Many public offices, including those of the federal and state governments, are taking a one-day holiday break to commemorate this year’s Columbus Day celebration.
This year’s celebration appears to be a joint one, as both the Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’s Day Celebrations fall on the same day, 14 October 2024.
Xclusiveloaded News gathers that most public offices have announced their absence on this day and committed to resuming on Tuesday.
Amongst others are all non-essential federal offices, such as the Federal Student Aid, which will be closed on Monday. According to a news release, it will not send funds to universities on the day, but its website will still accept data and remain operational.
The United States Postal Service, USPC has also disclosed that it will be closed for the day in observance of the federal holiday. It states that there will be no mail delivery at homes or offices even though supplies can still be ordered from its website.
The USPC also disclosed that Priority Mail Express will be an exception to this observance adding that those who need to buy stamps or ship a package can still utilize the self-service kiosks at select post office locations until normal post service businesses resume on Tuesday, 15th October 2024.
Similarly, banks across the United States are also observing the holiday and have left their various branches closed for the day. This is expected to remain the same until tomorrow, Tuesday when several other public state and federal offices observing the holiday will resume for normal activities.
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Columbus Day is one of 11 federal holidays observed in the United States and other countries in the Americas. It is a day set aside to commemorate the arrival of Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus in the Americas.
Although this practice is still argued by many, it is observed by the federal and state governments alongside some private institutions and families. These divergent opinions form part of the basis upon which the Indigenous People’s Day celebration was institutionalized to celebrate the history and contributions of Native Americans.
