Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as
presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the
federal holiday honoring
Founding Father George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
, who led the
Continental Army
The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...
to victory in the
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...
, presided at the
Constitutional Convention of 1787, and served as the first
U.S. president from 1789 to 1797.
The day is an official
state holiday in most states under various names.
Depending upon the specific law, the state holiday may officially celebrate Washington alone, Washington and
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
, or some other combination of U.S. presidents (such as Washington and
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson (, 1743July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the primary author of the United States Declaration of Indepe ...
, who was born in April).
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 (
N.S.). Washington's Birthday was celebrated on this date from 1879 until 1970. To give federal employees a three-day weekend, in 1968 the
Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday in February, which can occur from February 15 to the 21st.
The day soon became known as Presidents(') Day (the presence and placement of the apostrophe varies) and provides an occasion to remember all the U.S. presidents, to honor
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...
's and Washington's birthdays together, or any single president of choice.
As many states and cities followed suit, some states that had been celebrating Lincoln's birthday on February 12 combined the two into Presidents' Day. Lincoln led the nation through the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
, preserved the
Union,
abolished slavery
Slavery is the ownership of a person as property, especially in regards to their labour. Slavery typically involves compulsory work, with the slave's location of work and residence dictated by the party that holds them in bondage. Enslavemen ...
, bolstered the
federal government, and modernized the
U.S. economy.
Official state holidays
Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, but nearly half the state governments have officially renamed their observances "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. (In
historical rankings of presidents of the United States, Lincoln and Washington are often the top two.)
In the following states and
territories of the United States
Territories of the United States are sub-national administrative divisions and dependent territory, dependent territories overseen by the federal government of the United States. The American territories differ from the U.S. states and Indi ...
, this same day is an official state holiday and known as—
''Using "President" in the official title:''
*"Presidents' Day" in Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont,
and Washington state
*"President's Day" in Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
*"Presidents Day" in Nevada and Oregon
*"Washington's Birthday/President's Day" in Maine
*"Lincoln/Washington Presidents' Day" in Arizona
''Using "Washington" alone:''
*"George Washington Day" in Virginia
*"Washington's Birthday" in Connecticut, Florida,
Illinois,
Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey,
and New York
''Using both "Washington" and "Lincoln":''
*"Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday" in Montana
*"Washington–Lincoln Day" in Colorado, Ohio
*"Washington and Lincoln Day" in Utah
*"Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday" in Minnesota
''Using "Washington" and another person:''
*"George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday" in Alabama
*"George Washington's Birthday and
Daisy Bates Day" in Arkansas
''Using something else:''
*"The third Monday in February" generic term used in California
''Not a holiday:''
*Some states do not officially observe the holiday on this day and do not have a day celebrating Washington or presidents in general.
Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...
does not observe the Washington's Birthday federal holiday.
Several states honor presidents with official state holidays that do not fall on the third Monday of February. In
Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
, the state officially celebrates "Washington's Birthday" on the same day as the federal holiday. State law also directs the governor to issue an annual "Presidents Day" proclamation on May 29 (
John F. Kennedy's birthday), honoring the presidents with Massachusetts roots: Kennedy,
John Adams
John Adams (October 30, 1735 – July 4, 1826) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before Presidency of John Adams, his presidency, he was a leader of ...
,
John Quincy Adams, and
Calvin Coolidge. In
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
,
Connecticut
Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
,
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
,
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
,
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
,
New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
,
and
New York Lincoln's Birthday is a separate state holiday celebrated on February 12. In
Missouri
Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...
, Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, observed on the third Monday in February, and
Abraham Lincoln's birthday is observed on the Monday closest to February 12 (always the Monday preceding Washington's Birthday).
In
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States. It is one of the Mountain States of the southern Rocky Mountains, sharing the Four Corners region with Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. It also ...
, Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on the
Friday following Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in October and November in the United States, Canada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and Germany. It is also observed in the Australian territory ...
, although the legal public holiday remains the third Monday in February. In
Georgia, Washington's Birthday is not a state-government paid holiday, although until 2018 it was officially observed on
Christmas Eve. Similarly, in
Indiana
Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...
