | 13 10:33 p.m. | 20 10:30 p.m. | 28 9:18 p.m. |
| March | 7 12:14 p.m. | 14 6:45 a.m. | 21 2:39 p.m. | 29 5:47 p.m. |
| April | 5 11:55 p.m. | 12 2:31 p.m. | 20 6:25 a.m. | 28 10:12 a.m. |
| May | 5 8:18 a.m. | 11 11:47 p.m. | 19 10:11 p.m. | 27 10:56 p.m. |
| June | 3 3:22 p.m. | 10 11:03 a.m. | 18 1:30 p.m. | 26 8:09 a.m. |
| July | 2 10:18 p.m. | 10 12:34 a.m. | 18 3:59 a.m. | 25 2:41 p.m. |
| August | 1 6:12 a.m. 30 3:58 p.m. | 8 4:20 p.m. | 16 5:16 p.m. | 23 7:50 p.m. |
| September | 29 4:12 a.m. | 7 10:04 a.m. | 15 5:13 a.m. | 22 1:04 a.m. |
| October | 28 7:13 p.m. | 7 5:04 a.m. | 14 4:02 p.m. | 21 7:54 a.m. |
| November | 27 11:54 a.m. | 5 11:02 p.m. | 13 1:17 a.m. | 19 4:30 p.m. |
| December | 27 7:22 a.m. | 5 4:25 p.m. | 12 11:37 a.m. | 19 5:29 a.m. |
Reuse your calendar
Every year that starts on a Tuesday and is a leap year has exactly the same dates and weekdays as 2008. That means a printed 2008 calendar works again in 2036, 2064, 2092.Holidays tied to the moon, such as Easter, will still move.
Why calendars repeatFAQ
2008 started on a Tuesday (January 1, 2008) and ended on a Wednesday (December 31, 2008). It had 366 days, 52 ISO weeks and 252 working days once federal holidays are excluded.
Yes. 2008 was a leap year with 366 days, so February had 29 days. A year is a leap year when it is divisible by 4, except century years, which must also be divisible by 400. See leap years explained.
1952, 1980, 2036, 2064, 2092 share the exact same calendar as 2008: they start on a Tuesday and are leap years. A 2008 calendar can be reused in 2036, 2064, 2092. Use the same calendar year finder for any other year.
Thanksgiving Day 2008 was on Thursday, November 27, 2008. Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November, so it can fall between November 22 and November 28. Read more about Thanksgiving.
Easter Sunday 2008 was on Sunday, March 23, 2008, with Good Friday on Friday, March 21, 2008. Western Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25. See how the date of Easter is calculated.
2008 is the Year of the Earth Rat, which began with Lunar New Year on Thursday, February 7, 2008. Anyone born between January 1 and February 6, 2008 belongs to the previous zodiac year, the Fire Pig.
George W. Bush (Republican) was the 43rd president throughout 2008, with Dick Cheney as vice president.
There were 10 federal holidays in 2008. When a holiday lands on a Saturday, federal employees get the Friday before off; a Sunday holiday moves to Monday. See how federal holidays work.