Monday, February 18, 2008
Washington's Birthday
So today is President’s Day. Actually not. It is officially Washington’s Birthday. But for some reason everyone thinks we have lumped celebrating Lincoln’s birthday into day and that will sell more crap at Macy’s. But Lincoln wasn’t born today. He was born last Tuesday. No president was born today. The best we can do is that Wendell Willkie was born on this day in 1892. He was the GOP candidate in 1940 losing to FDR. But his most odd claim to fame is having an affair with Madame Chiang Kai-shek in her bizarre ambition to become the most powerful woman in the world.
So why today? In 1971 congress moved Washington’s Birthday to be celebrated on the third Monday in February along with moving to Mondays Memorial and Veterans Days. This is also when Columbus Day was created. But in 1978 they decided to move Veterans Day back to its actual day of November 11.
So when exactly was George Washington born? That’s a great question! Today it is listed as 22 February 1732. But when he was born it was 11 February 1731. Yes you read that right. When he was born we were still on the Julian calendar so the new year began on 25 March. The day after 24 March 1731 was 25 March 1732. In 1752 England converted to the Gregorian calendar. To align the years 1752 began on 25 March and ended on 31 December and 2 September 1752 was followed by 14 September 1752, 11 days missing.
So Washington’s Birthday was moved forward 11 days from the 11th to the 22nd. So when will we celebrate the government holiday on his actual birthday? NEVER! The third Monday has to be between the 15th and the 21st missing out on both days.
So why today? In 1971 congress moved Washington’s Birthday to be celebrated on the third Monday in February along with moving to Mondays Memorial and Veterans Days. This is also when Columbus Day was created. But in 1978 they decided to move Veterans Day back to its actual day of November 11.
So when exactly was George Washington born? That’s a great question! Today it is listed as 22 February 1732. But when he was born it was 11 February 1731. Yes you read that right. When he was born we were still on the Julian calendar so the new year began on 25 March. The day after 24 March 1731 was 25 March 1732. In 1752 England converted to the Gregorian calendar. To align the years 1752 began on 25 March and ended on 31 December and 2 September 1752 was followed by 14 September 1752, 11 days missing.
So Washington’s Birthday was moved forward 11 days from the 11th to the 22nd. So when will we celebrate the government holiday on his actual birthday? NEVER! The third Monday has to be between the 15th and the 21st missing out on both days.
# posted by ChrisR @ 10:00 PM 