, Washington's Birthday is observed on Christmas Eve, or the day preceding the weekend if Christmas falls on Saturday or Sunday, while Lincoln's Birthday is the day after Thanksgiving.
History
George Washington
George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...
was born on February 11, 1731 (
O.S.), at his parents' Pope's Creek Estate near Colonial Beach in
Westmoreland County, Virginia
Westmoreland County is a County (United States), county located in the Northern Neck of the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population sits at 18,477. Its county seat is Montross, Virginia, Montross ...
, now the
George Washington Birthplace National Monument. At the time, the entire British Empire, including its North American possessions, was on the
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar is a solar calendar of 365 days in every year with an additional leap day every fourth year (without exception). The Julian calendar is still used as a religious calendar in parts of the Eastern Orthodox Church and in parts ...
; the Empire, not being bound to the
Catholic Church
The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
, had not yet adopted the modern
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar is the calendar used in most parts of the world. It went into effect in October 1582 following the papal bull issued by Pope Gregory XIII, which introduced it as a modification of, and replacement for, the Julian cale ...
that Catholic countries had adopted in 1582. Consequently, by the 1730s, the Julian calendar used by Britain and the Colonies was eleven days behind the Gregorian, because of
leap year
A leap year (also known as an intercalary year or bissextile year) is a calendar year that contains an additional day (or, in the case of a lunisolar calendar, a month) compared to a common year. The 366th day (or 13th month) is added to keep t ...
differences. Furthermore, the British
civil year began on March 25 rather than January 1, so that dates in February (such as this one) 'belonged' to the preceding year. (See
Dual dating). In 1752, the
British Empire switched to the Gregorian calendar; since then, Americans born prior to 1752, including Washington, have typically had their birthdays recognized according to the Gregorian calendar (
"New Style" dates). Since February 11, 1731, on the Julian calendar was February 22, 1732, on the Gregorian, and he was alive at the time the change was made, Washington changed his birth date to February 22, 1732, to match the new calendar.
The federal holiday honoring Washington was originally implemented by an
Act of Congress
An act of Congress is a statute enacted by the United States Congress. Acts may apply only to individual entities (called Public and private bills, private laws), or to the general public (Public and private bills, public laws). For a Bill (law) ...
in 1879 for government offices in
Washington () and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices (). As the first federal holiday to honor an American president, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's birthday under the Gregorian calendar, February 22. On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the
Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
This places it between February 15 and 21, which makes "Washington's Birthday" something of a misnomer, since it never occurs on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. (A rough analogue of this phenomenon can be seen in
Commonwealth realms
A Commonwealth realm is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth of Nations that has the same constitutional monarch and head of state as the other realms. The current monarch is King Charles III. Except for the United Kingdom, in each of the ...
, where the
reigning monarch's official birthday is celebrated without regard to the monarch's actual date of birth.)
The first attempt to create a Presidents Day occurred in 1951 when the "President's Day National Committee" was formed by
Harold Stonebridge Fischer of
Compton, California
Compton is a city located in the Gateway Cities region of southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated south of downtown Los Angeles. Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county, and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth ci ...
, who became its National Executive Director for the next two decades. The purpose was not to honor any particular president but to honor the office of the presidency. It was first thought that March 4, the original inauguration day, should be deemed Presidents Day, but the bill recognizing March 4 stalled in the
Senate Judiciary Committee
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a Standing committee (United States Congress), standing committee of 22 U.S. senators whose role is to oversee the United States Departm ...
(which had authority over federal holidays). The committee felt that, given its proximity to Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays, three holidays so close together would be unduly burdensome. But meanwhile the governors of a majority of the states issued proclamations declaring March 4 Presidents' Day in their respective jurisdictions.
An early draft of the
Uniform Monday Holiday Act would have renamed the holiday "Presidents' Day" to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, which would explain why the chosen date falls between the two, but this proposal failed in committee, and the bill was voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968, keeping the name "Washington's Birthday".
By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.
