The second week in October brings a federal holiday, but most workers will not get the day off.
Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrated across the country with parades that showcase Italian-American heritage and pride, as Smithsonian Magazine notes. However, many individuals have criticized the holiday and protested against it for decades due to the way the Italian explorer Christopher Columbus treated Indigenous people.
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation celebrating the Italian explorer on Oct. 7.
"Today, we honor his life of valor, adventure, and ingenuity," the proclamation stated. "We cherish his memory and pledge to safeguard his story. Above all, we remember with gratitude that the triumph of freedom and the glory of our Republic
are the fruits of his faith and unrelenting devotion."
Here's why workers won't get the holiday off this year.
When is Columbus Day?
This year, Columbus Day will fall on Oct. 12. The holiday occurs on the second Monday in October each year.
It is a state holiday in 22 states and a federal holiday in 28 states. Tennessee recognizes the holiday.
Why do we celebrate Columbus Day? Is it a federal holiday?
Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in what is now North America in 1492. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt marked Oct. 12 as a national holiday. In 1971, it moved to the second Tuesday in October.
While it is recognized as a federal holiday, it is among the most "inconsistently celebrated," according to the Pew Research Center.
Why is Columbus Day not a work holiday?
Columbus Day became a federal holiday through the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, despite earlier proclamations by Presidents Harrison and Roosevelt. The holiday was observed in 40 states and was meant to recognize immigrants' contributions to the United States.
The United States has 11 federal holidays, and all 50 states recognize only eight: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Tennessee recognizes 11 state holidays in 2026, but the calendar replaces Columbus Day in October with the Friday after Thanksgiving. Officially, Columbus Day is not a holiday in the state, and therefore, employees do not get the day off, despite it being a federal holiday.
When was the first Columbus Day?
According to the Library of Congress, the first recorded celebration in the United States took place on Oct. 12, 1792. The Society of St. Tammany organized it to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Columbus's landing.
Is Columbus Day controversial?
For some people, this holiday is controversial. The controversy stems from criticisms that Columbus embodied colonialism.
According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, "During the colonialism era, human values were at an all-time low and class stratification led to a hierarchical oppression that is bewildering to us today."
What's closed on Columbus Day?
As with most federal holidays, U.S. post offices will be closed, and there will be no mail delivery. Most banks will also be closed on the holiday, but Tennessee state government offices will be open.
Jordan Green covers trending news for The Commercial Appeal and Tennessee. She can be reached at jordan.green@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Is Columbus Day a holiday in Tennessee? Why workers won't get it off
