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Presidents Day evolved from honoring George Washington to a retail-driven holiday. Initially ignored by Washington himself, the day later became a federal holiday, now more associated with sales than historical reflection.
Presidents Day: From Washington’s legacy to today’s shopping frenzy
UPDATED: Feb 16, 2025 16:40 IST
NORFOLK: George Washington, like other Founding Fathers, was uneasy about celebrating his life publicly. As the first leader of a republic—not a king—he preferred a quiet observance.
Yet, nearly 300 years after his birth, the U.S. continues to commemorate him.
Over time, Presidents Day has evolved from a modest recognition of Washington’s contributions to a retail-driven holiday. Some historians argue the day has lost all meaningful connection to its origins.
Historian Alexis Coe, author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington, compares Presidents Day to the Washington Monument in D.C.
“It’s supposed to be about Washington, but can you really point to anything that looks or sounds like him?” she remarked in a 2024 interview with The Associated Press. “Jefferson and Lincoln have memorials featuring their likeness and words. Washington is just a giant, granite point, devoid of identifiable features.”
Washington’s Birthdays: observed, but not celebrated
Washington was born on Feb. 22, 1732, at Popes Creek Plantation in Virginia. However, under the Julian calendar—still in use at the time—his birthdate was Feb. 11. The U.S. adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, shifting dates forward by 11 days.
Records indicate Washington paid little attention to his birthday. His diaries show he was often working, and no mentions of celebrations exist at Mount Vernon.
“If he had his way, he’d be at home with family—maybe with his nieces, nephews, and friend Marquis de Lafayette—enjoying Martha’s indulgent cake. But that’s about it,” Coe noted.
A political snub on Washington’s last presidential birthday
During his presidency, Congress would typically pause to honour Washington’s birthday. However, in his final year in office, lawmakers ignored it entirely.
By then, Washington’s popularity had waned due to rising partisanship, and many of his original Cabinet members, including Thomas Jefferson, had departed.
“One way to show their disdain for his Federalist policies was to keep working through his birthday,” Coe explained.
Washington memorabilia: A posthumous market boom
Despite Washington’s reluctance to be idolized, a market for memorabilia emerged after his death in 1799 at age 67. Americans eagerly bought pottery and etchings depicting him as a divine figure ascending to heaven.
“Even in that early moment, Americans conflated consumerism with patriotic memory,” said Seth Bruggeman, a history professor at Temple University.
Parades, festivals, and making Washington’s birthday a holiday
In 1832, Congress formed a committee to arrange parades and festivals marking the centennial of his birth. It wasn’t until 1879 that Washington’s Birthday became a federal holiday—originally for government employees in Washington, D.C.
Officially, the day is still Washington’s Birthday, though it’s commonly referred to as Presidents Day. Some states, like Illinois, separately honour Abraham Lincoln’s Feb. 12 birthday, while others commemorate both leaders on Presidents Day.
How Presidents Day became a shopping extravaganza
By the 1960s, Washington’s Birthday was one of nine federal holidays that fell on fixed dates, creating midweek disruptions. To address absenteeism and boost the economy, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, effective 1971, shifting Presidents Day to the third Monday of February.
Retailers capitalized on the three-day weekend, turning the holiday into a major shopping event. Historian C.L. Arbelbide noted how sales campaigns skyrocketed, further distancing the day from its historical roots.
Bruggeman believes Washington and the Founding Fathers would have strongly opposed this shift.
“They were very nervous about corporations,” he said. “They saw them as small republics that could threaten The Republic itself.”
Coe argues that Presidents Day now lacks meaningful traditions.
“There’s no moment of reflection,” she said, adding that given today’s cynicism toward leadership, reflection might be a good idea.
Source: Associated Press
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Feb 16, 2025
