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Commanding Costumes for Presidents’ Day

To many, Presidents’ Day is a pseudo holiday that means, if you’re lucky, you get the day off school or work and get to flip through the television channels watching the auto dealership guys wearing big Uncle Sam hats jumping up and down peddling their cars. But more historically-minded folks know that President’s Day, now celebrated the 3^rd Monday of each February, is a federal holiday that originally started out in 1880 as a way to honor our nation’s first president, George Washington.  Washington was born on February 22, 1732 while Abe Lincoln, our much revered 16th president, celebrated his birthday on February 12, 1809. In the 70s, Congress voted to dedicate the holiday to both men, and actually all of our past presidents regardless of what month they were born in.  Interestingly, in addition to Washington and Lincoln, Ronald Regan and William Harrison were the only other two presidents born in February. The month boasting the most presidents born is actually October with six!

This year Presidents' Day falls on February 15th, celebrate in style by dressing up as one of the past leaders of the free world, excluding our current president, Barack Obama, you have 43 past presidents to choose from. Of course, because of his role in the founding of the United States, George Washington is always a top choice in president costumes. The most popular George Washington costume is designed to resemble is Colonial-era General uniform. Leather boots, a powered wig and a tricorn hat will lend you a commanding look – and that’s no lie!  An Abe Lincoln costume, of course, features the tall stove pipe hat he was known for toting his legal documents around in! A beard with mutton chops finished the look off, honestly! If you are more interested in dressing up as a contemporary president, there are many latex masks that you can pair with a dark business suit – Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan, and Nixon are perfect choices for supporters and pundits alike!