Honestly, if you’re looking at your calendar and wondering when was Columbus Day supposed to be this year, or why your bank is closed when it feels like a random Monday, you aren't alone. It’s one of those holidays that feels a bit slippery. Unlike Christmas or the Fourth of July, it doesn't just sit still on a specific number.
It moves.
Specifically, Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday of October in the United States. In 2025, that fell on October 13. If you’re looking ahead to 2026, it lands on October 12. Historically, though, the "real" date—the one people memorized in elementary school for decades—was October 12, 1492. That’s the morning Rodrigo de Triana, a sailor on the Pinta, reportedly spotted land in the Bahamas.
For a long time, the holiday stayed fixed on October 12. But then the government stepped in.
The Law That Moved the Date
Why did we change it? It wasn't about history. It was about the weekend.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. They wanted to give federal employees more three-day weekends because, let's face it, everyone loves a Monday off. This law took effect in 1971, and suddenly, the answer to when was Columbus Day became "whenever the second Monday happens to be."
It’s the same reason Memorial Day and Presidents' Day jump around. While it’s great for road trips and mattress sales, it arguably disconnected the holiday from the actual historical event.
The first recorded celebration of the date in the U.S. didn't even happen until 1792. That was the 300th anniversary, organized by the Colombian Order (better known as Tammany Hall) in New York City. They weren't really thinking about a recurring holiday back then; it was more of a one-off party to celebrate the young nation’s "discovery."
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By the late 1800s, the holiday took on a much different meaning. For Italian Americans, Columbus became a symbol of their heritage and a shield against the brutal discrimination they faced in the U.S. At the time, Italian immigrants were often treated as second-class citizens. President Benjamin Harrison actually proclaimed a one-time celebration of the day in 1892, largely as a diplomatic gesture to soothe tensions after a horrific mass lynching of eleven Italian Americans in New Orleans the year prior.
The 1492 Context: What Actually Happened?
When we ask when was Columbus Day in a historical sense, we’re looking at a three-ship voyage that almost didn't happen. Christopher Columbus, or Cristoforo Colombo, had been shopping his idea around Europe for years. Most scholars knew the earth was round—that’s a myth that they thought it was flat—but they disagreed on the size. Columbus thought the world was much smaller than it actually is. He was wrong. If the Americas hadn't been there, he and his crew would have likely starved to death in the middle of a much larger-than-expected ocean.
They set sail from Palos de la Frontera, Spain, on August 3, 1492. After a stop in the Canary Islands for repairs and supplies, they hit the open sea. Five weeks later, they hit land.
- The Pinta
- The Niña
- The Santa Maria (the slow one that eventually wrecked)
It’s worth noting that Columbus never actually set foot on the mainland United States. He landed in the Caribbean—specifically an island the Lucayan people called Guanahani. He renamed it San Salvador. Over his next three voyages, he explored the coasts of Central and South America, but he died still believing he had found a shortcut to the Indies.
The Name Change: From Columbus to Indigenous Peoples' Day
If you’ve noticed your digital calendar says "Indigenous Peoples' Day" instead of Columbus Day, that’s not a glitch. It’s a massive cultural shift that’s been brewing since at least 1977, when the idea was first proposed at a United Nations conference.
South Dakota was actually the first state to officially swap the name, back in 1990. They called it Native American Day. Since then, the momentum has been staggering.
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Today, dozens of states and hundreds of cities have ditched the Columbus name entirely. Oregon, New Mexico, and Vermont are among those that have officially pivoted. Why? Because for many, celebrating Columbus feels like celebrating the start of a genocide. The arrival of Europeans kicked off centuries of displacement, disease, and violence against the people who were already here.
This creates a weird "two-track" holiday system in the U.S.
- On the federal level, the law still calls it Columbus Day.
- On the local level, it might be Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- In some places, like Hawaii, it's called Discoverers' Day (honoring Polynesian navigators).
- In Colorado, they recently replaced it with Frances Xavier Cabrini Day.
It’s messy. It’s controversial. But it’s the reality of how we handle history in the 21st century.
Tracking the Date for the Next Few Years
Because of that 1968 law, you have to do a little math to figure out the timing. If you’re trying to plan a trip or check if the post office is open, here is the breakdown of when was Columbus Day and when it will be in the near future.
In 2024, it was October 14.
In 2025, it fell on October 13.
In 2026, the calendar marks it for October 12.
In 2027, it hits October 11.
You’ll notice it never falls earlier than October 8 and never later than October 14.
Is Anything Actually Open?
This is where the confusion usually hits. Because it is a federal holiday, "essential" government services take a break.
- The Post Office: They don’t deliver mail. Period.
- Banks: Most follow the Federal Reserve schedule, so they’ll be closed.
- The Stock Market: Surprisingly, the NYSE and Nasdaq usually stay open. They don't take the day off.
- Schools: This is a toss-up. In cities like New York, they might close, but in many Western states, it’s just a normal Monday for students.
If you’re a private sector worker, you probably don't get the day off unless you work in finance or for a very generous company. It’s one of the least observed "major" holidays in terms of corporate time off.
Global Variations: It’s Not Just a U.S. Thing
The U.S. doesn't have a monopoly on this date. In Spain, October 12 is Fiesta Nacional de España. It’s a huge deal with military parades and King Felipe VI making an appearance.
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In many Latin American countries, the day was traditionally called Día de la Raza (Day of the Race), celebrating the fusion of European and Indigenous cultures. However, that name has faced its own backlash. Argentina now calls it the "Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity." Venezuela calls it "Day of Indigenous Resistance."
Even the Vatican has weighed in on the legacy of the era. In 2023, the Vatican formally repudiated the "Doctrine of Discovery," the 15th-century legal concept that explorers used to claim "undiscovered" lands for Christian monarchs. It shows that even the oldest institutions are re-evaluating what happened in 1492.
Actionable Steps for Navigating the Holiday
Since the date of the holiday changes annually and the name varies by location, here is how you should handle it:
- Check Local Government Listings: Don't assume your trash will be picked up on the second Monday of October. Check your city's municipal website, as many local services follow the holiday schedule even if businesses don't.
- Verify Bank Transactions: If you have a bill due on that Monday, get it paid by the Friday before. Digital transfers often stall on federal holidays, and you don't want a late fee because of a 500-year-old boat trip.
- Audit Your Calendar: If you use Google Calendar or Outlook, look at the "Holidays in United States" settings. You can often toggle between "Columbus Day" and "Indigenous Peoples' Day" depending on your preference or the region you work in.
- Support Local History: If you're in a state that observes Indigenous Peoples' Day, look for events at local museums or cultural centers. It’s a great time to learn about the tribes that originally inhabited your specific zip code—information that was often left out of older history books.
- Plan for Travel: If you are lucky enough to have a three-day weekend, remember that this is one of the busiest weekends for "leaf-peeping" in New England. Book hotels months in advance if you're heading to Vermont or New Hampshire.
The question of when was Columbus Day is simple on the surface, but the answer tells the story of a country trying to figure out its own identity. Whether you’re celebrating Italian heritage, honoring Indigenous resilience, or just enjoying a day without mail, the second Monday of October remains one of the most complex squares on the American calendar.