[this is a repost (with a few tweaks here and there) of my annual “Family Day/Presidents’ Day” post].
Monday, February 21st: There is a holiday in the US and Canada (but not the same holiday across Canada. Please read on to find out what’s going on today in the US and the “Great White North”)!
Today in the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta there is a holiday called, “Family Day”. This fairly new holiday falls on the third Monday in February. In the province of British Columbia, Family Day is held on the second Monday of February. “Islander Day” is celebrated today in the Province of Prince Edward Island. “Louis Riel Day” is held today in the Province of Manitoba. As for the remaining provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, there is nothing. Well, there is something; it’s called, “Oh no, is it really Monday again and we are back to work already?”
In the United States today is, “Presidents’ Day”. A few years ago I had to ask what this actually stands for in terms of celebrating. Is it a day like Mother’s Day where we send the President a greeting card (*biggest grin I can muster*?) Well, no, it is actually the celebration of Washington’s birthday; the first President of the United States. Why then, is it called, “Presidents’ Day” connoting more than one President? Was Washington more that what one assumed? No, it was President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th. But wait, it gets even better than that!
Washington’s actual birth date was February 22nd! Oh, and let’s really add some birthday cake confusion to the mix: In the state of Indiana, December 24th is a state holiday called, “Washington’s Birthday”.
Confused yet? I sure am. I can’t imagine how President Washington would feel knowing he was getting twice as old in the state of Indiana each year! *grin*
Ah, the antiquated preponderance of such ‘states’ of confusion, as it were.
Wherever you are today, whether you are celebrating a holiday, or whether it’s simply another Monday, I’m sending some positive vibes your way!
The Chicago Files 