OT: Anybody have the holiday off today?

[FrankWakefield]

No day off... PO and bank closed, schools were already out, most businesses open, state courts locally are open (I believe it was an option for the circuits across the state to open or not). I think this year the holiday sneaked up on some people, and that within a few short years more state and local offices will close. And Walmart, drug stores, fast food places will remain open.

Who of us remember when there were separate holidays for Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's birthday, back before they were merged for that joint President's day that is always on a Monday? I recall looking up in an encyclopedia about Washington's birthday... when he was born the date was February 11. But that was on the Julian Calendar (this little geek kid hadn't heard of that). When Britain and the colonies shifted to the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, they shifted 11 days (which lead to a bunch of lawsuits because of landlords and creditors wanting a month's rent or interest on a 19 or 20 day month). Anyway, Washington's birthday moved to February 22nd.

Lincoln was born on February 12, long after the calendar switch confusion. When I was in grade school both dates were separate holidays. By the time I was in Jr High School Presidents Day was covering both days, and kinda covers all President's birthdays. I believe Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday here in Kentucky, and state offices have the option of closing or not. Hardly any do anymore.

Julian calendar... Gregorian calendar... I don't think I actually totally understood the 'why' of that calendar swith stuff, but I do recall it lead to me grabbing other encyclopedia volumes and reading about leap years and the Dog Star, Sirius, the flooding of the Nile, and how long it took the Earth to orbit the Sun.

So no day off here, but it will be in a very few years.