February seems to have been the season in Ancient Rome for commemorating the 'household gods' and also the shades of the departed ancestors. These memorials began during the Ides of February with the Parentalia for the ancestors. Followed by the Feralia and Carista. During this time all temples and government offices were closed and marriages forbidden.
Could 'Presidents' Day' be an echo of this in our time?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lares
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feralia
http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/
Jane Harrison is most enlightening in this dark area:
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