CALIFORNIA, USA — Monday is a federal holiday in the U.S. known as Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day. However, in California, it's not an official holiday for state employees.
On Oct. 14, 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the first proclamation declaring it “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” in California. He has issued proclamations every year since and is expected to do so in 2024.
The federal holiday itself is for Columbus Day. But as attention has shifted to Columbus' life and the behavior toward native people who lived in the land that would later become the United States, several states have backtracked on celebrating Columbus Day. Instead, they created a new holiday on the same day that honors native people.
While the federal government recognizes Indigenous Peoples Day, it isn't listed as a federal holiday. Despite that, the Biden administration acknowledged the holiday in a statement over the weekend, saying the holiday was a time to "recommit to respecting Tribal sovereignty and self-determination and working to usher in a new era of our Nation-to-Nation relationships."
As a federal holiday, several important offices will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
Is Columbus a California State Holiday?
Columbus Day isn't listed under California state holidays for 2024. California state employees get 11 holidays including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Cesar Chavez Day (Observed), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.
The Department of Motor Vehicles is open today in California.
Federal government offices
All federal offices will be closed, including federal courts.
Grocery stores and other retail outlets - Is Costco open on Columbus Day? Is Target open on Columbus Day? Is Walmart open on Columbus Day?
Major retailers, including national stores such as Costco, Target and Walmart, will be open on Monday when communities mark Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day. Grocery stores and pharmacies, like Safeway or CVS, will also be open.
Be sure to check with your local stores, as they may have reduced hours.
Are schools closed today for Columbus Day?
The California Department of Education doesn't have Columbus Day or Indigenous People's Day listed as an official school holiday, according to its website. However, several school districts in California have today off. It's best to check with your individual school district for the calendar.
The California Department of Education includes the following on its website:
Columbus Day (10/14/2024)
The CDE encourages you to recognize October 14, 2024 as Columbus Day (36 United States Code 107). Columbus Day is celebrated annually on the second Monday of October and is not recognized as a school holiday in California.
Indigenous People's Day* (10/14/2024)
The CDE encourages you to recognize October 14, 2024 as Indigenous People's Day. It is observed annually on the second Monday in October. Indigenous People's Day is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures.
Are banks open on Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day 2024?
As a Federal Reserve bank holiday, most banks will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. US Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank branches will be closed while Chase Bank will be open.
You can still utilize online banking and ATM services. As always, be sure to check with local branches for hours on specific locations.
The stock market will remain open on Monday.
Is the post office closed on Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day?
All United States Post Offices will be closed and mail will not be delivered Monday.
UPS and FedEx locations will be open on Monday, but some services may experience a delay due to the holiday.
Full list of federal holidays for 2024
With the addition of Juneteenth in 2021, there are now 11 annual paid federal holidays
- New Year's Day
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday
- George Washington's birthday (Often called Presidents' Day)
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day (Some jurisdictions have chosen to rename this Indigenous Peoples' Day, but the federal designation remains Columbus Day)
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
There is also a 12th holiday for federal workers in the United States — but it only comes around once every four years: Inauguration Day.
In 2025, Inauguration Day and MLK Day will both fall on Monday, Jan. 20. That means while there will be 12 federal holidays that year, there will still only be 11 paid days off for federal workers.
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