Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a period of fasting and reflection observed by many Christians. While it is a significant religious day, it is not a federal holiday in the United States, meaning businesses, government offices, and mail services generally remain open. However, some shipping services observe limited operations on related days, such as Good Friday.
Why It Matters
For those expecting mail or package deliveries on Ash Wednesday, knowing which carriers operate as usual can help plan shipments and avoid confusion.
While USPS, FedEx and UPS all maintain regular service on Ash Wednesday, their schedules do adjust for certain religious and federal holidays, which can impact shipping timelines.
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Is Mail Delivered on Ash Wednesday?
Since Ash Wednesday is not a designated federal holiday, mail operations should continue as normal. Some delivery carriers may have amended hours for related holidays, such as Good Friday. It’s best to check with your local post office, FedEx or UPS to know whether or not services are being disrupted for any major holiday.
Is the Post Office Open Today?
Yes, the post office is open on Ash Wednesday. Since the observance of this religious holiday is not officially recognized as a federal holiday, postal services should continue as normal.
USPS, UPS, FedEx Deliveries
The United States Postal Service (USPS) follows the federal holiday calendar and remains open on Ash Wednesday. Post offices operate under regular business hours, and all mail and package deliveries proceed as scheduled. However, USPS does close on federal holidays such as Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day. Good Friday is also not recognized as a federal holiday, meaning postal services will still be available.
You can get a full list of USPS closures on its holidays and events page.
FedEx operates normally on Ash Wednesday across all service levels, including FedEx Express, Ground and Home Delivery. However, some services observe modifications on Good Friday, the Saturday before Easter and Easter Sunday, key dates in the Lenten season.
According to the FedEx 2025 Holiday Service Schedule, Good Friday may see early on-call pickups and modified drop box hours in select locations. Customers should verify with their local FedEx Office for specific service adjustments.
UPS also follows a standard schedule on Ash Wednesday. According to the UPS Holiday Schedule, there are no service interruptions, and all pickup and delivery operations continue as usual. Different UPS locations may observe different holiday hours and operations. Customers are encouraged to check with their local UPS Store for exact details.
What People Are Saying
UPS notes on their UPS holiday schedule page: “UPS is closed on New Year’s (Jan 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 20), Independence Day (July 4), Thanksgiving (Nov 27), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). UPS Express Critical® service is still available.”
FedEx notes on its holiday shipping schedule and details page: “Need to know if FedEx delivers on a holiday? Checking to see what days FedEx is open for package pickup and drop off during the holiday season? Choose a holiday below for all the answers. For global delivery information, visit our international holiday schedule.”
What’s Next
The next major disruptions to mail and package delivery will occur on upcoming federal holidays such as Memorial Day and Independence Day, when places like USPS close entirely. Those planning shipments should keep these dates in mind to avoid delays.
For the most up-to-date holiday service schedules, customers should consult USPS, FedEx and UPS directly through their official websites.