Presidents' Day

On the third Monday in February, our nation celebrates Presidents’ Day, in commemoration of the birthdays of President George Washington (1st President) and President Abraham Lincoln (16th President). This holiday, coupled with our blog, reminded me of George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation.

When George Washington was a young man, age 16, he transcribed that list of 110 rules of etiquette and manners that find their origin among French Jesuits in the 16th century. While some of these guidelines for pleasant courtesies may sound peculiar or outdated at first glance, they do reflect what it means to be well-mannered, even today. Well, except maybe for Rule No. 9, "Spit not in the Fire, nor Stoop low before it neither Put your Hands into the Flames to warm them, nor Set your Feet upon the Fire especially if there be meat before it."

As we have noted in earlier blog entries (our very first one in fact), when someone is well-mannered they do not focus on themselves, but rather think about others and seek to make them feel welcome and comfortable. When people follow these timeless maxims, they display a kindness of spirit and help do their little part to ensure the continuation of polite society.

Click here to look at the list of George Washington’s 110 Rules – which one is your favorite?

We at Marvelously Well-Mannered think George Washington's Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversations (Little Books of Wisdom) available at Amazon.com makes a fabulous gift – for young boys and girls, and would be a nice reference book for all of us.