With so much media attention and advertisements involved in the celebration of Presidents’ Day, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the real meaning and origins of this nationally recognized federal holiday. The car sales, retail sales, and day off work are all nice things to have in our still-recovering economic condition, but somehow the true meanings of holidays such as this get somewhat lost in the mix!
This day is one in which Americans give proper respect and remembrance to the highest office in the land, President of the United States of America. Originally started in 1880, following the death of our first president George Washington in 1779, this day was actually meant to commemorate the birthday of the former founding father. It was actually celebrated on February 22
nd, which was the actual date of Washington’s birth. Following the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971, the official date was moved to the third Monday of February every year. The movement of this holiday and its new date being placed in between George Washington’s birthday and the birthday of Abraham Lincoln are what eventually led to the adaptation of this day being referred to as Presidents’ Day instead of George Washington’s Birthday.
With many other celebrations being tied into the newly adapted holiday, it is important to remember the legacies that led up to this great patriotic holiday. A great amount of work went into the forming and sustainability of The United States of America, to which we owe a great deal of it to our past leaders. So while you are out there scooping up bargain sale items and making more work for all of us that deliver those goods for a living, do not forget the true meaning of this holiday and why it is important to reflect on what it really means!