Advertisement

Why Presidents Day is slightly strange

 
Tampa Bay Times
Published Feb. 17, 2014

Most federal holidays are clear-cut. On the Fourth of July, for example, Americans celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. On the other hand, Presidents Day is a slightly strange holiday for three main reasons:

1 There is no universal agreement on the actual name of the holiday.

2 There is no universal agreement on which presidents are being honored.

3 There is no agreement on something as simple as whether there is an apostrophe in "presidents."

Ask a handful of people who the holiday is meant to recognize, and you aren't likely to get the same answers. In fact, what is generally called Presidents Day is still recognized by the U.S. government as Washington's Birthday. USA.gov lists it like this: George Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) February 17. And it describes the holiday this way:

"Washington's Birthday

"Washington's Birthday is observed the third Monday of February in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. This date is commonly called Presidents' Day and many groups honor the legacy of past presidents on this date."

Some states do honor both Washington, who was born Feb. 22, and Abraham Lincoln, who was born Feb. 12. But other states honor Washington and Thomas Jefferson, but not Lincoln, on this holiday and some states honor all the presidents.

Washington Post