What does observed stand for, in this context?

Question

Looking at an US calendar I saw that some holidays have the word: "observed". What does it mean? Here are some examples:

Octuber 11th - Columbus Day (Observed)

May 31st - Memorial Day (Observed)

Jaunary 19th - Martin Luther King Jr's. Birthday (Observed)

Answer 1

It means that the holiday (say Columbus Day, October 12) is actually on different date than the day off that people get. Often in the US, the holiday is celebrated on a Monday so people can take time off from work or school. So we say we "observe" the holiday on October 11 even through the real date of the holiday is October 12.

I was paying too much attention to the word observed, and not enough to what it might mean on a US calendar (not a school calendar) Gracias, good answer I think, LaBurra. ;) - jeezzle, Jun 11, 2011

Forgot to mention that observing the holiday on a Monday gives people a nice long weekend. I think that is the main motivation for it. - LaBurra, Jun 11, 2011

Gracias... :P - nelson_rafael, Feb 20, 2012

Answer 2

Hi, Nelson,

It would also automatically mean that those were federal holidays, during which banks, post offices and other federal buildings would be closed. (As opposed to Mother's Day, Arbor Day or minor religious holidays which are observed without the legal requirement of closings).

Gracias, Nancy - nelson_rafael, Feb 20, 2012

Answer 3

Hi Nelson

It means that those days are "respected" by whoever published the calender.

Similar to Bolivians observing the 21st and 23rd of June.

It usually means that people have a day off work or school.

Gracias sir. - nelson_rafael, Feb 20, 2012

Answer 4

Good one. It's a strange use of observe that we use like that. If it was a school calendar, I would think it meant that those days are days off, since that school observes those holidays and does everything associated with "having a holiday" on those days. (As opposed to being normal schooldays).

Gracias jeezzle. - nelson_rafael, Feb 20, 2012