Monday, Sept. 6, 2021, is Labor Day. This day marks the end of the summer holidays, the beginning of fall activities, and big sales at many retail stores. It also has a much richer meaning behind it. Moreover, it’s a federal holiday, which means you might wonder, “is the post office open on Labor Day?”
When We Think of Labor Day
When we think of Labor Day, in the United States, we often immediately conjure up some of the following things:
- Three-day weekend. After all, Labor Day is always on the first Monday of September. Therefore, it’s always a three-day weekend for people who have Labor Day off of work.
- The end of summer holidays. While summer itself isn’t ending, yet, we tend to think of it this way. Why? Because most kids and college students return to school around this time of year. It marks the end of summer break for students.
- It’s also the start of fall activities. It’s kind of the last big celebration of lazy summer days, barbecues, picnics, etc. We anticipate football games and then a quick rush to Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the end-of-year holidays.
- Retail sales. A lot of big retailers are open on Labor Day. Moreover, they have huge Labor Day sales. Therefore, if you like to shop during sales, you might think of Labor Day in this way.
What Is Labor Day Really All About?
Labor Day is one of the federal holidays. It can’t just be about the end of summer break and the big stores’ sales, right? So what is Labor Day?
The Pioneer Woman explains that Labor Day is, as the name suggests, a day to celebrate the important history of laborers in America. On the first Monday of September in 1882, 10,000 New York City union leaders skipped their day at work and marched through the streets. They called it a holiday for the city’s “workingmen.” It became a big party with fireworks, a picnic, etc. And although it wasn’t officially deemed Labor Day at the time, history says this was the first Labor Day. The point, of course, was not just for fun and games. It was also to raise awareness about the terrible Industrial Revolution working conditions these people dealt with. After all, it was union laborers who started this day.
It took some time to catch on across the nation. However, in 1894, a nationwide railroad boycott drew widespread attention to the dangerous conditions that laborers often faced. In order to appease the angry American public, President Glover Cleveland officially designated Labor Day a federal holiday. Although we often forget its history, Labor Day remains a day to honor the workers, their rights, and what they go through on a day-to-day basis as they keep our country moving.
Labor Day 2021 is the second Labor Day during the COVID-19 pandemic. As workers of all types keep our nation going day-to-day, it’s a good time to pause for a moment and think about what Labor Day is really for.
Is The Post Office Open on Labor Day?
Once you know the history of Labor Day, it’s easier to answer the question, “is the post office open on Labor Day?” After all, it’s a day to honor the workers. It’s also a federal holiday. It should probably come as no surprise that the answer to the question is a resounding no.
The Post Office Closes for Federal Holidays
There are certain holidays throughout the year designated as formal federal holidays. For example, Independence Day was the most recent federal holiday. The next one is Labor Day. Then the one following that is Columbus Day. During federal holidays, most government services shut down and offices close. Of course, fire departments keep operating. However, anything that can safely shut down for a day typically does. Therefore, courthouses, law offices, and yes, the post office, close for federal holidays.
So, NO, the post office is not open on Labor Day.
Post Office Alternatives on Labor Day
Obviously, the post office isn’t your only choice for shipping things. FedEx and UPS are two common alternatives that people use. Those aren’t government services. Therefore, they don’t necessarily close for federal holidays. However, UPS and FedEx actually do both closes for Labor Day. Therefore, you can’t expect to use them for shipping either. They each do offer their own very specific expensive “last minute” type of services for some forms of shipping. Those services may be open for Labor Day. However, if you have any typical shipping to do, then plan to do it either before Labor Day or after Labor Day.
When To Go To The Post Office Near Labor Day
The post office officially closes for Labor Day only on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. However, post offices are closed on Sundays. Therefore, it’s also closed the day before Labor Day. Some post office locations are open on Saturdays, usually for shorter hours. If you know of a local post office with Saturday hours, then it will be open on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. Otherwise, make sure to get your shipping done by Friday, Sept. 3, 2021. Alternatively, wait until Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, when the post office reopens.
Does The Post Office Deliver Mail on Labor Day?
The United States Post Office closes entirely in celebration of Labor Day. Therefore, in addition to closing physical stores, they also give the mail delivery personnel the day off. Therefore, you won’t receive mail in your mailbox on Monday, Sept. 6, 2021. Like the post office’s other services, mail delivery will resume as normal on Tuesday.
Can I Buy Stamps on Labor Day?
If you usually buy your postage stamps at the post office, then you might be surprised to know that there are a lot of other places to buy stamps. You can often purchase stamps at grocery stores, convenience stores, big superstores, etc. Almost all of those places remain open on Labor Day. If all you need from the post office is a stamp to put on your letter and stick in the mailbox, then you’re in luck.
Read More:
- 2021 Federal Holiday Schedule
- Is the Post Office Open on Saturday and Sunday?
- Is Costco Open on Labor Day 2021?
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Kathryn Vercillo is a professional writer who loves to live a balanced life. She appreciates a good work-life balance. She enjoys balance in her relationships and has worked hard to learn how to balance her finances to allow for a balanced life overall. Although she’s only blonde some of the time, she’s always striving for total balance. She’s excited to share what she’s learned with you and to discover more together along the way.
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