Monday, February 15, 2010

George Washington's Birthday




George Washington's Birthday is celebrated as a federal holiday on the third Monday in February. Before 1971, Washington's Birthday was one of nine federal holidays celebrated on specific dates, which—year after year—fell on different days of the week (the exception being Labor Day—the original Monday holiday).
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 placed Washington's birth on February 22, 1732.

I don't think too many people are remembering George Washington today. This holiday has become a day to shop. The banks and post offices are closed but all the stores are having sales. This year we have two major shopping days in a row...Valentine's Day and President's Day. Happy shopping. Sorry George.

George Washington Bookplate
Rare Million Dollar George Washington Stamp
George Washington Miniature Portrait

I think Abraham Lincoln's birthday has been lumped into Presidents' Day but I couldn't find a single reference to corroborate this fact. This one comes close. Am I correct?



Content in a Cottage

Click orange square to subscribe via feed reader or email.

2 comments:

Gal Friday said...

Yes, I am pretty sure both Abe and George's birthdays are now lumped in together on this, "Shopp--er, President's Day".
I remember celebrating Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays in school on seperate days, way back.

Tracy Watier said...

Yes. You're right. They've been lumped together as "President's Day", aka no school, no mail, no banking day in this house where self-employed people don't even know what day of the week it is let alone what holiday. :)