Presidents' Day Revamped: Introducing Patriotism Day

Presidents’ Day used to mean something. It was a time to honor the great leaders who have shaped our country today, from George Washington’s unwavering leadership to Abraham Lincoln’s defense of the Union. But nowadays, the holiday has become little more than an excuse for mattress sales and a long weekend. The truth is, Presidents’ Day has lost its meaning.

Communication scholars Richard M. Perloff and Anup Kumar suggest one way to resurrect the patriotic spirit of Presidents’ Day: to step away from mythologizing former presidents and focus on fostering a shared sense of community for Americans on all sides of the political spectrum. 

Introducing: Patriotism Day

Instead of a day that passively acknowledges past presidents, let’s create a new holiday—Patriotism Day—dedicated to celebrating America itself. Not just one leader, not just one moment in history, but the spirit of the entire nation.

Perloff and Kumar state that rebranding the holiday to ‘Patriotism Day’ honors “quintessential patriotic American values, like individualism, equality and rule of law.” Instead of commemorating the lives of specific presidents such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Patriotism Day would encourage younger generations to imagine themselves as future leaders and tackle national issues.

Patriotism Day would be a day to:

• Teach American history—the good, the great, and the struggles we’ve overcome
• Encourage civic pride and engagement—because being American isn’t just about where you live; it’s about what you stand for
• Create a sense of community—no matter who you are or what you believe, we are all united by one thing: the country that we share
• Still celebrate our presidents!—honoring the leaders who shaped our nation, their triumphs, and the lessons learned along the way

Bringing Back National Pride

Patriotism Day would give us a chance to come together, fly the flag proudly, and remind the next generation why this country is worth our hard work and dedication.

We don’t need another holiday that people forget about. We need a holiday that inspires. One that reminds us of the principles of freedom, individual rights, and the strength of the American people.

What do you think? Should Presidents Day continue to honor the past, reminding us of the great American leaders who have shaped our nation today? Or should we focus on the future, encouraging our next generation of legislators and presidents to heal our modern political divides?

In any case, there’s one thing we know well at Flags.com - we can continue to celebrate the country we all live in by proudly flying our American flags on this flag-flying holiday!