The History of Presidents' Day





The day we now call Presidents' Day originally started in 1885 as Washington's Birthday to recognize and honor the first President of the United States. It was celebrated on February 22, George Washington's actual birthday. Sometime later, we also began to recognize Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12th. This continued for decades with closings and celebrations on both days.

Then, in the 1960s, legislators began talking about combining the days into one holiday. Many also liked the idea of shifting many such holidays to be celebrated on a Monday, giving workers a three-day weekend. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968 and went into effect in 1971. Presidents' Day was set for one day instead of two -- on the third Monday in February.

At first, most people saw it as a combined celebration for Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. However, more and more, it has come to be a day to honor all the presidents, although Presidents Washington and Lincoln are still the most recognized ones. Many banks and government offices are closed, as well as some other places. It is a day steeped in tradition for well over a hundred years.

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