[retiredguy123]

Yesterday was a Federal holiday named Washington's Birthday. The holiday was created in 1879. It was not President's Day and it never has been. Also, there has never been a Federal holiday to celebrate Lincoln's Birthday.

[Stu from NYC]

Something wrong when the greatest American are not honored by their own special day

[manaboutown]

To me yesterday was Washington's Birthday. When I lived and worked in the D.C. area in the mid to late 1960s the Washington's Birthday sales in the stores on F Street were incredible. I remember buying a formal coat and tails which fit me like it was tailored for me for $22. I gave it to a close friend my size who played in the National Symphony. He wore it at performances requiring such attire.

[MarshBendLover]

I believe GW was born on the 22nd same as me, not the same year, I was a few years later. But since federal employees wanted a long weekend, it was moved to the Monday nearest his day which was renamed Pres Day to avoid confusion of his actual birthday. Which really just did create even more confusion, which is odd considering the government never creates confusion.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

I believe GW was born on the 22nd same as me, not the same year, I was a few years later. But since federal employees wanted a long weekend, it was moved to the Monday nearest his day which was renamed Pres Day to avoid confusion of his actual birthday. Which really just did create even more confusion, which is odd considering the government never creates confusion.

Wrong. The holiday was moved to a Monday, as well as other Federal holidays. But the Federal holiday was never changed to President's Day. It is named Washington's Birthday and it always has been. There is no Federal holiday named President's Day.

Some state holidays are named President's Day, but not the Federal holiday. There is a lot of misinformation in the media about this subject.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I'm okay with there being just one day a year to celebrate the birthday, deathday, wedding anniversary, bar mitzvah, mom's favorite boy's special dinner option day, or whatever else. The last thing we all need is ANOTHER paid day off for the government and banks, and ANOTHER reason to close schools and halt their education for another day, ALL for the celebration of a single individual.

I'd be okay with an Election Day becoming a Federal holiday. But no, not a day to celebrate any individual president. President's Day is a great idea. Federalize it, and ditch Washington and Lincoln and whoever else. And maybe they could add "Presidents of the United States" as a mandatory curriculum item in school history classes, the month before that day (whenever it is).

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I'm okay with there being just one day a year to celebrate the birthday, deathday, wedding anniversary, bar mitzvah, mom's favorite boy's special dinner option day, or whatever else. The last thing we all need is ANOTHER paid day off for the government and banks, and ANOTHER reason to close schools and halt their education for another day, ALL for the celebration of a single individual.

I'd be okay with an Election Day becoming a Federal holiday. But no, not a day to celebrate any individual president. President's Day is a great idea. Federalize it, and ditch Washington and Lincoln and whoever else. And maybe they could add "Presidents of the United States" as a mandatory curriculum item in school history classes, the month before that day (whenever it is).

Fine, but there are some in the media who want to do away with President's Day, when it doesn't even exist. There is no President's Day and there never has been, except for some state holidays. Some people on national TV are spreading false information that there is a national President's Day that needs to be eliminated.

[sowilts]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Yesterday was a Federal holiday named Washington's Birthday. The holiday was created in 1879. It was not President's Day and it never has been. Also, there has never been a Federal holiday to celebrate Lincoln's Birthday.

Retired, everyday is a Holiday for me.

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Something wrong when the greatest American are not honored by their own special day

Washington was the greatest president we ever had. Without him, there would be no United States.

If Lincoln lost the war, there would still be the US, just smaller than today.

[Rick Steeber]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

I believe GW was born on the 22nd same as me, not the same year, I was a few years later. But since federal employees wanted a long weekend, it was moved to the Monday nearest his day which was renamed Pres Day to avoid confusion of his actual birthday. Which really just did create even more confusion, which is odd considering the government never creates confusion.

You are correct Washington was born on Feb 22nd. Also Lincoln was born on February 12th. They combined the two Presidents birthdays to make it Presidents Day and set it for the Monday in between the two Presidents. Making it a Monday, so Federal employees could have a long weekend...

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

Washington was the greatest president we ever had. Without him, there would be no United States.

If Lincoln lost the war, there would still be the US, just smaller than today.

They both deserve their own day. Get rid of one or two more recent federal holidays.

[Colts Fan]

If Lincoln had lost the war we wouldn’t presently be living in the US.

[cegallup]

Originally Posted by CigarMaster

I believe GW was born on the 22nd same as me, not the same year, I was a few years later. But since federal employees wanted a long weekend, it was moved to the Monday nearest his day which was renamed Pres Day to avoid confusion of his actual birthday. Which really just did create even more confusion, which is odd considering the government never creates confusion.

Just another perverse narrative which points to the indifference we place on our great heroes of American history. Without the amazing courage and tenacity of this leader we would NOT have our "FREE" country. (the same respect should be shown to Abraham Lincoln.)

[manaboutown]

George Washington was born in Virginia on February 11, 1731, according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved Washington's birthday a year and 11 days to February 22, 1732.

From: George Washington's Birthday | National Archives.

[blueash]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Fine, but there are some in the media who want to do away with President's Day, when it doesn't even exist. There is no President's Day and there never has been, except for some state holidays. Some people on national TV are spreading false information that there is a national President's Day that needs to be eliminated.

If you want to nitpick details and formalities... Washington was not born on Feb 22nd. He was born on what a calendar in 1731 would tell you was Feb 11th. Julian calendar recalculation did a job on messing up dates.

President Clinton might have disagreed with your assertion that there is no Presidents' Day when in 2000 he issued a Presidential Proclamation

PRESIDENT'S DAY PROCLAMATION


I am pleased to join all Americans in observing Presidents' Day.

Today we salute the leadership and achievements of all those who have held America's highest elected office, and we celebrate with special pride the rich legacies of Presidents Washington and Lincoln.

Of grammatical interest... the proclamation uses both options for placement of the apostrophe. Or somebody didn't notice

And our Federal government Presidents' Day | GovInfo has a webpage giving the history of Presidents' Day. It does explain that no Federal rule has given it that name but the common usage, everyone's calendar, and society have settled on assigning Presidents' Day to the 3rd Monday in February.

While the name change has never been authorized by Congress, it has gained a strong hold on the public consciousness to honor all U.S. Presidents, and is generally used on calendars, in advertising, and even by many government agencies.