A California assemblyman strongly expressed his opposition against a bill seeking to adopt the International Worker’s Day as a regular, paid school holiday. Miguel Santiago, who is a member of the Democratic Party, introduced the said “May Day” bill aiming to designate every third Monday in February as “President’s Day.” Matthew Harper questioned Santiago if he’s aiming to compete to become the laughingstock of the United States.
He expressed his disbelief via televised speech by stating that the said bill was “insane” and ridiculous. If the bill gets passed, it will scrape off Abraham Lincoln and George Washington’s birthday as a school holiday and will be replaced with President’s Day and International Worker’s Day.
The International Socialist Workers’ Day, or also known as May Day, had been observed in countries under Communist rules. It is also considered as an official holiday of the Soviet Union which caused Harper to go inter even higher levels of incredulity.
Some states observe the day as part of Presidents’ Day, which is officially known as Washington’s Birthday. Various activities such as concerts, birthday parties, and re-enactments are often organized for the day. Organizations such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Kentucky Lincoln Heritage Trail, and the Indiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission often plan large-scale events to honor and remember Lincoln on or around his birthday.
A reading of the Gettysburg Address, as well as a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, are traditional events on February 12. Republican Party members may also hold Lincoln Day fundraising dinners because he is known as the first president of the Republican Party.
The History of Lincoln’s Birthday
Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, on February 12 in 1809. He lived for a while in Indiana and then moved to Illinois. He used to work on a farm, but he also split rails for fences, worked in a store, was a captain in the Black Hawk War, as well as a lawyer. He married Mary Todd and together they had four boys.
Lincoln started his political career when he was just 23 in 1832 as a Whig Party member. However, his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly was deemed unsuccessful. He then joined the newly formed Republican Party in 1854 and was nationally recognized during the 1858 debates with Stephen Douglas despite Douglas winning in the race for US Senator. Lincoln then won the presidency in 1860 and, despite being a Republican, rallied most of the northern Democrats to the Union cause during the Civil War which lasted until 1865.
Some of Lincoln’s names were the Great Emancipator, the Rail Splitter, and Honest Abe. He was the president throughout the American Civil War and is known worldwide for his struggle to preserve the Union and the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC on Good Friday, April 14, 1865. The assassination occurred less than two weeks after the Confederacy surrendered at Appomattox Court House in 1865.
Lincoln’s Birthday was first celebrated as a holiday in one year after his death, which is 1866. Many states have a joint holiday to honor both Lincoln and George Washington, sometimes calling it Presidents’ Day.
Washington’s Birthday Background
Washington’s Birthday is considered the country’s federal holiday which is held every third Monday of February in honor of former President George Washington. Washington was born on February 22, 1732, and became the first ever President of the United States. Because of the Uniform Federal Holidays Act of 1971, its observance can occur between February 15 and February 21 inclusive
The day is a state holiday in most states, with many official names. Depending on the state’s law, they can holiday can celebrate the Washington holiday alone, Washington and Abraham Lincoln (whose birthday is February 12), or some other combination of U.S. presidents (such as Washington and the third president Thomas Jefferson, who was born in April)
