PRESIDENTS' DAY
Hi everyone ! I truly hope you’re fine. Today, we’re going to talk about a subject that is a little bit more serious than the last Thursday. Indeed, we’re going to talk about a holiday that is specific to the USA. The US… this big country that we’ve been dreaming of since we were young. In the US, they celebrate many things which are more or less fun like National Girlfriend Day for example but they also celebrate serious subjects. On the third Monday in February, they celebrate Presidents Day. But what is it ?
ONCE UPON A TIME…
George Washington is probably one of the most famous US presidents. He was so well-loved by the Americans that his February 22nd birthday became a day of remembrance. He was venerated as the most important figure in American History. His death was a real shock to the Americans. President’s Day actually began with his death. At the beginning, it was known as « Washington’s Birthday » but it was an official day in the late 1870s. Firstly, this holiday only applied to the District of Columbia and it was expanded to the whole country in 1885.
You can find his biography here: http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/george-washington
THE UNIFORM HOLIDAY MONDAY ACT
Washington’s Birthday became President’s Day in the late 1960s thanks to a measure known as The
Uniform Holiday Monday Act. This measure was also seen as way to create more 3 day weekends for the workers. Indeed, this was efficient as there was less absence at work thanks to this measure! J Maybe we should do that at school, right? This Act also included a combination of Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. The Uniform Holiday Monday Act passed in 1968 but took effect in 1971 thanks to President Nixon. If you don’t know who he is:
TRANSFORMATION
Some states have chosen to customize this day by adding new figures to the traditional celebration. For example, Arkansas celebrates Washington at the same time as celebrating Civil Rights.
Washington and Lincoln are still the most famous presidents of the USA but today, President’s Day is a day to honor ALL US Presidents. But, like in every story, there’s a problem… some Americans don’t like this idea because for them it was disrespectful because those two famous presidents are grouped with less successful president. L There were congressional measures to restore Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays in the early 2000s but they failed. President’s Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February because their birthdays all come either too early or late to coincide with each other so it’s always celebrated on the third Monday in February.
CELEBRATIONS & TRADITIONS
President’s Day is viewed as a time of patriotism and remembrance. There are no real traditions or celebrations like Thanksgiving for example.
Before, portraits of Washington were on the front pages of newspapers and magazines every 22nd February for his birthday.
In 1932, this day was used to reinstate the Purple Heart: a military decoration created by Washington to honor soldiers killed in the armed forces.
In 1938, 5,000 people attended mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC in honor of Washington.
Nowadays, some schools spend this day teaching students about the accomplishments of the American Presidents.
Here is an example of the Purple Heart
MY OPINION ABOUT THIS HOLIDAY
As for my opinion, I don’t really think that it’s very important to celebrate every president of a country. Of course, they are important and we need them but, creating a day just for them ? I don’t see the real point in it. For example, I think that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is more important than Presidents' Day because it celebrates a real struggle for Civil Rights and it’s really important for me because it is a big part of American History whereas Presidents' Day just celebrates all US presidents.
It’s a good idea but I think it’s a bit useless.
I truly hope you liked this post !
See you next week.
XOXO,
Justine. ❤︎