Presidents Day used to be a quiet day, but now it’s all about sales. Historians like Alexis Coe feel that the original meaning of the day has been lost. Presidents Day was meant to honor George Washington’s birthday, but it’s turned into a shopping frenzy.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732, but according to the old calendar, it was February 11. He didn’t make a big deal out of his birthday and usually worked on that day. He preferred to spend time with his family, maybe have some cake, and that’s it.
When Washington was president, Congress took a break to honor his birthday, except for his last year in office. Some people were unhappy with his policies, so they kept working on his birthday. However, his 50th birthday was celebrated with a ball thrown by a French officer.
After Washington died in 1799, people started buying things with his face on them. They saw him as a kind of hero ascending to heaven. In 1832, Congress decided to organize parades and festivals for his birthday, and in 1879, it became an official holiday in Washington D.C.
But things changed in the 1960s. Congress wanted to make holidays fall on Mondays to give people long weekends. They thought it would help the economy because more people would go shopping or travel. So, in 1971, they moved Presidents Day to the third Monday in February.
Now, Presidents Day is all about sales. Stores have big discounts, and people go shopping. Historians like C. L. Arbelbide say that Washington and the other Founding Fathers wouldn’t have liked this. They were worried about corporations becoming too powerful.
Alexis Coe believes that Presidents Day has lost its meaning. It used to be a time for reflection, but now it’s just about shopping. She thinks we should take a moment to think about what the day really means, especially with people feeling skeptical about the presidency these days.
