Memorial Day, a federal holiday held the last Monday in May, is recognized this year on Monday, May 26. Most local and federal government offices are closed but many retail stores are open.
Memorial Day was originally known as “Decoration Day,” and originated in the years following the Civil War, according to history.com. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, when Richard Nixon was president.
Unlike other holidays that serve as a celebration, Memorial Day is intended to mourn and honor those who died while serving in the United States’ military through the years, according to the National Cemetery Administration.
The official proclamation calls on Americans “to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace; designating a period of time on Memorial Day during which the people may unite in prayer for a permanent peace; calling on the people of the United States to unite in prayer at that time; and calling on the media to join in observing Memorial Day and the period of prayer.”
Many observe the day by attending local parades or visiting cemeteries and memorials. Some Massachusetts communities are offering a fireworks display.
“Some people wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war — a tradition that began with a World War I poem,” according to history.com.
Memorial Day also unofficially marks the beginning of summer, although the weather forecast for this year’s holiday leans more spring than summer. Summer officially starts June 20, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
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What’s open and closed on Memorial Day 2025
Federal and state courts: Closed
Federal offices: Closed
State offices: Closed
Municipal offices: Closed
Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
Libraries: Closed
Public schools: Closed
Finance
The New York Stock Exchange and the Dow Jones: Closed
Banks: Most bank branches will be closed, but please check with your local bank.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
Liquor stores: Open
Cannabis dispensaries: Massachusetts regulators don’t identify specific holidays when cannabis dispensaries must close, according to the Cannabis Control Commission, so the decision to open Monday is up to the store.
Shopping
Retail stores: Most retail stores will be open, but please check with your local retailer.
Stop & Shop: Open
Auburn Mall: Open
Holyoke Mall: Open
Hampshire Mall: Open
Natick Mall: Open
Big Y: Open
Market Basket: Open
Price Rite: Open
Star Market: Open
Walmart: Open
Target: Open
Wegmans: Open, but pharmacy is closed
Costco: Closed
CVS: Open, although check your store for specific holiday hours.
Walgreens: Open
Aldi: Open, although check your store for specific holiday hours.
Whole Foods: Open, although check your store for specific holiday hours.
Trader Joe’s: Open
Whole Foods Market store and sign located on Russell Street in Hadley in 2024.Kalina Kornacki
Parcel
U.S. Post offices: Closed
FedEx: Closed
UPS: No pickup or delivery service and stores may be closed, but the UPS website encourages customers to check your local store for information.
Transportation
MBTA: The subway and buses will run on a Sunday schedule. The RIDE will run on a Saturday schedule and the commuter rail will run on a weekend schedule, the agency wrote on its website. No ferry service Hingham to Boston. Hingham/Hull/Logan to Boston will run on a Sunday schedule. The following ferries will run on a weekend schedule: East Boston, Charlestown, Lynn, Winthrop and Quincy. The Charlie Service Center is closed.
Worcester RTA: There is no service on Memorial Day, according to therta.com.
Merrimack Valley RTA: There will be no bus or van service on May 26, according to mvrta.com.
MetroWest RTA: There will be no fixed route or Dial-a-ride on Memorial Day. The Catch Connect service is on a modified schedule: Wellesley, Framingham and Natick, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., according to mwrta.com.
Lowell RTA: There will be no fixed bus route and road runner ADA paratransit service, lrta.com reported.
