Christmas in September?

After reading last week’s editorial about Abraham Lincoln, Dave Michael furnished an explanation of why Lincoln’s Birthday is no longer a state holiday. Or, to be more exact, why West Virginia now “honors” Lincoln in November instead of February.

Michael, who is Morgan County’s emergency services director, said Lincoln’s Birthday was taken off the state holiday list a few years ago by then-Governor Joe Manchin.

At the same time, the state declared the Friday after Thanksgiving as a standing holiday. Of course, state employees had always gotten that day off, anyway, so they felt they actually lost a paid holiday. Republicans in the Legislature then pushed to rename Black Friday as “Lincoln Day,” though the date really has nothing more to do with the 16th president than any other day.

For the record, eight states still recognize Lincoln’s February 12 birthday as a holiday. As for Presidents Day, it’s still officially known as Washington’s Birthday, though no longer celebrated on February 22.

At least we don’t “honor” George Washington in August.