Every third Monday in February (February 19) we celebrate Presidents Day in all its patriotic glory. Many people enjoy their day off, but you might be surprised to know that that’s the point! In 1971, on Presidents’ Day, an attempt was made to increase the number of three-day holidays for the population in the hope that this would lead to increased productivity throughout the country. It was believed that during this period of the year the restorative effect of the winter holidays began to wane, and people needed another break to regain some of their lost stamina. See more…
When is PRESIDENT’S DAY 2024?
Presidents’ Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday in February – this year on February 19th. We recall each president in American history and honor his excellent work in making America the extraordinary country it is today.
HISTORY OF PRESIDENT’S DAY
After the passing of George Washington in 1799, his birthday was informally celebrated as a day of recognition called Washington Day.
In 1832, a goal approved the evacuation and internment of George Washington’s body at the Washington, D.C. State house. and the erection of the Washington Monument in 1848 sparked new celebrations throughout the country.
It wasn’t until the late 1870s that Stephen Wallace Dorsey proposed making Washington’s birthday a national federal holiday. President Rutherford B. Hayes marked it in 1879, adding it to the four existing blessed days recently supported in 1870. Because of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy and the proximity of his birthday on February 12, a proposal was made to hold Presidents’ Day in Washington to honor both men, but the idea was rejected by Congress.
Washington’s birthday didn’t authoritatively turn into President’s Day until the last part of the 1960s. Illinois Senator Robert McClory created a plan in the Uniform Monday Act that moves major holidays to Mondays to increase three-day days off for workers. The hope was to increase productivity and reduce employee absenteeism. Not surprisingly, the union agreed with the idea, as did the private sector.
In 1971, Richard M. Nixon passed the Uniform Monday Occasions Act, which moved Washington’s birthday, Columbus Day, Dedication Day, and Veterans Day to Mondays. Since this date fell just in the middle of Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, it became known as “Presidents’ Day” and at the same time had an advantage for retail stores because they used this time to announce their special sales. In the mid-1980s, “Presidents’ Day” became a common term and is still called that today.
PRESIDENT’S DAY IN THE WORLD
| Country | Holiday | Occasion | Date |
| Kazakhstan | First President Day | Observes the election of Kazakhstan’s first president after gaining independence. | December 1 |
| Palau | Presidents Day | A day to honor the president and the presidency in general. | June 1 |
| Botswana | Presidents Day | A one-day public holiday for remembering the presidents of the country. | July 19 |
| Tajikistan | Presidents Day | The country started celebrating this day recently from 2016 onwards. | November 16 |
TRADITIONS OF THE Day OF President
There are fantastic discounts on furniture and home appliances on Presidents’ Day, so keep an eye out for them throughout the week. The two presidents most honored on this holiday are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, followed by Thomas Jefferson. Because this holiday was originally meant to celebrate Washington’s birthday, cherry pies and other desserts made from cherries are eaten. The reason for this is the well-known story of the cutting down of the cherry tree in Washington.
The month-long presidential celebration takes place in Alexandria, Virginia, and ends with a parade to celebrate George Washington’s birthday. The George Festival has been held in Florida every year since 1902.
DAY OF President IN FIGURES
3 is the number of George Washington universities.
5 – the quantity of public parks named after Roosevelt.
4 is the number of American presidents whose birthdays fall in February.
32 is the number of days since William Henry Harrison took office as president.
42 is the age of President Teddy Roosevelt at the beginning of his tenure, making him the youngest ever to hold office.
2006 is the year that Barack Obama received a Grammy Award for voice acting in the audiobook Dreams of My Father.
PRESIDENTIAL DAY EVENT
Take a historical journey
There are many historical sites and tours you and your family can take to learn more about the history of the presidency. Washington DC is the most obvious place, but if you don’t live in Virginia and don’t plan to travel, do some research on local government and how presidents have impacted your community. Your local museum will surely have documents and artifacts that will enlighten you.
Know Your Presidents
Take the time to delve into the history of America’s presidents that isn’t often talked about. Everyone knows the names of Jefferson, Lincoln and Washington, but what about Martin Van Buren and John Tyler? While they may not be as great as the greats of all time, their tenure is part of a common heritage and important in and of itself.
Make a game out of it
Sometimes we can take our history for granted. So why not create a quiz to play at home? Divide into teams and write down questions about presidents and the presidency. This has the double benefit of introducing anyone to American history, and as an added bonus, you can outdo anyone with your historical knowledge.
