Was Inauguration Day once celebrated as a legal holiday (day off, etc.)?

It is a holiday, but only a federal holiday, This means that only federal workers around D.C observe the day. The only people that get off work are those affected by the day (like DC workers).

Nope not a holiday. It was the kind of thing that would have a teacher roll a TV into the classroom.

Inauguration Day is a federal holiday but not a “public holiday.” Federal, state, and local government workers in the DC area—those who are directly affected—observe the day. There’s a number of carpool lanes around DC that either switch direction or have tight rider limits during rush hour; those streets and highways will have their restrictions lifted.

Otherwise, the postal service will operate, and I haven’t heard about any banks or schools closing.

By the way, I’d hoped that this Friday’s inauguration would be hampered by bitter cold or buried in mountains of snow. No such luck; the forecast is for 55F/13C with a chance of rain. Oh, well… I’ve lived long enough to know that most of my dreams will never come true.

Inauguration day off but not election day? That seems weird.

I’ll be praying for a poetic lightning strike.

@cazzie “Inauguration day off but not election day?”

Most likely because an inauguration closes the streets and logjams the entire city, but an election does neither. But, given how few people are coming to DC on Friday… I read that Clinton had a whopping 14 inaugural balls, and Obama had 10; for Trump, it’s 3. So few people are buying tickets or traveling to attend.

“I’ll be praying for a poetic lightning strike.”

Pray with your entire heart and soul, my friend.

@cazzie: Many government workers have Election Day off.