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President's Day |
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History of President's Day
Washington’s Birthday was first celebrated as a national holiday in 1879. The universally-popular first president of the United States is widely considered the father of the country. As such, it was natural for his birthday to become the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen.
While there was one brief attempt in the 1950s to create a more-inclusive President's Day, the bill died in committee. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Washington’s Birthday expanded to include a celebration of Abraham Lincoln, and became known as President's Day.
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However, in many places the name change was an informal one, which means that some states still have wildly varying legal names for the holiday. For example, Alabama calls it Washington and Jefferson Day, while Virginia (Washington’s home state) calls it George Washington Day.
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Observing President's Day
Originally, President's Day meant that all stores, schools, and government offices were closed on the third Monday in February. But many retail outlets, especially car dealerships, have turned the holiday into a major three-day sale weekend. In contrast, many schools now take an entire week off during February.
President's Day Celebration
Mostly, families use the three-day weekend as an excuse for a short getaway, or they go shopping to take advantage of the sales. Historical sites (especially in Virginia) hold a variety of celebrations and parades. Alexandria, Virginia, holds a month-long tribute to Washington, and a parade on his birthday.
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| It’s also partially a holiday to honor veterans, as Washington was the inventor of the Purple Heart, and the medal bears his image. |
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