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1. Every Presidents Day, many Americans celebrate the birth of George Washington by … heading to auto dealers for big sales events. Overall sales can surge by as much as 25 percent.
2. It’s an odd sort of holiday. In the early republic, it was marked by raucous celebration. By the time it became a federal holiday? It had “fallen into innocuous desuetude, being seldom observed except by country debating societies.” theatlantic.com/national/archi…
3. To the rescue rode … the nation’s bicyclists? Yes, with most stores closed, purveyors of freedom and mobility on two wheels worked to turned Washington’s Birthday into a sales extravaganza, luring buyers dreaming of spring weather.
4. Presidents Day became Bicycle Day. “Some riders are wondering what the immortal Father of his Country would say could he review the parade as part of his birthday celebration, but ... with all lovers of truth, that it was an inspiring and beautiful sight."
5. Bicycle dealers expanded into new product lines—first motorcycles, and then newfangled automobiles. The sales events stayed. And the nation got its first consumerist holiday, an annual celebration of illusory discounts and the freedom to shop. theatlantic.com/national/archi…
