Presidents' Day?
Presidents Day?
There appears to be no consistency ... looks like preference over rules ... no particular rhyme or reason, just preference. Also there are some states that don't celebrate or recognize today as a "holiday" at all, neither for one, nor many.
The stats I've found indicate that
Having spent more than half my working life in print advertising and/or newspapers as both a proofreader, editor and writer, here's my take on the whole thing.
'President's Day' would be appropriate if you intend to use this 'holiday' for respect and recognition of President George Washington's birthday only, of which it was originally intended. Of course, instead of paying respect on the "day" of his birth, the government changed it so the nation's workers could have a "3-day weekend" ... go figure ... government and many fortune 500 employees get the day off; most of us common laborers, work!
Since now it is mostly hailed as recognition for ALL presidents, regardless of their birth date. Hence, 'Presidents' Day'.
'Presidents Day' ... it just doesn't seem to fit, at all.
How many states celebrate? Here are the general stats, about that:
- 41 states obsere some form of Washington, Lincoln or Presidents’ Day
- 38** states observe a form of this holiday the 3rd Monday of February
- 9 states observe Washington’s Birthday only
- 24 states observe Presidents’ Day only
- 9 states do not observe any form of this holiday, at any time during the year
The above stats are from a table compiled by Geometrx.com
*based on 2012 State Holidays listings from individual state government websites
A breakdown, in case you're curious about who does, and who does not ...
Alabama - George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday
Alaska - President’s Day
Arizona - Lincoln/Washington/Presidents’ Day
Arkansas - George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day
California - President’s Day
Colorado - Presidents’ Day
Connecticut - Washington’s Birthday
Delaware - No holiday observed
Florida - No holiday observed
Georgia - Washington’s Birthday *Observed on Dec. 24th
Hawaii - Presidents’ Day
Idaho - Presidents’ Day
Illinois - Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day)
Indiana - Washington’s Birthday *Observed on Dec. 24th
Iowa - No holiday observed
Kansas - No holiday observed
Kentucky - No holiday observed
Louisiana - No holiday observed
Maine - Washington’s Birthday/President’s Day
Maryland - Presidents’ Day
Massachusetts - Washington’s Birthday
Michigan - Presidents Day
Minnesota - Presidents’ Day
Mississippi - George Washington’s Birthday
Missouri - Washington’s Birthday
Montana - Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthday
Nebraska - President’s Day
Nevada - Presidents’ Day
New Hampshire - Washington’s Birthday
New Jersey - Presidents Day
New Mexico - Presidents’ Day *Observed day after Thanksgiving
New York - Washington’s Birthday
North Carolina - No holiday observed
North Dakota - Presidents’ Day
Ohio - President’s Day
Oklahoma - Presidents’ Day
Oregon - Presidents’ Day
Pennsylvania - Presidents’ Day
Rhode Island - No holiday observed
South Carolina - George Washington’s Birthday / President’s Day
South Dakota - Presidents’ Day
Tennessee - Presidents’ Day
Texas - Presidents’ Day
Utah - Washington and Lincoln DayVermontPresidents’ Day
Virginia - George Washington DayWashingtonPresidents’ Day
West Virginia - Presidents Day
Wisconsin - No holiday observed
Wyoming - President’s Day