# Why no "Happy Presidents' Day"? Stop the discrimination! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846 "2015-02-16T19:57:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/1 "2015-02-16T19:57:37Z")
In 67 years, I’ve never heard anybody say “Happy P-day”, and before that was a thing, “Happy Washington’s (or Lincoln’s) Birthday”. We say ‘Happy 4th of July’, ‘Happy Easter’ (which is odd), etc.; I’ve even heard some nitwit say ‘Happy Groundhog Day’. This seems to be rank discrimination against our founding fodder and the rest, and I call for an end to it. Except maybe for Nixon, 'cause he was a dick. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/2 "2015-02-16T20:42:17Z")
Dude. They died, one of them by assassination. You’re happy about that? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/3 "2015-02-16T20:45:03Z")
Happy Washington’s Birthday, **Chefguy**!! After all, today’s legal holiday ( 5 USC 6103(a)) remains only as Washington’s Birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/4 "2015-02-16T21:41:13Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Happy Washington’s Birthday, **Chefguy**!! After all, today’s legal holiday ( 5 USC 6103(a)) remains only as Washington’s Birthday. On the federal calendar, it’s [Presidents’ Day](http://www.calendar-12.com/federal_holidays/2015). I’m stickin’ wid it. ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/5 "2015-02-16T23:21:36Z")
Uhg, I forgot to get Obama anything. I’ll have to quick pick something up at the gas station and try to pass it off as being practical. I don’t know who has a happy Presidents day except mailmen. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/6 "2015-02-16T23:37:16Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > On the federal calendar, it’s [Presidents’ Day](http://www.calendar-12.com/federal_holidays/2015). I’m stickin’ wid it. Actually no. > **[Federal Holidays](https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/)** > > Welcome to opm.gov > [@](#): > > \*This holiday is designated as “Washington’s Birthday” in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law. ---
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/7 "2015-02-16T23:37:20Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Uhg, I forgot to get Obama anything. I’ll have to quick pick something up at the gas station and try to pass it off as being practical. > > I don’t know who has a happy Presidents day except mailmen. Other federal and many state employees. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/8 "2015-02-16T23:43:34Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Actually no. > > [Federal Holidays](http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/snow-dismissal-procedures/federal-holidays/#url=2015) This is very confusing. Nobody ever says “Washington’s Birthday Mattress Sale!” The Fed needs to quit [living in the past, man](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuP9YClyPRY). ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/9 "2015-02-17T01:14:46Z")
Washington is usually a white sale. Lincoln ----- car discounts. And yes – I’m kidding. Barely. Wait? I thought it had changed to “Great Americans Day”? Or is that another date my Dayrunner missed? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-happy-presidents-day-stop-the-discrimination/712846/10 "2015-02-17T03:34:44Z")
Here are the “official names” of the holidays in California: Every Sunday January 1st The third Monday in January, known as “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” February 12th, known as “Lincoln Day” The third Monday in February March 31st, known as “Cesar Chavez Day” The last Monday in May July 4th The first Monday in September September 9th, known as “Admission Day” The fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day” The second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day” November 11th, known as “Veterans Day” December 25th Good Friday, from noon until 3 PM There was a time when banks in California would close at noon on Good Friday. Note that most of them would not open back up at 3:00, even though a lot of banks normally stayed open until 6:00 on Fridays.