Friday marks Halloween, and not everyone is sure of how the spooky day could impact their regularly scheduled mail.
Halloween is celebrated every year on October 31. While the day has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain as a way to guard against ghosts, it became connected to All Saints Day in the 8th century. All Hallows Eve, which is now Halloween, is one day before All Saints Day and is now a day to celebrate with trick-or-treating, costumes and jack-o-lanterns.
But could the day of festivities impact your mail?
It’s unlikely because the United States Postal Service will operate as usual on Halloween, so all packages should be delivered according to their normal schedule.
A United States Postal Service mailbox on September 12 in Miami, Florida. The USPS will to be open on Halloween.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
The USPS closes for 11 holidays. While Christmas, Veterans Day and Juneteenth could slow down your mail, Halloween will not.
That means hours will be as usual, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. depending on your location.
Later in the year, the USPS plans to close for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving in November and then again on Christmas in December.
When the USPS does shut down, Americans are still usually able to purchase stamps, boxes and supplies online.
FedEx will also deliver as usual on Halloween. That includes FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery.
Even on holidays, FedEx offers SameDay service available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
UPS will also deliver your packages on Halloween. The company shuts down for only a few holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
UPS stores tend to operate from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., but it could vary based on your location.
Banks will also operate according to their regular schedules. That includes Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank, as well as digital banking services and ATMs.
Typically, banks and mail services do not close unless a day is recognized as a federal holiday, which Halloween is not.
Retailers and grocery stores should also remain open for Halloween. Restaurants often offer special deals for the spooky season, so you should inquire about potential offerings.
At Chipotle, for instance, you can get a $6 entree if you are a member of the Chipotle Rewards loyalty program and wear a costume to the store.
Meanwhile, Grubhub will be offering special Halloween deals, including a free whopper at Burger King (with a $20 minimum purchase) and $7 off Pizza Hut orders of $30 or more.
7-Eleven also offers a buy one, get one free pizza for 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members.
