Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in
February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George
Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the
federal government. Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual
day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was
moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more
three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have
individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and
other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate
all U.S. presidents past and present.
Like Independence Day, Presidents’ Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance. In its original incarnation as Washington’s Birthday, the holiday gained special meaning during the difficulties of the Great Depression, when portraits of George Washington often graced the front pages of newspapers and magazines every February 22. In 1932 the date was used to reinstate the Purple Heart, a military decoration originally created by George Washington to honor soldiers killed or wounded while serving in the armed forces. Patriotic groups and the Boy Scouts of America also held celebrations on the day, and in 1938 some 5,000 people attended mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City in honor of Washington.
In its modern form, Presidents’ Day is used by many patriotic and historical groups as a date for staging celebrations, reenactments and other events. A number of states also require that their public schools spend the days leading up to Presidents’ Day teaching students about the accomplishments of the presidents, often with a focus on the lives of Washington and Lincoln.
Fonte:History.com
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