President’s Day
So, I asked ChatGPT , “how did we come to celebrate President’s Day?”
President’s Day is a federal holiday in the United States that is celebrated on the third Monday in February. The holiday was established to honor the birthdays of two of the most celebrated presidents in American history, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
George Washington’s birthday was originally celebrated on February 22nd, and it became a federal holiday in 1879. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, which falls on February 12th, was not initially a federal holiday, but it was celebrated as a state holiday in some states.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established a number of federal holidays on Mondays, including Washington’s Birthday. This law took effect in 1971, and the holiday was moved to the third Monday in February. The name of the holiday was also changed to President’s Day, to include all presidents, not just George Washington.
While the holiday is still officially called Washington’s Birthday by the federal government, it is commonly referred to as President’s Day, and it is celebrated as a day to honor all U.S. presidents.
A little verbose, but not bad.
With that little backstory in mind, here are some President’s Day related posts for you history buffs and readers to enjoy this long weekend.
Presidents and Your Wealth – Wealthy Behavior podcast episode digging into the history of our country’s banking, currency, and overall economic system, and how key decisions made almost 250 years ago are the drivers of our wealth today.
– the first ever U.S. asset bubble more than 200 years ago and how it’s related to our current banking system,
– what the transition to the greenback after the Civil War can tell us about digital currencies today, and
– what role today’s Coast Guard and prohibition played in our current tax system.
Best Presidential Biographies – My colleague and I share a detailed list of recommendations for the best biography to read on each president, including some clunkers to avoid. Just updated.
Ulysses S. Grant – The forgotten greatness of a real American hero who more than anyone except Lincoln kept the country together.
The Fourth of July – A brief look back at how we moved toward independence and why July 4th is the day we celebrate it.
Closing the Book(s) on President Trump – Double Book Review – Reviewing two books about the final year or so of the Trump presidency and sharing differences between the two and some takeaways.