What’s in a Name?
It all began simply.
In 1879, the United States made George Washington’s Birthday a federal holiday.
Over the years, people started fiddling around with it. Now, it is all very confusing.
Which President are we celebrating? Or is it all of them? Or is it some of them?
Good questions.
The official name of this federal holiday is “Washington’s Birthday”. Not “President’s Day”. So, it sort of looks like we are supposed to be celebrating Washington’s Birthday.
And let’s add another head-scratcher. The English didn’t start using the calendar we use now until 1752. George Washington was born on February 11, 1731 under the old Julian Calendar. But when the English converted to the Gregorian Calendar, his birth date was converted to February 22, 1732.
Did you know that?
But wait. There’s more.
The states can decide what they’d like to call this federal holiday. Virginia, Illinois, Iowa and New York call it “Washington’s Birthday”.
Virginia celebrates Washington the entire month of February.
And some states don’t observe it as a holiday at all.
And what about that apostrophe?
Is it Presidents Day? Or President’s Day? Or Presidents’ Day?
I think it’s a fair question.
Well…go ahead. Look it up.
Let me save you some time.
No one really knows.
I believe the problem goes back to the first questions. Which President or Presidents are we celebrating?
Our Congress in Action
Don’t you find it peculiar that Washington’s birthday is the third Monday of February?
Every February.
As a matter of fact, February 22nd can never be the third Monday. In the first 21 days of any month, there are already three Mondays.
Think about it. How is his birthday on the third Monday of February? Every year?
Hint: Americans like three-day weekends.
On June 28, 1968, Congress passed the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act.” This little jewel essentially said, “Let’s sort of forget what we are celebrating and give federal employees more three-day weekends.” The law took effect in 1971.
In other words, in the case of George Washington, it is no longer a date to remember the man most responsible for our country coming into existence. It is the third Monday in February, which gives some of us a three-day weekend and is a good time for stores to have sales.
I wonder how long will it be before Independence Day, July 4th, will be the first Monday in July? Or must it be the third Monday?
And New Year’s Day could be a real laugh.
I have no idea why the name used is not “Washington’s Birthday.” Those types of things tend to destroy our history.
Of course, nobody asked me.
But I’ll ask you two questions:
Why shouldn’t it be “Washington’s Birthday”?
Why shouldn’t it be celebrated on Washington’s birthday?
