Why Do We Celebrate Presidents' Day?

Why Do We Celebrate Presidents' Day?

Created: 18 February, 2013
Last update: 14 October, 2022

Presidents' Day, also celebrated as Washington's Birthday, is a holiday celebrated in honor of the first President of the United States and his successors.

Originally celebrated on February 22, Washington's actual date of birth, it was changed in the 1970's to the third Monday of February to give employees a three day weekend, making the holiday impossible to fall on Washington's birthday.

The change of date led many to believe that the holiday was now celebrating Washington as well as Lincoln -- who was also born in February -- consecrating the new appellation, Presidents' Day.

The following infographic, created by Veterans United Home Loans, gives a brief history of Presidents's Day and the small anecdotes surrounding it.

Credit: Veteran United Home Loan

Pres

join the petition banner

About the Author

Lucas Eaves

French traveler on a journey to understand the arcane of American politics while enjoying life in San Diego.