National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day

National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day, observed on September 7, honors the dedication of postal workers who deliver letters and packages despite challenging weather and difficult conditions. The name comes from the familiar phrase associated with the United States Postal Service: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

This observance is an opportunity to recognize the important role postal workers play in keeping people, businesses, and communities connected. On September 7, take a moment to appreciate the dependable service behind every delivery—and the commitment it takes to keep the mail moving, whatever the forecast may bring.

**National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day**, observed on **September 7**, honors the dedication of postal workers and the enduring importance of mail delivery in connecting communities. Although it is not a federal public holiday and does not generally involve the closure of post offices, the observance provides an opportunity to recognize the people who deliver letters, packages, medications, ballots, and other essential items in difficult conditions.

The phrase behind the observance comes from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. In *The Histories*, written in the fifth century BCE, Herodotus described the courier system of the Persian Empire and praised its riders with a passage commonly translated as: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” The words were not originally written about the United States Postal Service. They later became closely associated with American mail delivery after an abbreviated version was inscribed above the entrance of New York City’s James A. Farley Post Office.

Over time, the quotation became an informal expression of postal perseverance rather than an official motto adopted by the Postal Service. Its association with the James A. Farley building, a major postal facility in Manhattan, helped give it a prominent place in American popular culture. The modern observance on **September 7** builds on that cultural connection by celebrating the reliability, public service, and physical effort involved in maintaining mail networks across cities, rural areas, and remote regions.

The day also reflects the broader historical role of postal systems. For centuries, dependable couriers supported government administration, commerce, journalism, personal correspondence, and the spread of ideas. In the United States, postal workers have continued that function through technological and social change, from horse-drawn routes and railway mail cars to trucks, aircraft, automated processing, and parcel delivery. National Neither Snow Nor Rain Day therefore serves as a lighthearted but meaningful tribute to a longstanding public service—and to the workers who continue making their rounds despite challenging weather.