Happy birthday or happy vacation?

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Jenifer Oliver in Features

Jenifer Oliver
Chronicle Reporter

The national holiday known as Presidents’ Day was celebrated this year on Feb. 16, and every third Monday of Feb. annually. Originally, in the 1800’s it was to honor George Washington’s Birthday on Feb. 22 and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on Feb. 12 was also added as part of a deal. “President’s Day” is now the nationally accepted name and has become a celebration for all presidents.

The federal holiday did not become official until the 1870’s. Initially the holiday only applied to the District of Columbia and then, in 1885 it was expanded to the whole country. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was proposed in the late 1960’s by Congress. This law’s purpose was to change specific dates of federal holidays to a series of predetermined Monday’s. It also combined with combined Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthday. The Act was passed in 1968 and took effect in 1971.

This holiday is seen as a patriotic celebration and remembrance. Presidents’ Day today is used as a day to stage celebrations, reenactments, and other events.

This year our current President, Barack Obama spend his weekend in California playing golf before going back to Washington D.C. He spent it with Bobby Titcomb, Mike Ramos, and Greg Orme in Porcupine Creek Golf Course in the Palm Springs area.

So thank you Washington and Lincoln for a day off!