You've probably woken up on a random Monday in October, tried to mail a letter, and found the post office doors locked tight. It’s frustrating. You check your phone, see the date, and wonder why some people are at work while others are sleeping in. It leads to that one nagging question every year: was Columbus Day a federal holiday, and more importantly, does it still count as one now?
The short answer? Yes. It absolutely is.
But honestly, the "yes" is a lot messier than it used to be. While the federal government still recognizes the second Monday in October as a paid day off for its employees, the rest of the country is basically split down the middle. We're living through a massive shift in how America looks at its own history. What used to be a straightforward day for parades and Italian-American pride has turned into a complex debate about colonialism, indigenous rights, and what we choose to celebrate as a nation.
The Long Road to Becoming a Federal Holiday
Columbus Day didn't just appear out of nowhere because a guy sailed the ocean blue in 1492. It took centuries. For a long time, the holiday was mostly a local thing, celebrated by Italian immigrants who wanted a way to feel like "real" Americans during a period of intense discrimination. They were often treated as second-class citizens, so they latched onto Christopher Columbus—an Italian explorer—to prove they belonged in the American story.
The first big national celebration didn't happen until 1892. President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation for the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s landing. He wasn't necessarily trying to start a permanent holiday; he was trying to calm things down after a horrific lynching of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans the year before. It was a political move. A way to say, "Hey, we value you."
It wasn't until 1934 that Congress actually made it a legal holiday, and even then, it wasn't the "federal holiday" we think of today. That didn't happen until 1968, when Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. That’s the law that moved several holidays to Mondays so federal workers could have three-day weekends. People loved the idea of a long weekend, but they didn't realize how much the meaning of the day would eventually change.
Why the "Federal" Label Matters (and Why it Doesn't)
When people ask was Columbus Day a federal holiday, they're often trying to figure out if they have to go to work or if the bank is open. Here is how the federal designation actually works in the real world:
Federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103) lists the ten (now eleven, with Juneteenth) official holidays. On these days, non-essential federal offices close. The mail doesn't move. The stock market... well, actually, the New York Stock Exchange stays open on Columbus Day, even though it's a federal holiday.
See? It’s confusing.
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States don't have to follow the federal government's lead. This is why you can drive from one state where everything is closed into another state where it's just a normal Monday. Places like Florida or Texas might keep it on the books, while other states have completely scrubbed it or replaced it.
The Rise of Indigenous Peoples' Day
You can't talk about the federal status of this day without talking about the pivot to Indigenous Peoples' Day. South Dakota was actually the trailblazer here, renaming the holiday back in 1990. Since then, it’s been a domino effect.
President Biden made history in 2021 by being the first president to officially issue a proclamation for Indigenous Peoples' Day alongside the traditional Columbus Day proclamation. He didn't get rid of the Columbus designation—he can't do that alone; only Congress can—but he effectively gave the day a dual identity.
For a lot of people, this is a much-needed correction. They argue that celebrating a man whose arrival led to the genocide and displacement of millions of native people is, frankly, wrong. For others, it feels like an attack on Italian-American heritage. It’s a culture war played out on a calendar.
What's Actually Closed?
If you're looking for a quick checklist of what happens on this federal holiday, here’s the breakdown.
Post offices? Closed. No mail. If you're waiting on a check, it's coming Tuesday.
Federal courts? Closed.
Social Security offices? Closed.
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Banks? This is a toss-up. Most big national banks like Wells Fargo or Chase follow the Federal Reserve schedule and close their branches, but their ATMs and online banking work fine. Some smaller local banks might stay open if they’re in a state that doesn't recognize the holiday.
Schools? This is the biggest mess of all. In cities like New York, schools usually close. In many western states, kids are in their desks like it's any other Monday.
The Controversy Isn't Just About History
It’s easy to think this is just people arguing about things that happened 500 years ago. It’s not. It’s about who gets to define the "American" identity today.
Historians like David Stannard, who wrote American Holocaust, have documented the devastating impact of European arrival. On the flip side, groups like the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America argue that Columbus is a symbol of the immigrant spirit and the bridge between the old world and the new.
Both things can be true at once, which is why the holiday is so polarized.
Interestingly, some cities have found a middle ground. Instead of a "war" between the two names, they use the day to celebrate "Italian-American Heritage" without specifically centering it on Columbus himself. It's a way to keep the parades and the cannoli without the baggage of the Taino enslavement.
Looking Back at the Legislative Tangles
Back in the late 60s, the debate wasn't about "woke" culture or historical revisionism. It was about economics. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was pushed heavily by the Chamber of Commerce. They knew that three-day weekends encouraged travel and shopping.
If you look at the Congressional Record from that time, the arguments for making Columbus Day a federal holiday were mostly about productivity and morale. It’s kind of funny, in a dark way, that a day now defined by intense social debate was originally codified so people could go buy a new car or visit a national park.
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Is the Federal Status Going Away?
There are always rumors. Every few years, a bill is introduced in Congress to officially replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day at the federal level.
So far, those bills haven't gone anywhere.
Changing a federal holiday is a massive undertaking. It requires an Act of Congress and a presidential signature. Given how divided the current political climate is, it's unlikely we'll see a total removal of Columbus Day anytime soon. What’s more likely is that it continues to fade into the background in more and more states, becoming a "federal holiday" in name only, while the cultural focus shifts elsewhere.
What You Should Actually Do on the Holiday
Since the question of was Columbus Day a federal holiday is firmly settled as "yes," the real question is how you should handle it.
- Check your local government website. Don't assume your trash will be picked up or that your local library is open. These are city-level decisions.
- Check your bank. If you have a deadline for a wire transfer or a mortgage payment, the federal holiday "skip" could mess up your timing.
- Acknowledge the complexity. If you're an educator or a parent, use the day to talk about the different perspectives. It’s a great "teachable moment" about how history isn't just a list of dates, but a story that we're constantly rewriting.
- Support local heritage. Whether that means attending an Italian-American festival or visiting a museum that highlights Indigenous history, use the day off (if you have it) to actually learn something.
The holiday is a weird relic. It’s a mix of 19th-century immigrant struggle, 20th-century economic planning, and 21st-century social reckoning. It’s not going anywhere just yet, but the way we talk about it is unrecognizable compared to thirty years ago.
Essentially, the federal government says it's a holiday, but your community decides what it actually means.
Actionable Steps for Navigating the Holiday
To avoid getting caught off guard by the inconsistencies of this holiday, follow these practical steps every October:
- Verify your "Floaters": If you work in the private sector, check your employee handbook. Many companies offer "floating holidays" where you can choose to work Columbus Day and take a different day off instead.
- Audit your Auto-Pays: Since banks are officially closed, any automatic payments scheduled for that Monday might not process until Tuesday. Make sure you have the buffer in your account to avoid overdrafts if multiple payments hit at once.
- Shipping Deadlines: If you run a small business, remember that USPS is grounded. UPS and FedEx usually operate normal schedules, but they may have slight delays in certain regions. Plan your shipments for the Friday before to be safe.
- Community Engagement: Look for local events that focus on Indigenous history. Many tribes and community centers hold "Counter-Protest" educational events that provide a perspective you likely didn't get in grade school.
By staying proactive, you can turn a confusing federal holiday into a productive day, or at the very least, a day where you don't show up to a closed post office with a handful of letters.