It is a Monday in October. For some, it is a day of deep Italian-American pride, a chance to throw a parade and talk about heritage. For others, it’s just a welcome day off from work. But for a growing number of cities and states, the day is no longer about Christopher Columbus at all. If you are trying to figure out who celebrates Columbus Day in the mid-2020s, the answer is a messy, complicated patchwork of federal law, local tradition, and a massive cultural shift that is still unfolding.
The holiday has become a Rorschach test for American values. On one side, you have the federal government and many East Coast states keeping the tradition alive. On the other, a wave of "Indigenous Peoples' Day" adoptions has essentially erased Columbus from the calendar in places like Vermont and Alaska.
The Federal Government and the "Bank Holiday" Crowd
Technically, Columbus Day is a federal holiday. This means the big players—the U.S. Postal Service, the Federal Reserve, and most government offices—shut down. If you work for Uncle Sam, you’re likely getting a paid day off.
It has been this way since 1937. President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it official after intense lobbying from the Knights of Columbus. They wanted a Catholic hero recognized at a time when Italian Americans faced significant discrimination. It wasn't just about a boat trip; it was about proving that Italians were "real Americans."
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But federal status doesn't mean every state has to follow suit. States are weirdly independent about this stuff. You’ll find that in states like New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, the celebration remains a heavy hitter. Why? Because the Italian-American population there is huge and politically active. In these hubs, who celebrates Columbus Day isn't a question—it’s a given. Parades in Manhattan still draw massive crowds, featuring high school marching bands and floats decked out in green, white, and red.
A Patchwork of State Laws
Not all states play ball. Roughly 20 states still officially recognize and celebrate the holiday by its original name. Alabama, for instance, celebrates a dual holiday: Columbus Day and Fraternal Day. In Virginia, it’s a legal holiday, but the vibe is shifting in the larger cities.
Then there are the "No-Shows." California and Florida don't recognize it as a paid state holiday, though many of their cities might still hold small events. It’s basically a localized choice. You might find a festival in a specific neighborhood in Miami while the rest of the city treats it like a normal Monday.
The Italian-American Heartbeat
For a huge slice of the population, this day is about roots. If you ask an older resident in Philadelphia’s South Side or Chicago’s Little Italy who celebrates Columbus Day, they’ll point to themselves.
To these communities, the holiday is a symbol of survival. When Italians first immigrated to the U.S. in the late 19th century, they weren't exactly welcomed with open arms. They faced lynchings, job discrimination, and being labeled as "non-white." Columbus became their shield. By elevating a famous Italian navigator to the status of a national founder, they carved out a space for themselves in the American story.
- The parades are about food, family, and the contributions of Italian immigrants.
- The Knights of Columbus remain the primary organizers and defenders of the holiday.
- Many argue that removing the holiday feels like an erasure of Italian-American history.
It’s personal. It's not necessarily that every person at a Columbus Day parade is an expert on 15th-century maritime law or colonial ethics. Most are there for the cannoli and the feeling of belonging.
The Pivot to Indigenous Peoples' Day
You can't talk about who celebrates Columbus Day without talking about who stopped celebrating it. The momentum shifted hard over the last decade.
South Dakota was the trailblazer, actually. They rebranded the day as "Native American Day" way back in 1990. Now, places like New Mexico, Maine, and Hawaii (which celebrates Discoverers' Day in honor of Polynesian navigators) have moved on.
Why the shift happened
The historical record is, honestly, pretty grim. Modern historians and activists point to Columbus’s own journals and the records of his contemporaries, like Bartolomé de las Casas. They detail the enslavement and brutal treatment of the Taíno people in the Caribbean. For many Indigenous people, celebrating Columbus is like celebrating the start of a genocide.
So, the "celebration" has turned into a "commemoration." In cities like Seattle, Phoenix, and Denver (which, ironically, was the birthplace of the first official Columbus Day), the day is now dedicated to honoring the cultures and resilience of Native American tribes.
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The Corporate Middle Ground
Retailers are in a tough spot. They want the "holiday sale" revenue without the PR nightmare. If you look at big-box store flyers, you'll notice they often just call it "The October Sale" or "Fall Savings Event." They are backing away from the name while still keeping the discounts. This is the ultimate "who celebrates" loophole: corporate America celebrates the revenue, but ignores the man.
Global Perspectives: It’s Not Just a U.S. Thing
Spain still goes big. They call it Fiesta Nacional de España. It’s a massive military parade in Madrid with the King and the Prime Minister. For them, it marks the beginning of the Spanish Empire and the spread of their language and culture. They aren't having the same internal identity crisis the U.S. is having—at least not to the same degree.
In Latin America, the vibe is different. They call it Día de la Raza (Day of the Race), focusing on the "mestizaje" or the blending of Indigenous and European cultures. However, even there, names are changing. Argentina calls it the "Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity." Venezuela and Nicaragua call it "Day of Indigenous Resistance."
The Logistics: What Is Actually Open?
If you are just trying to run errands, here is the "real world" breakdown of who is taking a nap on the second Monday of October.
- Schools: This is a toss-up. In the Northeast, many public schools close. In the West and South, most stay open. Private schools usually follow the local lead.
- Banks: Most follow the Federal Reserve calendar and close their doors. Your ATM will work, but don't expect to talk to a teller.
- Stock Market: The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq stay open. This is a weird quirk. Even though the bond market is closed (because it’s a federal holiday), the stock market keeps trading.
- Post Office: No mail delivery. Period.
- Trash Pickup: Usually stays on schedule in most cities, but check your local DPW website because every town is a little different.
Identifying the Modern Celebrant
So, who actually celebrates today? It boils down to three distinct groups.
First, you have the Traditionalists. These are the folks in the Italian-American enclaves and the members of fraternal organizations. For them, the day is an unbreakable link to their ancestors’ struggle for acceptance in America.
Second, you have the Pragmatists. This is the majority of people. They don't have a strong opinion on the historical figure, but they celebrate the three-day weekend. They celebrate with a trip to the mountains or by sleeping in. Their "celebration" is purely a function of the labor calendar.
Third, you have the Re-interpreters. These people are active on the second Monday of October, but they are at rallies, educational events, or Indigenous markets. They "celebrate" by intentionally replacing the old narrative with a new one.
Moving Forward With This Information
If you are planning an event or just trying to navigate the social landscape of October, it helps to know the room. The transition from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day isn't just a trend; it's a structural change in how the U.S. handles its history.
What you can do next:
Check your local municipal calendar before you assume a government office is open. More importantly, look at the local ordinances in your specific city. Many people are surprised to find that while their state might officially recognize Columbus Day, their specific city council may have passed a resolution to observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.
If you are a business owner, consider your "holiday" branding carefully. The shift toward more inclusive terminology is becoming the standard for national brands to avoid alienating customers. If you're looking for a way to honor the day's original intent of celebrating Italian heritage without the controversy of Columbus himself, many communities are moving toward "Italian-American Heritage Day" as a viable, respectful alternative that focuses on the people rather than the explorer.