National Day of Mourning: What is it, and how will it impact you?
(NEXSTAR) — You can skip your trip to the mailbox and your check-in on the stock market on Thursday: Various services nationwide will be paused in honor of the National Day of Mourning established for President Jimmy Carter. Carter, 100, died "peacefully" at his Georgia home on Dec. 29.
To pay tribute to the longest-living American president, and in accordance with federal law, President Joe Biden previously declared Jan. 9, 2025, as a National Day of Mourning.
"I call on the American people to assemble on that day in their respective places of worship, there to pay homage to the memory of President James Earl Carter, Jr.," Biden said in his Dec. 29 proclamation.
Here's what you will — and won't — see on Thursday.
What is a National Day of Mourning?
Not to be confused with the National Day of Mourning that occurs on Thanksgiving, Thursday's National Day of Mourning is meant to give people space to pay their respects to Carter.
Carter's funeral will be held on the same day at Washington National Cathedral.
As part of his executive order, Biden has ordered "all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for James Earl Carter, Jr." For federal employees, Thursday will be a paid day off.
Will the mail be delivered on Thursday?
As with other federal holidays, U.S. Postal Services will largely be unavailable on Thursday.
The U.S. Postal Service says all post offices will be closed and regular mail will not be delivered. There will, however, be "limited package delivery service" on Jan. 9.
Will anything else be closed?
Yes, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close U.S. markets in observance of the National Day of Mourning.
The Supreme Court, federal courts, and the Library of Congress will also be closed, the New York Times reports.
The National Park Service says its parks and visitor centers will "generally be open and available, but administrative offices will be closed." If you are planning to visit a national park site on Thursday, NPS recommends checking that park's website for any additional impacts.
All sites within Jimmy Carter National Historical Park in Plains, Georgia, will have extended hours through Thursday, according to park officials.
What about banks?
Unlike other federal holidays, banks and other businesses are not required to close for Thursday's National Day of Mourning. If you are concerned about a bank's or business's hours, you may want to call ahead or check online.
Will flags still fly at half-staff?
Yes, and they won't return to full staff for some time.
Flags fly at half-staff for 30 days from the death of a sitting or former president under a 1954 proclamation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. For Carter, flags will fly at half-staff until Jan. 28.
That also means the flags will still be at half-staff during President-elect Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.
"Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it," Trump wrote on Truth Social last week. "Let's see how it plays out."
As The Hill previously reported, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House would not consider reversing or reevaluating the half-staff plans.
Trump previously said he will attend Carter's funeral.