Naughty Nicole: The Story of President's Day
On Today’s episode of The World In My Eyes we’re talking President’s Day, and just what the hell ...
Renegade Talk Radio · Renegade Talk Radio
February 20, 201713m 6sExplicit
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Show Notes
On Today’s episode of The World In My Eyes we’re talking President’s Day, and just what the hell is this weird holiday in the middle of February anyway? Back in the good old school days, February was an important month — not just because it included the eagerly-anticipated Valentine’s Day, but because even though it was the shortest month of the year, it contained two holidays. Usually combined with a Teacher’s Day, you would get two school-free days for the kids and terrific bargains on bedding, linen, and towels at department store white sales. What wasn’t to like about February?
Nowadays, though, many of us — whether we be employees or students — don’t get any weekdays off at all in February, or we’re offered a single holiday that falls on the third Monday in February and is neither Lincoln’s nor Washington’s Birthday but some hybrid known as “Presidents’ Day.” What happened to our traditional February holidays? And just what the heck are we commemorating on “Presidents’ Day”?
Some of us think we’re observing George Washington’s Birthday; some of us think we’re celebrating the combined birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (formerly separate holidays conveniently smashed into one), and some of us think we’re honoring the memory of all U.S. presidents past and present. So what the hell is President’s Day anyway?
Throughout the 19th century, George Washington was the towering figure of U.S. history to the American public. In honor of the man who commanded the Continental Army and led the American colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War, served as first President of the United States of America, and earned the moniker “Father of Our Country,” Washington’s Birthday, February 22, was celebrated with more patriotic fervor than any holiday save the Fourth of July.
Accordingly, the observance of Washington’s Birthday was made official in 1885 when President Chester Alan Arthur signed a bill establishing it as a federal holiday. (Washington was actually born on February 11, 1732, under the Julian calendar in effect at the time he was born, but his birth date is reckoned as February 22 under the Gregorian calendar which was adopted in 1752.)
Nowadays, though, many of us — whether we be employees or students — don’t get any weekdays off at all in February, or we’re offered a single holiday that falls on the third Monday in February and is neither Lincoln’s nor Washington’s Birthday but some hybrid known as “Presidents’ Day.” What happened to our traditional February holidays? And just what the heck are we commemorating on “Presidents’ Day”?
Some of us think we’re observing George Washington’s Birthday; some of us think we’re celebrating the combined birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln (formerly separate holidays conveniently smashed into one), and some of us think we’re honoring the memory of all U.S. presidents past and present. So what the hell is President’s Day anyway?
Throughout the 19th century, George Washington was the towering figure of U.S. history to the American public. In honor of the man who commanded the Continental Army and led the American colonies to victory in the Revolutionary War, served as first President of the United States of America, and earned the moniker “Father of Our Country,” Washington’s Birthday, February 22, was celebrated with more patriotic fervor than any holiday save the Fourth of July.
Accordingly, the observance of Washington’s Birthday was made official in 1885 when President Chester Alan Arthur signed a bill establishing it as a federal holiday. (Washington was actually born on February 11, 1732, under the Julian calendar in effect at the time he was born, but his birth date is reckoned as February 22 under the Gregorian calendar which was adopted in 1752.)
Topics
president'sdaypresidentwashingtonlincolnholidaygovernment