Do you know the meaning behind President’s Day? Most people only know that it means a day off of work or school for them. President’s Day has a pretty interesting history that begins with one president.
After the first President of the United States George Washington passed, his birthday, which fell on February 22, was made into a national holiday because people liked him so much. One of the other most beloved presidents of all time was Abraham Lincoln. The 16th President was so well loved in fact that after he was assassinated, 30 states chose to make his birthday, February 12, a state holiday. The problem with this was that in some states there were two holidays being celebrated within a few days of each other that honored president’s birthdays. In 1950 a bill was brought to Congress by the National Association of Travel Organizations that set to combine the celebrations of both birthdays into one day. The bill was discussed for years and did not pass until 1971. It established that it this new national holiday, President’s Day, would be celebrated on the third Monday in February. The states of Illinois, Connecticut, New York and Missouri celebrate Lincoln’s birthday as well as President’s Day.
Interesting Facts about Some of the Presidents:
-Ulysses S. Grant was fined $20 and arrested because he rode a horse too fast. This all happened while he was in office.
-Many years before Andrew Jackson became President he was shot in a duel and had a bullet in his heart from the age of 39 until he died.
-George Washington lost most of his teeth at an early age. In fact, he only had one tooth when he was inaugurated. He tended to wear dentures that were made out of many different materials including animal teeth and lead.
-There were only two presidents that signed the Declaration of Independence: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Coincidently on the 50th anniversary of the day they signed it both presidents died.
-Theodore Roosevelt was considered to be one of the smartest presidents because he had a photographic memory.
-Herbert Hoover did not like his servants very much. He threatened to fire them if they did not hide when he would walk by them.
-Benjamin Harrison did not like electric lights. He was so afraid of them that he would make his staff turn them on and off so he didn’t have too.
Will you be celebrating President’s Day on February 17? Maybe you can impress some of your friends with your new knowledge about the history of this holiday as well as some of the facts about the Presidents. Also, to celebrate President’s Day, many cities will be having parades or other events that you can participate in as well.
Perhaps this summer take your family on a trip to learn more about this history of our great country first hand. Globus Tours offers a wonderful 8 day trip from Washington D.C. to Philadelphia called Patriots Passage. On this family vacation you will have the opportunity to visit some of America’s historical treasures, including Independence Hall and Arlington National Cemetery. Step back in time in Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in the new world, and Colonial Williamsburg where costumed villages reenact life in 18th century Virginia. Historical treasures are not the only thing offered on this marvelous vacation. Discover the Luray Caverns—a subterranean wonderland with stalagmites, stalactites, and even sparkling lakes—and the breathtaking beauty of Shenandoah National Park. Learn about a new culture when you visit an Amish farm and house, and hear about a way of life that excludes the use of modern conveniences such as electricity and telephones. For chocolate lovers in your family, a visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World is sure to delight.
