With fall officially here, it’s time to start marking the date of the next federal holiday on our calendars.
On 10 October, those living in the US will observe the eighth federal holiday of the year, otherwise known as Indigenious Peoples’ Day or Columbus Day. The holiday is observed on the second Monday in October, and used to celebrate Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas on 12 October 1492.
However, the day was renamed Indigenious Peoples Day in 1992 amid criticism over Columbus’ role in history, as many claimed he should not be celebrated for bringing disease and strife into the Native communities living in the Americas.
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The date, which now honours Native American individuals, will see many Americans receive the day off as a federal holiday.
First introduced by Congress in 1885 when it was decided that federal employees should have certain days off from work, the list of US federal holidays is made up of 11 days of significance that Americans recognise – and celebrate.
While employees in the private sector may or may not get the day off, depending on their employer, a federal holiday means that non-essential federal government offices are closed and banks, post offices and schools may also be closed.
From Memorial Day to Thanksgiving, these are the dates of the 2022 federal holidays.
2022 federal holidays:
New Year’s Day: Saturday, January 1 (Observed Friday, December 31)
Martin Luther King Jr Day: Monday, January 17
President’s Day: Monday, February 21
Memorial Day: Monday, May 30
Juneteenth: Sunday, June 19 (Observed Monday, June 20)
Independence Day: Monday, July 4
Labor Day: Monday, September 5
Indigenous Peoples’ Day (also observed as Columbus Day): Monday, October 10
Veterans’ Day: Friday, November 11
Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 24
Christmas Day: Sunday, December 25 (Observed Monday, December 26)
Other important days to note:
Valentine’s Day: Monday, February 14
St Patrick’s Day: Thursday, March 17
Good Friday: Friday, April 15
Easter: Sunday, April 17
