What's Open, Closed On Presidents Day In Needham

NEEDHAM, MA — Three cheers for a three-day weekend if you work for the government, go to school, or just have Presidents Day off. It also means trash and recycling pickup will be delayed one day.

The holiday was actually established in 1885 to honor President George Washington. Then, as part of a Uniform Monday Holiday Act that proposed the country celebrate holidays on Mondays rather than the day they fell on the calendar so that workers could have three-day weekends, it was proposed to be changed. That didn't go over so well at first.

During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington's Birthday be renamed Presidents Day to celebrate the birthdays of both Washington on Feb. 22 and President Abe Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12. Congress actually rejected the name change in 1968 version of the bill. But after the bill went into effect in 1971, Presidents Day became the commonly accepted name anyway.

Here's a look at what's open and closed this Monday for Presidents Day:

• Government buildings: Closed
• Schools: Closed
• Libraries: Closed
• Post Office: Closed
• Banks: Closed
• Restaurants: Open
• Retail stores: Open
• Supermarkets: Open
• Liquor stores: Open
• Gas stations: Open

Photo by Dan Libon