This post was originally published on this site
Happy turkey day!
Yes, Thanksgiving is Thursday. The holiday has been recognized by the federal government since 1870, though President Abraham Lincoln encouraged Americans to recognize a November “day of Thanksgiving” in 1863, and President George Washington issued a proclamation for “a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” on Nov. 26, 1789.
Now, of course, there’s another “holiday” on the day after Thanksgiving — namely, the shopping extravaganza known as Black Friday.
Read more: Is the stock market open on Black Friday? Thanksgiving week trading hours for major assets.
So, what will be open (or closed) on Black Friday? For starters, U.S. stock exchanges will be closed on Thanksgiving and will have shortened hours on Black Friday, with trading stopping at 1 p.m. Eastern on Friday. Beyond that, here are some things to keep in mind.
Mail and packages
The United States Postal Service (USPS) will not be delivering mail on Thanksgiving, but service will resume on Black Friday. Fedex will not offer service on Thanksgiving, either, except for “Custom Critical” deliveries, and FedEx will have modified service on Black Friday. UPS will also not deliver on Thanksgiving, except for “Express Critical” items, but the company says delivery and pickup services will be available again on Black Friday.
Banks
Banks are generally closed on Thanksgiving (though you can always visit an ATM or use your banking app). But they will be open on Black Friday, according to GoBankingRates.
Government offices
Since Thanksgiving is indeed a federal holiday, all non-essential federal government offices are closed (and the same generally applies to state government offices).
Black Friday is not a federal holiday. But it is a state holiday in more than 20 states, according to the OfficeHolidays website, so check with your local listings.
Schools
Schools are closed on Thanksgiving, and most are closed on Black Friday, as well, but it’s best to check with your local district to be sure.
Stores
While many stores had started opening on Thanksgiving as a way to push Black Friday sales early, that trend appears to be reversing. Most major department stores are now closed on Thanksgiving, although the Washington Post notes that select “national and regional grocery chains, dollar stores and pharmacies” are open, but with adjusted hours. (Think stores like CVS
CVS,
Family Dollar
DLTR,
and Whole Foods
AMZN,
)
Black Friday, of course, is a big shopping day, with some stores opening as early as 5 a.m. Check with individual stores to find exact hours.
