February 12 is Lincoln’s Birthday.

Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809, so it has now been 212 years since his birth.

Where and where Lincoln’s Birthday is celebrated is getting more complicated over time.

Here in California some public institutions celebrate it on February 12 and others on the Monday before President’s Day. By celebrating on the Monday before there are two long weekends in a row.

Our local library was closed on Monday this week, but the courts are closed on Friday. The post office did not close at all this week. The local schools were closed on Monday.

Some businesses will be open and others will be closed. Many businesses have dropped the celebration of Lincoln’s Birthday in favor of other holidays. For many it was convenient to simply combine Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays into Presidents’ Day to free up a day to observe another holiday.

I remember Lincoln by having a Mister Lincoln rose bush in my front yard. Unfortunately, the time of his birthday is during the short time of year when it doesn’t bloom.

At least there are other times in the year when we can remember Lincoln, like the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.

Tomorrow I may look through some of my many books about Lincoln as I remember him on his birthday.

Steven