does anyone in the private sector have Columbus Day off?

[pstokely]

It's a state holiday here, but the schools are still in session

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

1. Banks and some times other firms who work a lot with banks. nt

[unblock]

2. i do this year.

normally we get veteran's/armistice day and the friday after thanksgiving but not columbus day.

this year, 11/11 falls on a weekend, so we get columbus day off instead.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. Not I, but I question why we celebrate Columbus?

He ain't no Amerigo Vespucci.

[maxsolomon]

4. the Knights of Columbus

got it instituted to celebrate Italian heritage.

[HipChick]

5. He was a murderer and rapist...

[maxsolomon]

6. that probably wasn't widely known when the day was instituted

I'd imagine Italians were looking for a way to ingratiate themselves with "white" America when they picked him.

but yes, he was a murderer and rapist. there aren't many figures in our continent's exploration history that come off well.

[HipChick]

9. For that era, I suspect not

But states are beginning to do away with it..

[smirkymonkey]

7. No, our company is regional. We did when I worked in NYC, but not in MA.

OH gets Good Friday off, but many other states don't. MA used to get Patriot's Day off, but now it's an elective holiday and we get an extra personal day. We are global, so different sites get different holidays off.

[MyNameIsKhan]

8. nope