President’s Day history
1. Washington’s BirthdayMost Americans celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22) on the third Monday in February. But it hasn’t always been that way — and in some states, it still isn’t. Just as some states have different laws governing short term loans for bad credit, some follow their own rules about Presidents Day.
The official name of the federal holiday that falls on the third Monday in February is Washington’s Birthday. According to Wikipedia, “A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, but this proposal failed in committee and the bill as voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968 kept the name Washington’s Birthday.”
2. Showing Lincoln some love
Though the official federal name of the holiday is still Washington’s Birthday, 12 states have officially renamed the day Presidents Day. Newspapers nationwide also use this term, as do most schools, and thus Presidents Day is actually the more commonly used and accepted name.
3. Massachusetts mania
In Massachusetts, the holiday is still called Washington’s Birthday. However, each year the governor issues a proclamation honoring all of the presidents from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy.
4. Oh what a state they’re in
Residents of New Jersey, Connecticut, Missouri and Illinois get an extra holiday. The federal holiday Washington’s Birthday is observed the third Monday of February, and they celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday on Feb. 12.
5. Thomas Jefferson was a Virginian
In Alabama, they celebrate Washington and Jefferson Day on the third Monday in February. Thomas Jefferson’s birthday is in April, and he wasn’t from Alabama.
6. Virginia is not impressed
Though Alabama went through the trouble of naming the holiday Washington and Jefferson Day, Jefferson’s home state of Virginia doesn’t share the sentiment. The holiday in Virginia is officially known as George Washington Day.
7. Now that’s a mouthful
Arkansas also has its own special name for the holiday: George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day. Daisy Gatson Bates was instrumental in ending segregation and establishing social programs in Arkansas in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.
8. They really love their presidents
In some areas, instead of closing for one day to celebrate Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays, they close for an entire week. One such place is the New York City School District.
9. Fair enough
In New Mexico, Presidents Day, as a state government paid holiday, is the day after Thanksgiving. I guess they just decided to move it to a more convenient time.
10. Washington and the Purple Heart
Washington conceived the Badge of Military Merit, for wounded soldiers, and won three during his term. The award wasn’t used again until it was revived and renamed the Purple Heart on his 200th birthday, in 1932.
President’s Day history
1. Washington’s BirthdayMost Americans celebrate the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22) on the third Monday in February. But it hasn’t always been that way — and in some states, it still isn’t. Just as some states have different laws governing short term loans for bad credit, some follow their own rules about Presidents Day.
The official name of the federal holiday that falls on the third Monday in February is Washington’s Birthday. According to Wikipedia, “A draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill of 1968 would have renamed the holiday to Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, but this proposal failed in committee and the bill as voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968 kept the name Washington’s Birthday.”
2. Showing Lincoln some love
Though the official federal name of the holiday is still Washington’s Birthday, 12 states have officially renamed the day Presidents Day. Newspapers nationwide also use this term, as do most schools, and thus Presidents Day is actually the more commonly used and accepted name.
3. Massachusetts mania
In Massachusetts, the holiday is still called Washington’s Birthday. However, each year the governor issues a proclamation honoring all of the presidents from Massachusetts: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy.
4. Oh what a state they’re in
Residents of New Jersey, Connecticut, Missouri and Illinois get an extra holiday. The federal holiday Washington’s Birthday is observed the third Monday of February, and they celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday on Feb. 12.
5. Thomas Jefferson was a Virginian
In Alabama, they celebrate Washington and Jefferson Day on the third Monday in February. Thomas Jefferson’s birthday is in April, and he wasn’t from Alabama.
6. Virginia is not impressed
Though Alabama went through the trouble of naming the holiday Washington and Jefferson Day, Jefferson’s home state of Virginia doesn’t share the sentiment. The holiday in Virginia is officially known as George Washington Day.
7. Now that’s a mouthful
Arkansas also has its own special name for the holiday: George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day. Daisy Gatson Bates was instrumental in ending segregation and establishing social programs in Arkansas in the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.
8. They really love their presidents
In some areas, instead of closing for one day to celebrate Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays, they close for an entire week. One such place is the New York City School District.
9. Fair enough
In New Mexico, Presidents Day, as a state government paid holiday, is the day after Thanksgiving. I guess they just decided to move it to a more convenient time.
10. Washington and the Purple Heart
Washington conceived the Badge of Military Merit, for wounded soldiers, and won three during his term. The award wasn’t used again until it was revived and renamed the Purple Heart on his 200th birthday, in 1932.
No comments:
Post a Comment