It is the third Monday of February, which means that today is President’s Day. It is a federal holiday. No mail. Some banks are closed, although my bank was open. For most of us, it is a regular work day. Officially, it is still Washington’s Birthday. However, it is not celebrated on Washington’s birth date of February 22 because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by President Richard Nixon in 1971.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Washington’s birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day to fall on a Monday so the nation’s workers would have more three day weekends. It was also believed that having the holidays fall on the same day of the week (Monday) would result in less absenteeism. After wide spread criticism, in 1980 Veteran’s Day was returned to its original November 11 date. The rest remained on a pre-determined Monday.
We know the dates of these events and celebrate them on a different date. The exact date Jesus was born, crucified or resurrected is not known, but we celebrate them on predetermined dates. Does it cheapen the meaning? Some feel it does. Most do not mind.
There was concern in the early church about whether a good Christian should observe the holy days celebrated by the Jews for many centuries. Some felt strongly that they should and others felt strongly that they should not because they were living under a new covenant, a new promise. Paul writes this:
Romans 14:5-6 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.
If you celebrate Passover, Easter, or President’s Day, you should do it to the LORD.
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