Current:Home > Contact-usWhat's open on Presidents Day? From Costco to the U.S. Postal Service, here's what's open and closed.-LoTradeCoin
What's open on Presidents Day? From Costco to the U.S. Postal Service, here's what's open and closed.
View Date:2024-12-23 21:07:42
Presidents Day is celebrated in the U.S. on the third Monday of February, a day set aside to commemorate the birthdays of both President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.
Over the years, the federal holiday has shifted into a commercial event, with many retailers offering sales on Presidents Day to tempt shoppers to open their wallets after the Christmas holidays.
That occurred after Presidents Day was shifted permanently to the third Monday in February in the early 1970s, creating a permanent three-day weekend. As a result, sales campaigns soared, historian C. L. Arbelbide wrote in the National Archives' Prologue magazine in 2004.
"For advertisers, the Monday holiday change was the goose that laid the golden 'promotional' egg," Arbelbide noted. "Using Labor Day marketing as a guide, three-day weekend sales were expanded to include the new Monday holidays."
Here's what to know about Presidents Day, which falls on February 19 this year, including what's open and closed.
What is Presidents Day?
The official name of the Presidents Day holiday is Washington's Birthday, created to mark George Washington's Feb. 22, 1732 birthday.
Over the years, the holiday has come to be known informally as Presidents Day. Arguments have been made to honor President Lincoln as well because his birthdate falls nearby, on February 12.
A small number of states, including Illinois, observe Lincoln's birthday as a public holiday, according to the Library of Congress. And some commemorate both Lincoln and Washington on Presidents Day.
But on the federal level, the day is still officially Washington's Birthday.
Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?
Yes, Presidents Day is one of 12 federal holidays celebrated in the United States.
Are stores open on Presidents Day?
Generally, yes.
Retailers have transformed the holiday into a commercial bonanza, dangling sales to lure shoppers to their stores and websites. Presidents Day is especially known for sales on mattresses, furniture and other home goods, although retailers ranging from Amazon to Nike are offering sales today.
To see some of the best sales found by CBS Essentials, click here.
Is Costco open on Presidents Day?
Costco shuts its doors on seven major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
But the warehouse retailer is open on Presidents Day, as the February 19 holiday isn't one of the seven Costco observes.
Does the U.S. Postal Service deliver mail on Presidents Day?
Because Presidents Day is a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service is not delivering mail on February 19, nor will its retail locations be open for stamp purchases or other transactions.
Is the stock market open on Presidents Day?
The U.S. stock market is closed on Presidents Day, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
However, markets in other countries are open today, including in Europe and China.
Are banks open on Presidents Day?
February 19 is also a holiday for the federal banking system, according to the Federal Reserve. Because of that, most major U.S. banks will close their retail branches on Monday, although ATMs and online banking will be available.
— With reporting by the Associated Press.
- In:
- Presidents Day
Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.
TwitterveryGood! (2)
Related
- Inflation ticked up in October, CPI report shows. What happens next with interest rates?
- 1 complaint led a Florida school to restrict access to Amanda Gorman's famous poem
- Tina Turner's happy ending
- Why Louis Tomlinson Was “Mortified” After One Direction’s Breakup
- Shaboozey to headline halftime show of Lions-Bears game on Thanksgiving
- Why Selena Gomez Was Too “Ashamed” to Stay in Touch With Wizards of Waverly Place Co-Stars
- Remembering acclaimed editor Robert Gottlieb
- How composer Nicholas Britell created the sound of 'Succession'
- Mike Tyson emerges as heavyweight champ among product pitchmen before Jake Paul fight
- Nuevos y destacados podcasts creados por latinos en medios públicos que debes escuchar
Ranking
- A Pipeline Runs Through It
- Juilliard fires former chair after sexual misconduct investigation
- How Hailie Jade’s Fiancé Evan Asked Eminem for His Blessing to Get Engaged
- 20 sharks found dead after killer whales' surgical feeding frenzy
- How Jersey Shore's Sammi Sweetheart Giancola's Fiancé Justin May Supports Her on IVF Journey
- Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles airport due to turbulence
- Peruvian man found with centuries-old mummy in his cooler bag. He called the corpse Juanita, my spiritual girlfriend.
- In 'Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge,' Helen Ellis' home life takes center stage
Recommendation
-
Messi breaks silence on Inter Miami's playoff exit. What's next for his time in the US?
-
These are the winners of this year's James Beard Awards, the biggest night in food
-
He once had motor skill challenges. Now he's the world's fastest Rubik's cube solver
-
Archaeologists in Egypt unearth Sphinx-like Roman-era statue
-
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly decline, shrugging off Wall Street’s overnight rally
-
Dakota Johnson Is 50 Shades of Chic at Milan Fashion Week
-
Tony Awards 2023: Here's the list of major winners with photos
-
25th Anniversary Spectacular, Part III!