Presidents' Day

Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday in the United States observed on the third Monday of February. Originally established in 1879 to honor George Washington, the first president, it has evolved to celebrate all U.S. presidents. The holiday falls between the birthdays of Washington (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12), honoring the legacies of America's greatest leaders.

The holiday began as a celebration of George Washington's birthday on February 22, which had been informally observed since his death in 1799. In 1879, it became the first federal holiday to honor an individual American. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 moved the observance to the third Monday of February to create more three-day weekends. While the federal holiday is still officially "Washington's Birthday," it is commonly known as Presidents' Day and has come to honor all presidents.

Presidents' Day is marked by patriotic ceremonies, wreath-laying at presidential monuments, and educational programs about American history. Many schools teach about Washington, Lincoln, and other notable presidents. The holiday has also become associated with retail sales, particularly for furniture, mattresses, and automobiles. Some states hold separate celebrations for Lincoln's Birthday on February 12.