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Today is the third Monday of February, which means that today is President’s Day. Well, technically the federal government celebrates the day as ‘Washington’s Birthday,’ but over time other presidents have been granted membership in what is now a collective holiday. The problem is that even though this day is recognized throughout the country without exception, it is not called the same thing everywhere. We can’t even agree on a proper spelling when we do call the day “President’s Day.” Depending on who you ask, ‘Presidents’ Day,’ ‘President’s Day,’ and ‘Presidents Day,’ could all be considered correct. This matters little, however. The average American views President’s Day simply as a three-day weekend and a chance to find a great deal on a new car.
Washington’s Birthday has been a federal holiday since 1880. Initially it was limited to workers in the Washington, D.C. area, but in 1885 it was expanded to include the rest of the country. George Washington’s birthday is on February 22nd, and the holiday used to be celebrated on that date regardless of what day of the week it fell on. This went on until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1971, pushing the holiday to the Monday during the week of Washington’s birthday. This was done to give federal employees a proper three-day weekend, instead of having a random day off in the middle of the week.
Bestowing the title of ‘President’s Day’ on Washington’s birthday seemed like a good way to honor the birthdays of several ex-Presidents that fall closely together on the calendar. Besides Washington, the main concern was the need to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday(February 12). Even thought The Great Emancipator’s birthday was never an official federal holiday, his contribution to our country’s history entitles a day to be named for him as much as anyone else. Yet much to our collective disappointment, there is no room in the calendar for a holiday in each week, so President’s Day has become the compromise.
It is interesting to note that the title of “President’s Day” gained significance in no small part to advertisers. The holiday that was once set aside to celebrate the people who have led our country since its inception is now a marketing gimmick. This trend began in the mid-’80s, and the fact that it is still with us today means that it works. Car dealers benefit the most, as any dealership that intends to stay in business hosts a massive, weekend-long President’s Day sale. At what other time of year can you buy a new car that comes with a free 32″ television? One has nothing to do with the other, unless its President’s Day and you have a lot full of cars that need to be sold.
Presidents’ Day isn’t even uniformly celebrated in the same way in the United States. Massachusetts officially celebrates Washington’s birthday on the same day as the federal holiday, but state law also directs the governor to issue “Presidents Day” proclamation on May 29 of each year, honoring ex-presidents John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge, and John F. Kennedy, who all have roots in Massachusetts. In Alabama the day is marked as “Washington and Jefferson Day,” even though Thomas Jefferson was born in April. In George Washington’s home state of Virginia, there is no mention of Lincoln or any other presidents, as the holiday is officially known as ‘George Washington’s Birthday.’
The United States isn’t the only country taking advantage of our President’s Day. America, Jr. (Canada) also uses the same weekend to take a little break from life. And just like in America, the day is recognized differently depending on what Canadian province you happen to find yourself. In Alberta and Ontario, you celebrate ‘Family Day.’ In Manitoba its ‘Louis Reil Day,’ and on Prince Edward Island, its known as Islander Day. This is done because the Canadian economy is so intertwined with America’s that if America is having a day off and their government is closed, our friends to the north must follow suit.
In the end, most Americans interest in Presidents’ Day extends only as far as a paid day off from work and a long weekend. The holiday also coincides with the beginning of the school vacation week, so overall it’s just a good time for break. Just remember that this holiday officially commemorates important characters in the history of our country’s presidency, so don’t spend your time celebrating Richard Nixon or Obama or George W. Bush. Presidents’ Day is a day to honor our most important presidents, the ones who have made a profound and lasting contribution to our country.
