What Day Is Presidents Day And More Facts
Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February, but do you and your kids know why? Do you know when it became a holiday? Here are some things and fun facts you and your kids should know about Presidents Day.
Washington’s Birthday
Presidents Day was not always known as such. In fact, it used to be simply a celebration of George Washington’s birthday, which is February 22. Even when George Washington was alive his birthday was celebrated as a holiday. But in 1968, the United States Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act, which moved the holiday to the third Monday in February.
Why Presidents Day?
It’s hard to say how and when the holiday went from Washington’s birthday to Presidents Day. It may have to do with the attempt to combine Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays into one holiday (Lincoln’s birthday is February 12). Interestingly, the name Presidents Day has never really been officially recognized; it’s still Washington’s birthday. But people generally refer to it as Presidents Day, probably because of the two presidents whose birthdays we’re celebrating.
Grover Cleveland – 22nd and 24th President
Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States, but only 43 individuals have served in that office. That’s because of Grover Cleveland, the only president who was elected for two terms that were non-consecutive.
Youngest and Oldest
The youngest elected president was John F. Kennedy (43), and the oldest was Ronald Reagan (69). But the youngest acting president was 42-year-old Theodore Roosevelt, who served as president in succession to President William McKinley, who was assassinated.
Fun Presidential Facts
* William Howard Taft weighed 300 pounds, and once got stuck in the White House bathtub.
* Ronald Reagan was the only divorced president.
* President John Tyler had 15 children.
* Washington had no biological children, but did have 2 stepchildren.
* President Buchanan was the only president to remain a bachelor.
* James Madison was only 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighed a mere 100 pounds.
* Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to appear on television.
Money
Do you know which presidents are on American currency? Here’s a list:
* Penny: Lincoln
* Nickel: Jefferson
* Dime: Franklin D. Roosevelt
* Quarter: Washington
* 50-cent piece: Kennedy
* Dollar bill: Washington
* Five dollar bill: Lincoln
* Twenty dollar bill: Andrew Jackson
* Fifty dollar bill: Ulysses S. Grant
There is a two dollar bill, and it features Thomas Jefferson. The ten dollar bill does not have a president, but features Benjamin Franklin.
