Presidents Day is a national holiday, where everyone in the United States celebrates by having a day off of school or work. Stores are also closed that day to show respect for the holiday. This holiday has always been celebrated on the third Monday of February each year, which is February 22. Although many people believe that this is a holiday that celebrates all of the former and present presidents, this day was originally celebrated to honor George Washington.
In the eighteenth century, American colonists celebrated the king’s birthday, also known as George Washington, every year, and by 1778, newspapers publicized the celebration in honor of Washington’s birthday in Williamsburg, Virginia. Washington was the first ever president of the United States on April 30, 1789, and promoted an explosion of birthday celebrations. According to a website called A History of Presidents’ Day, it states, “Gadsby’s Tavern, in Alexandria, Virginia, started hosting birthnight balls in the 1790s. In 1798 and 1799, Washington attended the festivities.” Because of the tavern, Washington got inspiration from his festivities and wanted to create a holiday where all Americans could celebrate.
By 1879, Congress passed a law making February 22nd, which was Washington’s birthday, a holiday in Washington, D.C. Washington’s national celebration of his birthday began while he was alive and continued after his death. In an article called “Presidents Day”? The Truth Behind the Holiday, it states, “It was a tradition and a powerful reminder of the man who helped create what we have today in the United States.” But according to another article called Presidents Day: A Complicated and Interesting History, Abraham Lincoln, also a former president of the United States, was also celebrated on that day because his birthday was 10 days before, on February 12, which Americans then started honoring Lincoln along with Washington on February 22.
According to an article called Presidents’ Day, in 1968, Congress decided to pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year.
The holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was an attempt to create more three-day weekends for national workers in the United States. According to Presidents’ Day 2026, it says, “As a federal holiday, many banks and schools are closed in observance of Presidents’ Day. The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ are closed for trading on Presidents’ Day. The post office is not open, and non-essential federal workers have the day off.” Kids all over the states look forward to a three-day weekend because of this bill.
In conclusion, even though this holiday originally started as honoring only President Washington, it is important that we reflect on the many achievements of all our presidents who have contributed to making America what it is today.