In Washington's adopted hometown of
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...
, celebrations are held throughout February.
Observance and traditions
A food traditionally associated with the holiday is
cherry pie, based on the legend of Washington in his youth chopping down a cherry tree.
Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on
Memorial Day or Christmas Day. However, after having been moved to the third Monday, most businesses remain open with many offering sales and other promotions. Federal and state government services close (
U.S. Postal Service, state Departments of Motor Vehicles, federal and state courts). Class schedules at universities and colleges vary depending on the school. Public elementary and secondary schools are generally closed, but some school districts, such as New York City, may close for an entire week as a "mid-winter recess".
The holiday is also a tribute to the general who created the first military badge of merit for the common soldier. Revived on Washington's 200th birthday in 1932, the
Purple Heart medal (which bears Washington's image) is awarded to soldiers who are injured in battle.
Community celebrations often display a lengthy heritage. Laredo, Texas, hosts
a monthlong tribute, as does Washington's hometown of
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city (United States), independent city in Northern Virginia, United States. It lies on the western bank of the Potomac River approximately south of Washington, D.C., D.C. The city's population of 159,467 at the 2020 ...
, which includes what is claimed to be the nation's longest-running and largest George Washington Birthday parade.
Eustis, Florida, holds an annual "
GeorgeFest" celebration that began in 1902, and in
Denver, Colorado
Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
, there is a society dedicated to observing the day. At the
George Washington Birthplace National Monument in
Westmoreland County, Virginia
Westmoreland County is a County (United States), county located in the Northern Neck of the Virginia, Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population sits at 18,477. Its county seat is Montross, Virginia, Montross ...
, visitors are treated to birthday celebrations on the holiday, while at
Mount Vernon they last throughout the holiday weekend and through February 22.
Since 1862 there has been a tradition in the
United States Senate
The United States Senate is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the upper house, with the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House of Representatives being the lower house. Together, the Senate and ...
that
George Washington's Farewell Address be read on his birthday. Citizens asked that this be done in light of the ongoing Civil War.
Commercialism
The holiday is well-known for coinciding with deep sales discounts for big ticket items such as appliances, furniture, and especially mattresses. This is due to retailers trying to clear their inventory and taking advantage of tax season. These are typically referred to as "President's Day Sales".
Sports
Since the mid-2000s, the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
has held their annual
All-Star festivities during the holiday weekend. As a result, no games are played on the holiday itself, and the season resumes the following Thursday.
The day before Presidents Day is the traditional running of the
Daytona 500 NASCAR race; there have been occasions when the race was cut short, or either finished on or postponed entirely to the holiday due to inclement weather, the most recent of which was the
2024 edition.
Punctuation
Because "Presidents' Day" is not the official name of the federal holiday, there is variation in how it is rendered, both colloquially and in the name of official state holidays.
When used with the intention of celebrating more than one individual, the form "Presidents' Day" celebrates all presidents individually (therefore, George Washington's Day and Zachary Taylor's Day and Woodrow Wilsons's Day). In recent years, as the use of
attributive nouns (nouns acting as modifiers) has become more widespread, the form "Presidents Day" has also become common (celebrating Presidents Washington through Trump collectively) in honoring the whole concept of presidents; the ''
Associated Press Stylebook'', most newspapers and some magazines use this form.
"President's Day" as an alternate rendering is to honor any one particular president, or for the purpose of commemorating the presidency as an institution. This use of a
possessive is the legal rendering in eight states.
Dates
See also
*
List of memorials to George Washington
*
Jefferson's Birthday
*
Family Day (Canada)
*
Historical rankings of presidents of the United States
References
External links
*
*
Schauffler, R. H. (1926),
Washington's Birthday'
{{Authority control
1880 establishments in the United States
February observances
Monuments and memorials to George Washington in the United States
Public holidays in the United States
Recurring events established in 1880
Presidential birthdays in the United States
Holidays and observances by scheduling (nth weekday of the month)
Monday observances
Federal holidays in the United States
United States flag flying days
Holidays related to the American Revolution