8 Fun Facts About Presidents' Day

If you’re wondering why we celebrate Presidents’ Day, you’re not alone! Many have an idea about the holiday's origin, but there’s so much more to the day than people may know. Knowing about the history of the United States is essential so that people can see how far the country has come, the mistakes it has made that should be avoided in the future, and how different presidents can change the course of politics in the United States for years after their reign. Let’s dive into some info and fun facts about Presidents’ Day (held on the third Monday of February each year)!

What Is Presidents’ Day Celebrated For?
Presidents’ Day in the United States was enacted to celebrate the country’s first president, George Washington, and the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln (or, as some may know him, Honest Abe). It was, and still is, officially referred to as Washington’s Birthday because the date set for Presidents’ Day was none other than Washington’s first on earth. This date in the 1880s was solely dedicated to America’s first leader.

Flash forward to 1968, when congress decided to change the date of Washington’s birthday celebrations to the third Monday in February instead of his actual birthday. They wanted to celebrate Washington and Lincoln, and changing the date would allow them to do so. They aimed to change the name to Presidents’ Day officially, but were denied. 

Today, celebrations that honor the day are quiet and can consist of some formal ceremonies across the country. Many government-run businesses, such as schools, offices, and companies, close to honor the country’s first leader and the presidents who followed him. (Retail establishments don’t generally get the day off, but they often use it to offer celebratory Presidents’ Day sales!)

While it is still technically called Washington’s Birthday, most of the country refers to this celebration as Presidents’ Day and utilizes the holiday to celebrate not only Washington and Lincoln, but all American leaders, past and present.

Fun Facts About Presidents’ Day
There are so many fun facts for kids about Presidents’ Day that it’s hard to narrow them down, but if you’re wondering what else you don’t know about the day, keep reading to find out!

1. Washington got all the votes
   When George Washington was first elected in 1789, every member of the first round of voters for the United States Electoral College voted for him. That means he got 69 of the possible 69 votes that he needed to take his position as leader of the United States of America. That was the first (and only) time this happened in U.S. presidential history.
2. It’s not just about Washington
   Today, Presidents’ Day celebrates all previous United States presidents. Because of this, many are starting to learn about the lives of those who have built the United States from the ground up. For example, did you know that George Washington and James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, were the only two to sign the Constitution? James Madison was also the shortest man to take the title at 5 feet 4 inches, whereas Lincoln was the tallest at 6 feet 4 inches!
3. Lincoln was an eccentric character
   So what are some fun facts about presidents themselves? Look no further than Abe Lincoln. Many people like to think of Lincoln as Honest Abe, the good guy president of the past – and while that still holds true, there are some other facts about him you may not know. For example, the day before he was assassinated, he actually dreamt he would be killed, even sharing the dream with his bodyguard. On top of this, Lincoln kept a close eye on his personal letters and documents and stored them within his now-infamous stovepipe hat.
4. Presidency doesn’t discriminate against age
   While many presidents ruling the United States over the years have been older, this wasn’t always the case. In fact, Teddy Roosevelt held office when he was just 42 years old. The current president, Joe Biden, is 78 years old. The stark age difference between the two shows that you’re never too young or old to become President of the United States!
5. Roosevelt was the first televised president
   In today’s digitally advanced world, it’s hard to even imagine a life without TV. But one of our U.S. presidential fun facts is focused on Franklin D. Roosevelt and his appearance on television. TVs weren’t around when George Washington was running the country, but when they were developed, it didn’t take long for Roosevelt to take advantage of the new medium! He was the first president to appear on screens across American living rooms from the World’s Fair in 1939.
6. Reagan kept things light in the face of danger
   Several American presidents have faced the threat of assassination over the years. Having death looming at every turn can’t be easy, but that didn’t stop Ronald Reagan from making light of it when he was shot in 1981. After being hit, he even quipped to his wife that he “forgot to duck”. Later, a balloon popped loudly at one of his speeches, and he proved just how lighthearted he could be by saying to the crowd, “Missed me.”
   Other presidents to experience assassinations or assassination attempts include Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, Andrew Jackson, and George W. Bush.
7. Presidents are people just like us
   While many people look to the leader of the United States to be more than human, they are no more or no less than you or anyone else you know. For example: did you know that Barack Obama worked at Baskin Robbins for so long that he no longer enjoys ice cream? Or that John F. Kennedy was a boy scout, and George W. Bush studied for a Master of Business Administration degree?
   Many presidents even have music or audiophilic skills, with Bill Clinton playing the saxophone in a high school band and Obama winning a Grammy for work he did on an audiobook called Dreams From My Father.
8. Being the president doesn't protect you from illness
   Presidents have their own highly trained staff of medical doctors standing by in case they get sick, but even so, they aren’t a stranger to the perils of ill health. Several presidents died because of illness during their terms, including William Henry Harrison, Warren G. Harding, and Zachary Taylor.

So, there you have it! Some interesting and perhaps lesser-known facts about Presidents’ Day and the leaders the holiday celebrates. Understanding those who came before us is a great way to create a vision for where the country is headed and the type of president we want leading us at the helm.

 

Featured image by Kristina Volgenau on Unsplash