Today is a federal holiday honoring the birthday of first president George Washington. Washington was actually born on February 22, but in 1971, the holiday was "shifted to the third Monday in February, by the Uniform Monday Act" (per Wikipedia). Given that Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12, some state governments call the holiday "President's Day." And then the marketers got involved, making this day for sales as well and many presidents in one fell swoop.
It's officially "Washington's Birthday" in New York, and government offices are closed. All of the post offices locations, except the Farley P.O. on Eighth Avenue at 32nd, are closed. Many banks are closed, financial markets are closed, there's no trash or recycling and alternate side parking regulations are suspended. Schools are closed, as they are for the whole week - the kids are on winter recess break.
Some offices are closed - is yours? And maybe after today, the crazy NYLI Honda commercials of the rapping founding fathers to end.
Image of Washington from the White House for Kids biography
