The
third Monday of February is known as Presidents Day, which means that this
year, the Presidents Day will be celebrated on the 15th of February.
This is the year when all the past and current presidents are honored and their
exemplary work is appreciated.
It
is the federal holiday and was originally declared in 1885 to recognize the work
of President George Washington. What’s the history of the holiday and how it
will be different this year – all will be discussed below!
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Most
people believe that the Presidents Day is the day to celebrate the
contributions of noble American presidents like Abraham Lincoln and George
Washington. But today, the day is much more than that. Currently, the day is
popular for acknowledging the work of all US presidents – both past and
present. We ignite American legacy.
Before
we further reveal the importance of Presidents Day, make sure to like our pageon Facebook.
Washington’s Birthday
Don’t
you want to know how the story of Presidents Day unraveled? Well, for this, you
have to go back to 1799 – following the death of George Washington. In 1800,
the US honored the President’s birthday on February 22.
Of
course, he was the most important figure in American history at the time. His
significance was later proven by the construction of his monument in 1848 and
his centennial of birth in 1832. He was a celebrated American hero, who enjoyed
several unofficial observances throughout 1800s.
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However,
it wasn’t until 1870s till it became a national holiday. It was Sen. Stephen
Wallace Dorsey who proposed the arrangement, and in 1979, President Rutherford
B. Hayes signed it.
In
the early days, the federal holiday was only applicable in the District of
Columbia. In 1885, the holiday became national and joined the ranks of Christmas
Day, New Year’s Day, Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving.
So
when did the shift from Washington’s Birthday to Presidents Day occur? Well, in
1960s Congress proposed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which altered the
celebration of a number of federal holidays.
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This
proposition was seen as a means to create more three-day weekends for the
workers of the country. This way, most holidays fell on the same week day and
played a crucial role in reducing employee absenteeism. Several private sector
and labor unions supported this step and eventually the bill was passed.
According
to this, Uniform Monday Holiday Act, the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln
fell on the same day(February 12). In Illinois, a lot of people celebrated
Lincoln’s birthday. This way, one day was decided to recognize the prolific
lives of America’s beloved statesmen.
The
Act was passed in 1968 and came into effect in 1971 after President Richard M.
Nixon signed the executive order. Due to this order, the birthday of President
Washington was shifted to February 22nd – third Monday of February.
After this step, the dates of Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day were
also moved. This came with its own setbacks because, in 1980— after immense
criticism— the Veterans Day returned to its actual date, November 11th.
Since
it’s a federal holiday, most banks and schools are closed to observe the
important day. In addition, the New York Stock Exchange, along with NASDAQ, is
also closed for trade. On the Presidents Day, post offices are also closed and
several non-essential federal workers enjoy a day off.
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Presidents
Day is basically another day to feel patriotic and celebrate the great American
civilization. It’s the day, like Independence Day, to celebrate and rejoice
American accomplishments and remember the lost souls. The holiday held a deep
meaning in times of the Great Depression – giant portraits of George Washington
used to grace the front pages of every magazine.
In
1932, Purple Heart was reinstated on the birthday of George Washington. It is
essentially a military décor that was created by George Washington to honor the
soldiers lost in the war. You can find a number of patriotic groups and Boy
Scouts celebrating the day with full enthusiasm.
In
1938, approximately 5000 people attended a mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to
honor George Washington.
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Today,
Presidents Day is basically another holiday where you reminisce the golden period
of American history. Historical groups stage celebrations and reenact past
events and lost heroes. This year, the Presidents Day might be unique for
several reasons.
First
of all, we can’t celebrate in crowds due to the social distancing policies.
We’re encountering one of the worst economic conditions and social conflicts.
It’s a tough time considering we witnessed a massive attack on the White House
just a few weeks ago. We’re going to restore love, peace, and unity on the
Presidents Day this year and make it the one to remember for years to come!
America
sure has a sense of freedom in the air ever since the inauguration, so let’s
see if there will be special sales, like car sales at the President’s Day
event. Are you excited?
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