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 Washington, Lincoln and Swallowing Swords For many of you, President’s Day is a day to relax at home because you have the day off work. But do you really know why we celebrate the holiday to begin with?President’s Day actually started out as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday, which was February 22. We didn’t actually observe his birthday as a national holiday until 1832. Another one of our country’s most popular presidents, Abraham Lincoln, was also born in February (the 12th), and in 1865, the year after his assassination, America began to celebrate his birthday, too. In 1968, Congress passed the “Monday Holiday Law,” to provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays. By creating additional three-day weekends, Congress hoped to "bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation." (Thank you for the three-day weekends, Congress!) In 1971, President Nixon tacked Lincoln’s birthday celebration on to that same third Monday in February, making the day one heckova combined birthday celebration. Today, we celebrate Presidents' Day as a holiday that pays tribute to both Washington and Lincoln, as well as to all those who have served as president. On a slightly less-serious (and more dangerous) note, this coming Saturday, February 26, is National Sword Swallowers Day. Typically, sword swallowers flock to various Ripley’s Believe It or Not locations every year on this day to practice their ancient art. If you find yourself close to Branson, Mo. this weekend, stop by Ripley’s at 2:26 p.m. to catch some of the sword swallowing action. [+] add comment |