Post offices, most banks close Oct. 12 for Columbus Day
Post offices will close and regular mail won't be delivered Monday, Oct. 12, for the federal Columbus Day holiday, the Postal Service says. Most banks and federal offices also close, but the stock market stays open. Many cities, including Boston, mark the day as Indigenous Peoples Day.
Monday, Oct. 12, is a federal holiday, so plan ahead for mail, banking and errands.
All post offices will be closed Monday, the U.S. Postal Service said. Regular mail delivery and counter service will pick back up Tuesday, Oct. 13. You can still buy stamps, order free boxes, hold your mail or print shipping labels at usps.com. Self-service kiosks in some post office lobbies let you weigh and mail packages, and many are open around the clock.
Federal offices and federal courts will be closed, WBUR reported. Most banks will close too, so check with your branch. The stock market will be open.
In Massachusetts, state offices, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, state courts, public schools and libraries will close, WBUR reported. Supermarkets will be open, but other stores in the state generally stay closed until noon. Boston's MBTA subway and buses will run on a Saturday schedule. Rules for state and local offices, schools and trash pickup vary from place to place, so check with your town.
The holiday goes by two names. The federal government and Massachusetts call it Columbus Day, after Christopher Columbus, who sailed in 1492. Boston, Cambridge and Somerville call it Indigenous Peoples Day, to honor the people who lived on the land long before he arrived. Worcester uses both names. A 1991 children's song by Nancy Schimmel sums up the debate: "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. It was a courageous thing to do, but someone was already here."
The long weekend also brings peak leaf color to parts of northern New England, including New Hampshire's western White Mountains, the state's foliage report says. High pressure should keep most of the region dry into Saturday, the Boston Globe forecast.
What we know: Post offices, federal offices and most banks close Monday, while the stock market stays open.
What we don't: Each town's plan for trash pickup and local offices, which differs by place.
Where outlets agree The Postal Service and WBUR both say post offices will be closed Monday, Oct. 12.
Where they differ The federal government and Massachusetts call Monday Columbus Day, while Boston, Cambridge and Somerville call it Indigenous Peoples Day.