22 February 2018 - Happy Birthday Mr. President

Kippered Cherries for Washington's Birthday

"They want us to celebrate Washington's birthday as part of a long weekend."

Earlier this week we were out of work and school because of President's Day.

Our nation's first President, Mr. George Washington died in 1799. On February 22, 1800 the nation remembered their first president as this was actually his day of birth.

It wasn't until the 1870's that his birthday became a federal holiday. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect and such holidays were moved to a Monday in the month to give workers a longer weekend.

Washington's Birthday, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Columbus Day were all moved from their traditional dates.

Marketers soon jumped on this opportunity to promote sales on these " 3 day weekends".

Celebrate the birthday of our nation's first president by getting free shipping!

(No lie. I got free shipping on an order this weekend.)

In the 1970's, when the act passed to move these days to Monday's, there was some criticism that this would "cheapen" the meaning of the day.

Really can you blame them?

How many people know that today is actually President George Washington's birthday?

Our Almanac suggests a way of celebrating and remembering our nation's first commander in chief by making "Kippered Cherries".

We usually associate cherries with George Washington. Legend says he chopped down a cherry tree and the famous "I cannot tell a lie" came to life.

Kippered Cherries are meant to accompany meat and poultry.

Here is how to make it!

Pit sour cherries, place in a jar, and cover with cider vinegar.

Marinate for two days.

Drain vinegar and add a cup of sugar for each cup of cherries.

Stir occassionaly until the sugar is all dissolved.

Put in a sterile glass jar and seal.

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