My grandson woke up this morning and immediately informed his unwitting mom,

“Mommy, it’s Presidents Day today.”

She was surprised that he knew that this U.S.  holiday existed at 4 1/2 years old.  (Apparently, his teacher at his Jewish day school had taught him that!)

I was not sooo surprised because I knew he had an amazing teacher at school..but then I started to think how people and kids nowadays call it “Presidents Day” and practically forget which of the United States Presidents we are celebrating.

You see, when we were kids, there was no such a thing as “Presidents Day.” There was ______ Birthday and _____ birthday, and those 2 days fell on the exact days of ______ and ______’s birthdays. Not on some random day that works for the holiday weekend and shopping, and lumped together as “Presidents Day” (read:  American history knowledge watered down).

In fact, if I were to ask American  kids of various ages these days which presidents this day is in honor of, I wonder if they would know.

Why would I wonder? Because if we are having a day off called “Presidents Day” we might as well know what that “Presidents Day” is for. That’s all. In the old days we knew. We knew which president(s) were being commemorated and it had some meaning because of that.

Are these facts earth-shattering facts that all Americans should know?

No. But it would seem important for general knowledge, and I claim that something has been lost in that this holiday is not the same as it used to be.  It is all about meaning, and value. Not some random celebrating and days off for going shopping.

Here are some questions for residents of the U.S.  (answers on bottom)

1. Which U.S. Presidents are commemorated on Presidents Day?

2. What about them do we celebrate?

3. When are these Presidents’  actual and real birthdays?

4. Why do we now  have one day for two presidents?

5. What number presidents were each of these presidents?

Here are the answers:

1. George Washington. Abraham Lincoln.

2. Their birthdays in February

3.  George Washington – Feb 22. Abraham Lincoln – Feb 12.

4. Because it got too much to have 2 holidays off in February so they combined the 2 birthdays into 1 arbitrary day which is the 3rd Monday in February.

5. George Washington – 1st president of the U.S.

Abraham Lincoln – 16th president of the U.S.

Now please tell me that even though all American children do not necessarily know these standard American history facts, that every U.S. grandmother and non-grandmother knew the answers to the above!

I venture to guess that many grandmothers and folks my age are nodding their heads in agreement.

Have a happy February and may we celebrate all holidays with mind and meaning with knowing what the origin is, whether that be Presidents’ Day (Aka Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays as we called it back in the old days), or Veterans Day, or any other day.

Whether that be a Jewish Holiday, or a great mentor or rabbi’s birthday or date of death.

Let’s keep our days of remembrance special and meaningful.