What to know about Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day
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Columbus Day is the federal holiday on the second Monday in October. But what the state holiday is called — Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day or something else — depends on where you live.
Why it matters: Efforts to change the focus of the holiday from celebrating Christopher Columbus to the contributions of Native Americans are ongoing.
- Lawmakers in Congress reintroduced legislation last fall to have Indigenous Peoples' Day replace Columbus Day.
The big picture: Native American advocates have been pushing to get states to swap Columbus Day for Indigenous Peoples' Day since the early 1990s.
Flashback: In 2021, President Biden became the first president to issue an official proclamation commemorating Indigenous People's Day.
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day as state holiday
By the numbers: 17 states observe the second Monday in October as an official public holiday called Columbus Day, according to the Pew Research Center and Axios staff research.
- In Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, the day is known as both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day.
- The state holiday is known officially as Indigenous Peoples' Day in New Mexico, Maine, Vermont and D.C.
Yes, but: More than half of states don't recognize Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day as a state holiday but many have issued proclamations.
Banks, USPS closed Columbus Day; stock market open
State of play: Banks and the U.S. Postal Service are closed Monday for the holiday.
- But unlike Memorial Day, Labor Day and Juneteenth, U.S. stock markets are open.
- FedEx and UPS also are open and delivering, according to their holiday schedules.
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