The origins of Memorial Day and what’s open, closed, explained

Memorial Day is officially dedicated to honoring the nation’s fallen military heroes, but for many Americans, the holiday has evolved into a long weekend marking the unofficial arrival of summer. While the day is synonymous with travel and retail sales, the core purpose remains rooted in somber remembrance.

Holiday Logistics: What is Open and Closed

Most retailers and grocery stores remain open on the holiday. A notable exception is Costco, which will be closed for the day. Most government offices, banks, and schools are also shuttered on Monday, May 25, 2026, with regular operations expected to resume on Tuesday.

A Day of Remembrance

According to the Congressional Research Service, the day serves as a time for national reflection. To foster this spirit of remembrance, the National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause for a moment of silence at 3 p.m.

Historical Roots

The holiday originated in the wake of the American Civil War, a conflict that claimed over 600,000 lives. The first national observance, then known as Decoration Day, took place on May 30, 1868, as Union veterans organized efforts to place flowers on the graves of those lost in battle.

While the exact birthplace of the holiday is debated, the practice was widespread early on. Waterloo, New York, is formally recognized as the birthplace, though Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, traces its origins back to October 1864. Additionally, Yale history professor David Blight points to a significant May 1, 1865, tribute in Charleston, South Carolina, where thousands—many of them Black—honored Union soldiers buried in a mass grave by moving them to individual, marked resting places.

Evolution and Controversy

The transformation of Memorial Day into a day of leisure has faced criticism for over a century. As early as 1869, The New York Times warned that the day could lose its sacred meaning if it became dominated by dinners and speeches. Abolitionist Frederick Douglass also used the day in 1871 to remind Americans of the war's true cause, stating, “We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation’s destroyers.”

Despite these warnings, cultural shifts took hold. By the 1880s, the holiday’s tone began to drift, and by 1971, Congress moved the observance to the last Monday in May to create a permanent three-day weekend. This shift cemented the holiday's dual identity as both a time for remembrance and a period for social gatherings, as the tradition became increasingly intertwined with the five-day work week, automobile travel, and a growing list of commercial interests.