History Of President’s Day
President’s Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday, is a federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the third Monday of February each year. The holiday was established to honor George Washington, the first President of the United States, and has since come to be a day to honor all U.S. Presidents.
The origins of the holiday can be traced back to 1796, when Washington announced that he would retire from public life at the end of his second term as President. In honor of his service, many cities and towns held celebrations on his birthday, February 22nd. After his death in 1799, the tradition of celebrating his birthday continued, and by the mid-1800s, it had become a widely recognized holiday in many states.
In 1879, President Rutherford B. Hayes signed a bill officially making Washington’s Birthday a federal holiday, to be observed on February 22nd. However, it was not until 1968 that the holiday was moved to the third Monday of February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which aimed to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.
The holiday was officially renamed “President’s Day” in the 1980s to honor all U.S. Presidents, not just Washington. This change was made in an effort to recognize the contributions of other presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, who also have their birthdays in February.
Today, President’s Day is celebrated in many different ways across the country. Schools, government offices, and businesses are often closed, and many communities hold parades and other events to commemorate the day. It is also a popular time for sales and discounts, especially on cars and mattresses.
President’s Day is a federal holiday in the United States that is observed on the third Monday of February each year. It was established to honor George Washington, the first President of the United States, but has since come to be a day to honor all U.S. Presidents. The holiday has a long history dating back to the late 1700s, and is celebrated in many different ways across the country.
