Many students are excited that we have a week off of school in February, but how many know why we have the week off?
“I don’t even think it’s to acknowledge our presidents…I think it’s really so we can have our max 180 days,” senior Lela Broughton said.
Other students believe it is meant to celebrate all presidents. “I think we have it to celebrate the presidents of the United States by taking a break from school,” said senior Rylee Collart. I think we can all agree that having a week off of school in February is needed. It gives students, teachers, and other government employees time to take a break from work, but why do we have it?
Presidents’ Day, officially known as Washington’s birthday, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It was originally established in 1885 to honor George Washington whose birthday is February 22. The holiday came to be known as Presidents’ Day and is used to celebrate U.S. presidents, both past and present.
The origins of Presidents’ Day date back to the early 19th century, when Washington’s Birthday was first celebrated as a national holiday. Washington is viewed as the “Father of His Country” due to his leadership during the American Revolution and his role in the founding of the United States. In 1885, President Chester A. Arthur signed a bill making Washington’s birthday a federal holiday, one of the first to honor an individual American.
In the 1960s, Congress proposed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to provide more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. There was a push to rename Washington’s birthday to Presidents’ Day to honor both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12. Officially moving Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February and the name change to Presidents’ Day was never formally adopted by Congress but has come to be popularly known as Presidents’ Day. It is often seen as a day to honor all U.S. presidents.
In addition to its historical significance, Presidents’ Day has also become an important day for retail sales and promotions. Many businesses take advantage of the long weekend to offer special deals, making it a popular time for shopping.
Presidents’ Day serves as a reminder of the important role the presidency has played in the United States. It is a day to reflect on the principles and values shaping this country.