Ok — here we are charging into the new year. New Year’s Day has come and gone and in case you didn’t know, that is the most celebrated holiday around the world. As you faithful readers are aware, I’m a big fan of holidays. Every month has a number of holidays and January is no exception. Each month has even come to be known for “something,” like Black History Month, or Breast Cancer Awareness Month. January has been designated as the “official” month for the following: National Book Month, National Thank You Month, National Eye Care Month, National Volunteer Blood Donor Month and National Soup Month. You notice that I said “official.” How does a holiday or cause become official? The short answer is that lots of variables can enter in to making a day or month official, but for a holiday to become a national holiday, it literally takes an act of Congress.
Congress has the power to declare something a federal holiday (little different than a national holiday.) There are only 11 federal holidays because it’s expensive – government workers don’t work on federal holidays. My extensive research found that more than 1,100 proposals for federal holidays have been floated by various congressmen over the last 30 years. Some wanted a Native Americans’ Day or a Susan B. Anthony Day — some wanted things like World Leprosy Day, Fanny Pack Day or Yell “fudge” at the Cobras Day… (you elected these people.)
The 11 national/federal holidays legally only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia. Neither the President or Congress has the authority to impose holidays on the States — each state determines its individual legal holidays.
In spite of the fact that there seems to be a movement against the practice, many holidays are religious in nature. I feel sorry for atheists — they have very few, if any holidays.
Then of course, there’s me — if you’ve followed this blog over the years you know that I regularly celebrate holidays that most others don’t. I won’t provide an extensive list because some years I add new holidays and delete some others. Since I retired, it’s become easier to take the day off and just celebrate rather than work. Just ignore those that say I’ve always done that, even before I retired.
So today, I’ve declared a holiday here in Shepherdstown. We’re celebrating the fact that on January 4, 1790 George Washington delivered the very first State of the Union address.
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