John Switzer, in his Columbus Dispatch newspaper column last week, decried the amalgamation that created the Presidents Day holiday and obliterated celebration of George Washington's birthday.
I doubt most college students today could tell you why Americans used to consider February 22 significant (or February 12, for that matter). And by lumping the two holidays into a "Presidents Day," it has given the impression that we're equally celebrating Millard Fillmore and Chester Arthur.
But what disturbs my mother greatly is that a culinary tradition that grew up around Washington's birthday has been completely forgotten. It was once common for Americans to enjoy cherry pie on Washington's birthday, and this year she baked such a pie in a valiant (and delicious, I might add) attempt to maintain tradition.
I suggested afterwards that she should have baked a log cake for Lincoln's birthday. We'll see if she takes up the suggestion next year.