Save the Dates

National Margarita Day

Margarita: photo by Cliff Hutson

National Margarita Day returns on February 22, 2020, are you prepared? The limes may cost you more this year. And, remember to drink responsibly!

Washington's Birthday

Not Really a Pie: photo by Cliff Hutson

Tomorrow is also said to be George Washington's birthday.

Traditionally, Washington is said to have been born on February 22. But, funny story, he was actually born on On February 11, 1731. There was a switch from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. This adjustment eliminated the days between September 3 and September 13.  The missing eleven days resulted in many people adjusting their birthdates to the new system.

Thus February 22 became a Federal holiday, schools and offices closed. Eating cherry pie was a common ritual in remembrance of the oft told tale of his chopping down a cherry tree as a young lad. However,  we do not observe that date any longer, some of you may never have.

Presidents' Day

Today,  Monday, February 21, is Presidents' Day in the United States. Celebrated every year on the third Monday of February, it is designated (depending on which state you live in) to honor the first president (Washington), the first and third (Jefferson) presidents, or, the first and 16th (Lincoln).

Once upon a time, in the state I grew up in, Abraham Lincoln had his own holiday, February 12. Thus many  people got two days off in the shortest month of the year. But, there has never been a federal Lincoln-birthday holiday. I am certain that at least eleven states would have ignored it anyway, just as most have no use for Jefferson Davis Day.

I am probably in the minority in my feeling that we have lost a little something by having moved our traditional observances from the actual dates to Mondays in order to have more three day weekends,  However, it is good that we still remember some of our past.