Monday, February 20, 2012

Is It Just One President? Or All of 'Em?

Happy President's Day!

That's a typo.  I know, I'm a word nerd.  I get that.  In fact, I like it more than a little bit.  When I was a kid, this holiday was called George Washington Day.  I had a little friend whose birthday fell on this day one year, so her mom planned a George Washington themed birthday party.  Out of all the birthday parties I attended as a kid, why is it that this is one of the few that stand out?  No idea.  But, I do remember coloring apples, bobbing for apples and eating apple pie (so crafty that mom, no?).

But I digress, at some point along the way, the holiday's moniker was changed to include all presidents (or is it just Washington and Jefferson?  Or just all the "good ones"?).  Hence:  President's Day.  But wait!  The way this is spelled assumes one singular president, possessive.  It should read "Presidents' Day" - plural, possessive.  Okay, that's our grammar lesson for today, folks.   No more.  I promise.

Back to your regularly scheduled program...

7 comments:

  1. We used to celebrate Abe Lincoln on Feb 12 and George Washington on Feb 22. The powers that be decided that they should both be celebrated together on a Monday so that we can have a three day weekend. Obviously, the powers that be weren't educated by the good sisters or they would know the proper grammar:)

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  2. That sounds like a lame birthday party. Where are the candy-filled treat bags? The full-of-sugary-goodness cake? Apple pie? Yikes!

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  3. An apple a day will keep the doctor away. I thought it was a cherry tree that was chopped down.

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  4. Kathy...I believe you are correct! In fact now I remember a big cherry piñata - ha! Must have been cherry pie - yuck!

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  5. Well, it could've been lamer. Like having to play "Pin the false teeth on the George," and playing "Truth or...Truth." You're right about the plural presidents! Who is in charge of these things?

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  6. It never dawned on me that President's Day was incorrect. Ack! And what - you say cherry pie is yuck? Well, you haven't had mine then. Girl...

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  7. Truth or Truth - HA! Tammy, you are funny. And Lynn, I am not a fan of cherries! But if it's anything like that black cake I'm a little nervous (ha,ha)...; )

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