United States holiday
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- Presidents’ Day - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
- Presidents’ Day - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
Britannica Websites
Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- Presidents’ Day - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
- Presidents’ Day - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
Also known as: Washington’s Birthday
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Gilbert Stuart: portrait of George Washington
See all media
- Officially:
- Washington’s Birthday
- Related Topics:
- United States
- presidency of the United States of America
- president
- holiday
- February
See all related content →
Top Questions
When is Presidents’ Day?
When is Presidents’ Day?
Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday in the month of February in the United States.
What is the origin of Presidents’ Day?
What is the origin of Presidents’ Day?
The birthday of U.S. President George Washington (February 22) was first celebrated as a federal holiday in the United States in the 1880s. In 1968 the holiday was adapted to also honour the birth of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and moved to the third Monday in February. Presidents’ Day is sometimes considered to be a celebration of all U.S. presidents.
Why is Presidents’ Day on a Monday?
Why is Presidents’ Day on a Monday?
Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays when it was passed by the United States Congress in 1968. This change was intended to allow American workers a number of three-day weekends throughout the year.
Presidents’ Day, in the United States, holiday (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honouring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.
The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States—was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate. During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honour the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents’ Day is usually marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.