Karaganda RURL

On Sunday we have discussed Presidents’ Day of the USA at Speaking club which was conducted by  moderator Olga Volkova.Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government. Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present.

Our participants read information about this holiday, about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. They knew a lot  of interesting facts about their life, political career and Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  Mount Rushmore features 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln . AC patrons worked in groups. The first group read the history of this holiday and about  memorial, the second group read about the first President  George Washington, the third group about Abraham Lincoln’s impact to the history of USA.  Then each group shared with their information.

Washington and Lincoln still remain the two most recognized leaders, and it was very interesting and informative discussion for our participants. There was a book exhibition which consist of amazing books about history of  USA, presidents such as “Boston Tea Party”, “George vs George: the American revolution as seen from both sides”, “The Lincolns”. After discussion AC users looked through these books and were impressed.