If you’ve ever seen the movie Holiday Inn, with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, you will recall that they put on and performed Broadway-type shows that celebrated major American holidays at this quaint New England inn in the countryside. One thing most folks may not remember is that, like the Holiday Inn portrayed in that film, our nations citizens used to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday and George Washington’s separately and on different days. Not combined into one, as we do today. (This particular movie classic reminded me of that!)
Washington’s actual date of birth was February 22. And Lincoln’s birthday is the 12th. Interestingly, in the 1950’s there was a President’s Day Committee (that came out of California) whose goal was to turn the day into a celebration of merely the office of the Presidency.
We went from celebrating Lincoln’s Day and Washington’s Day to President’s Day. Then we went to Presidents-plural-in general-day. Clear as mud?
And there you have it. So, whether you plan to take off Presidents Day weekend, or if this is all news to you, you now have a bit of trivia behind all the February Federal fuss. Whatever your plans, why not plan to take a moment to remember a great man…on the 12th.
Just my thoughts. Yours?
Stephanie
