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Entry bubble Why We Don't Celebrate George Washington's Birthday on his Birthday

By: Jake | February 18, 2008 | Category: Fun

If you turned on the TV or radio, read the paper, and/or surfed the net this weekend, you were probably exposed to ads for President's Day Weekend sales. President's Day has become the common name for today, the holiday the federal government designates as Washington's Birthday but isn't his actual birthday.George Washington

George Washington's actual birthday is February 22nd, and it was a federal holiday from 1879 until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to "bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation." This law designated Washington's Birthday be celebrated on the third Monday of February starting in 1971.

There are various reasons that President's Day is becoming the preferred term for Washington's Birthday. Some have said that early drafts of the bill aimed to recognize Lincoln and other presidents on the holiday, but it never made it into law. States do not have to follow federal holidays, but many do recognize the holiday as "President's Day." The term has also been popularized by retail promotions this time of year (we have free publication offers year round, by the way).

Many Americans still celebrate the holiday as if it's George Washington's birthday with parades and other fanfare like the reading Washington's farewell address in Congress. You may wonder what General Washington would have thought of his birthday being recognized on a different date, and he probably would tell you it's not the first time.

Washington's birthday date changed in his lifetime when Great Britain and all of its colonies switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. Not only did the date change of February 11 become the 22nd, but so did the year from 1732 to 1733.

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You linked to the smallest celebration in the country; the largest is in Laredo, Texas. Yes, Laredo, where the cowboy wrapped in white linen walked the streets. It's HUGE. And it goes until Sunday, 24 February, this year. People can check out the remaining events at www.wbcalaredo.org/schedule.html

Posted by wsnaider on February 18, 2008 at 09:20 PM EST #

Wow! It's interesting to know that his birthday changed in his lifetime. He became a year younger! Boy would my Mom love that!

:-)

Posted by Cherish on April 08, 2008 at 03:42 PM EDT #

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