- George Washington’s birthday is now celebrated as Presidents Day.
- Despite Washington’s reluctance for public celebration, his legacy endures through annual commemorations.
- The holiday’s transformation reflects shifting attitudes towards patriotism, consumerism, and the role of historical figures in contemporary society.
George Washington, the first president of the United States, wasn’t keen on big celebrations about himself. He didn’t want to be seen as a king but as a leader of a new country. However, every year, on February 22, people remember him, even though he was born 292 years ago.
Presidents Day, as it’s called now, has changed a lot over time. Back then, it was just a regular workday for Washington. But today, it’s turned into a big shopping event. Some historians think the holiday doesn’t really mean much anymore.
Alexis Coe, who wrote about Washington, says the holiday should remind us of him, but it doesn’t really. Unlike statues of other presidents, Washington’s doesn’t show much of what he looked like. It’s just a big stone figure.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732, but because of a calendar change, it would be February 11 today. He didn’t make a big deal about his birthday, according to records. He’d rather be at home with family and friends, maybe eating a special cake.
When Washington was president, Congress took breaks on his birthday. But in his last year, they didn’t, showing they didn’t agree with his ideas. Even so, some people celebrated him, like a French officer who threw him a big party when he turned 50.
After Washington died, people started making things to remember him, like pottery and pictures. They even made things showing him going to heaven like a god.
It took a while for his birthday to become an official holiday. In 1879, it became a day off for federal workers in Washington D.C. It’s still called Washington’s Birthday officially, even though some people call it Presidents Day.
In the 1960s, people changed when some holidays were celebrated, to make long weekends. This made it easier for people to go shopping and travel. So, Presidents Day became a time for sales and deals.
Seth Bruggeman, a history professor, thinks Washington wouldn’t have liked this. He and other Founding Fathers worried about companies becoming too powerful.
Today, Presidents Day has lost its meaning for many. There’s no time to think about what the day really means. Maybe it’s a good idea to think about it more, especially considering people are often critical of their leaders nowadays.
