While many federal offices are already seeing closures due to the government shutdown, many other offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 13, in observance of the upcoming holiday.
The United States observes Columbus Day annually on the second Monday of October, which doubles as the non-federally recognized Indigenous Peoples Day. This year’s ongoing government shutdown has already resulted in some staff being furloughed, but federal offices will close for the holiday.
While some federal offices will close, state and city-operated offices may be open, as it is up to that level of government to observe the holiday.
Here’s what will be open on Oct. 13, whether you personally celebrate Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day.
What is closed on Columbus Day? Indigenous Peoples Day?
Are federal offices closed?
Since Oct. 13 marks a federal holiday, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federally operated offices will be closed.
Is the post office open on Columbus Day?
The United States Postal Service offices will be closed on Monday, except for Priority Mail Express. All other packages and letters will be delivered when mail resumes on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Are banks open on Columbus Day?
All banks will be closed on the federal holiday or will operate on a federal holiday schedule.
Are Oklahoma state, county, OKC city offices closed?
It is up to the governor and mayor to decide if state or city offices will still run on Monday.
In June 2024, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order stating that the State of Oklahoma will only observe nine holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
State employees will continue to work on Monday, Oct. 13, as the state does not observe Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day.
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt reads a proclamation celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
Oklahoma City-run offices will remain open as the city also does not observe either holiday, according to Kristy Yager with the City.
As for Oklahoma County, all county-run offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Columbus Day.
What is Columbus Day, and why is it celebrated?
Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer who led a Spanish exploration that landed in the Americas in 1492.
His arrival sparked the European colonization of the Americas, according to USA TODAY’s previous reporting. It also initiated the trade of goods, animals and people in what became known as the Columbian Exchange.
The U.S. began celebrating the explorer’s arrival less than two decades after the birth of the country in 1792, according to Smithsonian Magazine. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation and encouraged Americans to celebrate Columbus’ arrival. Harrison also hoped the celebration would encourage Americans to accept Italian immigrants, who shared their heritage with the explorer, as they were being attacked in the country.
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated Columbus Day, which was originally celebrated on Oct. 12, as a national holiday in 1934, according to the Library of Congress. In 1971, the second Monday of October was designated as Columbus Day.
Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day an official holiday?
In some states, yes. Around 30 states do not celebrate Columbus Day, according to Renamecolumbusday.org. Around 221 cities have renamed it or replaced it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Some states recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day through a proclamation, while others treat it as an official holiday.
Although not a federal holiday, former President Joe Biden issued presidential proclamations in support of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Is Indigenous Peoples Day a federal holiday? What’s open, closed in OK