Monday, November 11 is Veterans Day.

The annual holiday in November is designed to recognize and honor U.S. military personnel and their service.

The celebration was first established as “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919 and was intended to commemorate the end of World War I.

Congress later passed a resolution declaring it an annual commemoration in 1926. And in 1938, Armistice Day was considered a national holiday.

But is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

You might be surprised to learn that there is a difference between a national holiday and a federal holiday.

A national holiday is recognized by most businesses, retailers and the government. However, a federal holiday is a holiday that the government specifically designates for federal institutions and their employees.

For example, the U.S. Post Office is a government agency and therefore opens and closes accordingly on federal holidays.

There are eleven federal holidays each year when the U.S. Post Office and other institutions are closed, as are most schools and banks. Find out what they are and whether Veterans Day is considered a federal holiday.

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

After being declared a national holiday in 1938, Armistice Day was commemorated annually until President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the honor to all persons in military service who have served their country, both in peacetime and in war.

Renamed “Veterans Day,” the holiday was signed into law and declared a federal holiday in 1954.

So yes, Veterans Day is a federal holiday, meaning a majority of government agencies and institutions – as well as schools and banks – are closed in honor of the day.

How is Veterans Day commemorated?

In honor of Veterans Day, many communities, towns and cities organize parades, services and other commemorations to honor veterans. There is also a ceremony every year at Arlington National Cemetery, during which a wreath is placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m.

Many restaurants and businesses across the country celebrate this day by offering special discounts and free food to service men and women, and citizens often show their support by flying flags and observing a moment of silence to remember the fallen honor.

What are the other federal holidays?

In addition to Veterans Day, ten other federal holidays are celebrated each year. They are:

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Presidents’ Day
• Remembrance Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas Day