You're probably staring at your calendar right now, wondering if you actually have to log into work or if the post office is going to be locked up tight. It's a valid question. The answer to is Columbus Day a national holiday is technically "yes," but in practice, it’s complicated as heck.
Since 1968, the United States federal government has recognized the second Monday in October as a legal public holiday. That means if you’re a federal employee or you’re waiting for a check in the mail, the world stops. But for the rest of us? It depends entirely on where you live, who you work for, and how your local politics have shifted over the last decade. Honestly, it’s one of the most inconsistent days on the American calendar.
The Federal Status vs. The State Reality
When people ask if it's a national holiday, they usually mean "Do I get the day off?" Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Columbus Day became one of the ten federal holidays. This was meant to give federal workers more three-day weekends. It’s official. It’s on the books.
But here is the catch: the federal government can’t force states to observe holidays.
States have their own sovereign power to decide which days are paid holidays for their own employees and which days schools must close. Because of this, we’ve ended up with a massive, confusing patchwork across the country. In places like Alabama or Utah, you’ll find the holiday is very much alive. In other spots, it’s like the day doesn't even exist.
Take Florida, for example. Despite having a massive Italian-American population and deep historical ties to Spanish exploration, Florida does not observe Columbus Day as a legal state holiday. You might see a parade in Miami, but the DMV is likely open. Then you have South Dakota, which famously ditched the name back in 1990, becoming the first state to officially pivot to Native Americans' Day. It wasn't just a name change; it was a total cultural shift that started a domino effect across the nation.
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The Rise of Indigenous Peoples' Day
You can't talk about the status of this holiday without talking about the movement to replace it. This isn't just a "woke" trend from the last two years; it’s been brewing since the 1977 International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas.
Today, dozens of cities and a growing number of states—including Maine, New Mexico, and Hawaii—have officially swapped Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day. Some places are "dual observers." They try to keep everyone happy by recognizing both.
In 2021, President Joe Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation for Indigenous Peoples' Day, which added a whole new layer to the "national" status. Now, we essentially have two overlapping observances on the same Monday. It’s confusing. It’s politically charged. And it makes planning a bank trip really annoying if you don't know your local laws.
Who actually closes?
If you’re trying to figure out if you can get errands done, follow the money.
- Banks: Most follow the Federal Reserve schedule. Since the Fed is closed, most major banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America usually shut their doors. Online banking still works, obviously.
- The Post Office: USPS is a federal entity. No mail delivery. No counter service.
- The Stock Market: This is the weird one. The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq usually stay open. Why? Because the bond market (which follows the federal schedule) closes, but the equity markets decided long ago that they didn't want to miss a trading day just for Christopher Columbus.
- Retail and Grocery: Almost 100% open. In fact, it’s a huge day for "Fall Sales."
Why the Italian-American Community Fights for It
To understand why this holiday is still a federal fixture, you have to look at the history of discrimination. In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants weren't exactly welcomed with open arms. They faced lynchings—most notably the 1891 mass lynching in New Orleans—and systemic bias.
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For these communities, Columbus Day wasn't just about a guy in a boat. It was a foot in the door. It was a way to say, "We are part of the American story, too." President Benjamin Harrison actually proclaimed a one-time celebration in 1892 specifically to ease diplomatic tensions with Italy after those New Orleans murders.
Organizations like the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America still view the holiday as a core celebration of heritage. When a city removes a Columbus statue or changes the holiday name, these groups often see it as an erasure of their specific struggle for acceptance in the U.S. It’s a nuance that often gets lost in the shouting matches on social media.
The Legal Mechanics of a "National" Holiday
There is actually no such thing as a "national holiday" that applies to everyone in the private sector. The U.S. doesn't work like that.
The President and Congress only have the authority to create holidays for federal employees and the District of Columbia. When the news says "Columbus Day is a national holiday," they are strictly referring to 5 U.S.C. § 6103. This is the legal code that lists the dates federal offices are closed.
Private employers? They can do whatever they want. They could make "National Pizza Day" a paid holiday and ignore Christmas if they really wanted to (though their HR department would probably quit). According to data from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), only about 14% of private-sector businesses actually give their employees Columbus Day off. It’s one of the least observed federal holidays in the corporate world, ranking far behind Labor Day or Memorial Day.
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Schools are the wild card
School closures are a total coin flip. In many districts, Columbus Day is used as an "in-service" day for teacher training. In others, it's just a regular Monday. If you have kids, you’ve likely experienced the panic of realizing on Sunday night that school is closed while your job is definitely open.
This usually comes down to the local school board's collective bargaining agreements. In some Northeastern states, where Italian-American heritage is a major political pillar, schools stay closed. In the West, they are increasingly staying open or rebranding the day to focus on indigenous history lessons.
How to navigate the day effectively
Since the question of is Columbus Day a national holiday doesn't have a simple yes-or-no answer for your daily life, you have to be proactive. If you’re planning a wedding, a move, or a business launch around this time in October, keep these specifics in mind.
- Check the Bond Market vs. Stock Market: If you work in finance, remember that while you can trade stocks, the pipes of the financial system (government bonds) are frozen. This can affect liquidity and how quickly wire transfers move.
- Verify Local Government Services: Your trash collection might be pushed back a day even if the grocery store is open. Most city websites post a holiday schedule at the beginning of the year.
- Understand the Regional Nuance: If you are doing business across state lines, don't assume your contact in South Dakota or Vermont will be at their desk.
- Research Native American Events: If your area has transitioned to Indigenous Peoples' Day, there are often incredible cultural festivals, markets, and educational talks that offer a way more interesting experience than just sitting at home watching TV.
What’s the future of the holiday?
Honestly, the trend line is pretty clear. Each year, more jurisdictions move away from the traditional Columbus Day name. According to various tracking projects by Native American advocacy groups, over 130 cities have made the switch.
However, because it’s baked into federal law, it would take an Act of Congress to officially remove "Columbus Day" from the federal calendar. Given how polarized D.C. is, that’s not likely to happen tomorrow. For the foreseeable future, we are stuck in this middle ground where the federal government recognizes one thing, states recognize another, and your boss probably expects you at your desk at 9:00 AM.
It’s a bizarre quirk of the American federalist system. We have a "national" holiday that a huge chunk of the nation chooses to ignore or celebrate under a completely different name.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your company handbook: Don't guess. Look at the "Paid Holidays" section of your employee manual now so you aren't surprised in October.
- Update your calendar labels: If you live in a state like Oregon or New Mexico, manually change the entry to "Indigenous Peoples' Day" to align with local government closures and school schedules.
- Plan for bank delays: If you have a major payment due on that Monday, send it by the Thursday prior. Federal holidays always cause a "float" in the banking system that can lead to late fees if you aren't careful.
- Check your DMV/Post Office status: If you have a passport to renew or a license to update, do not go on this Monday. Even if your state doesn't observe it, the federal components of those offices might be disrupted.
The status of the holiday is a moving target. It’s a mix of 15th-century history, 19th-century immigrant advocacy, and 21st-century social reckoning. Whether you get the day off or not, it remains one of the most significant examples of how American identity is constantly being negotiated and redefined.