Every third Monday of February (February 19) we celebrate Presidents’ Day in all its patriotic glory. Many people relish their day off of work, but they might be surprised to know that that was the point! In 1971, Presidents’ Day moved in an effort to create more three-day weekends for the public in the hope that this would inspire greater productivity nationwide. It was believed that at this point in the year, the restorative effects of the winter holidays have begun to fade and people need another break to regain some of that lost stamina.
Presidents’ Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February which happens to be February 19th this year. All the Presidents in American history are remembered and honored for their work in making America the great Country it is today.
HISTORY OF PRESIDENTS’ DAY
After the death of George Washington in 1799, his birthday was unofficially celebrated as a day of remembrance called Washington Day. Throughout the 1800s, people used Washington Day to honor the man that shaped America and the legacy he left. In 1832, a resolution permitted the removal and internment of George Washington’s body in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and the erection of the Washington Monument in 1848 caused more celebrations nationwide.
It wasn’t until the late 1870s that Steven Wallace Dorsey proposed that Washington’s birthday should become a National Federal Holiday. President Rutherford B. Hayes signed National Federal Holiday into law in 1879 and joined the four existing bank holidays that were previously approved in 1870. Because of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy and the proximity of his birthday on February 12th, it was proposed that Washington Day should become Presidents’ Day to celebrate Washington and Lincoln but that idea was rejected by Congress.
Washington’s Birthday didn’t officially become Presidents’ Day until the late 1960s. Senator Robert McClory of Illinois concocted a plan that moved key bank holidays to Mondays to increase the number of three-day weekends for workers in what’s known as the Uniform Monday’s Act. The hope was that it would increase productivity and decrease employee absenteeism. Unsurprisingly, the labor union agreed with this idea and so did the private sector.
In 1971, Richard M. Nixon made the executive order to pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which shifted Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day to Monday. With the date landing in the middle of Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday, it became known as Presidents’ Day, while having a simultaneous benefit for retail stores as they advertised their special sales events during this time. By the mid-1980s, Presidents’ Day became the common term and continues to be called Presidents Day to this day.
PRESIDENTS’ DAY TRADITIONS
Retail Stores always offer fantastic deals on home furniture and appliances on Presidents’ Day, so keep a lookout for sales that week. The two Presidents most widely celebrated on this holiday are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, followed by Thomas Jefferson. Presidents Day was originally created to celebrate Washington’s birthday, Cherry Pie and other desserts using Cherries are eaten. The reason for this is the widely known story of Washington chopping down a Cherry Tree. Washington’s farewell address is also read and discussed in history lessons and online forums.
There is a month-long celebration for Presidents hosted in Alexandria, Virginia, concluding with a birthday parade for George Washington. In Florida, a ‘George-Fest’ has taken place every year since 1902.
PRESIDENTS’ DAY ACTIVITIES
- Today would be a perfect day to take a Field Trip to visit historical sites or join tours that you can indulge in to learn about the history of the Presidency.
- Have your students take time to dive into the history of the American Presidents that aren’t often spoken of like Martin Van Buren and John Tyler?
- We can take our history for granted, so why not create a quiz you can play at home? Split off into teams and write down questions about the Presidents and the presidency.
FACTS ABOUT PRESIDENTS’ DAY
- John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826, which happened to be the 50th anniversary of the approval of the Declaration of Independence.
- Merchants see a 1.2% weekly boost in sales on average in the week of Presidents’ Day.
- George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected by all of the state representatives.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE PRESIDENTS’ DAY
- It’s important to know history so that we can properly understand the State of things. All of the successes and failures have had a direct effect on our current State.
- While nothing is perfect, it’s important to hold onto the ideals that the Country stands for and allow it to inspire you to reach greater heights. “Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” is meant for all people and it’s up to us to make sure it happens
It doesn’t matter if your homeschooling your children or not teaching our children about Presidents Days is something we all should do. I’ve included lessons you can use to teach your children.
Teachers Pay Teachers Presidents Day
Lesson Planet Presidents Day
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
