On April 3, Tweed Day is observed either to commemorate the life of William ‘Boss’ Tweed or to celebrate tweed in general. The enigma surrounding the origin and purpose of the holiday only adds to its allure. There is no better place to discover all the relevant information you need for the day’s celebrations than right here. On this day, you can choose to celebrate either a rogue or a soft, warm material.
The background of National Tweed Day
There is disagreement regarding the true purpose of tweed day. Some believe the day is celebrated in honour of William “Boss” Tweed, while others believe it is a celebration of the tweed fabric. Consider both proposed hypotheses.
On April 3, 1823, Tweed, also known as Boss Tweed, was born. He was an American politician who also held a number of positions on the boards of directors of various corporations. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives and the Senate at various periods. Eventually, he became the third-largest landowner in New York City through the illicit acquisition of public funds. In 1863, he acquired the moniker “Boss” after becoming the “Grand Sachem” of Tammany Hall, a New York political organisation. Boss engaged in a number of fraudulent activities, such as overcharging the government, awarding government contracts to companies he owned, and accepting money in exchange for favors, by leveraging his political positions. After a succession of heinous scandals, Boss was arrested twice in 1871 and released on bails of one million dollars and eight million dollars, respectively. Several years later, he was convicted of multiple crimes and sentenced to prison. In 1875, he evaded prison and boarded a ship bound for Spain. However, the U.S. government learned of his arrest and arranged for his capture and return to prison in the United States, where he perished in 1878.
In contrast, tweed is a coarse, tightly woven woollen fabric designed to withstand severe climates. Originating in Scotland, the fabric also has strong ties to Ireland, Wales, and England. Despite the various theories regarding the origins of Tweed Day, it is commemorated primarily in honour of tweed, not William Tweed.
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5 FACTS ABOUT BOSS TWEED
Parentage
His father was a Scottish chairmaker of the third generation.
Education
Tweed dropped out of school at age 11 to study his father’s trade.
Marriage
On September 29, 1844, he wed a woman whose name was Mary Jane Skaden.
Early effort
In 1852, after working as a brush maker, he entered the family business.
Death
He perished of pneumonia in prison on April 12, 1878.
NATIONAL TWEED DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 3 | Monday |
| 2024 | April 3 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | April 3 | Thursday |
| 2026 | April 3 | Friday |
| 2027 | April 3 | Saturday |
