Presidents' Day facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Washington's Birthday Presidents' Day
George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (1797)
Official name	Washington's Birthday
Observed by	United States
Type	Federal and most U.S. states and cities
Celebrations	Community and national celebrations
Date	third Monday in February
Frequency	Annual
First time	1879 (as an official federal holiday)
Related to	Lincoln's Birthday

Presidents' Day, also known officially as Washington's Birthday, is a special holiday in the United States. It is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February. This day honors all the people who have served as presidents of the United States. Since 1879, it has been a federal holiday specifically honoring George Washington. He was a Founding Father who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War. Washington also helped create the U.S. Constitution and was the first U.S. president from 1789 to 1797.

Most states also celebrate this day as an official state holiday. The name of the holiday can be different in each state. Some states celebrate only Washington. Others celebrate both Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Some might even honor other presidents, like Thomas Jefferson, who was born in April.

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. His birthday was celebrated on this exact date from 1879 until 1970. To give federal workers a three-day weekend, a law in 1968 moved the holiday. It is now always on the third Monday in February. This means it can fall anywhere from February 15 to February 21. Soon after this change, the day became widely known as Presidents' Day. It is a chance to remember all U.S. presidents. It also often honors both Abraham Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays together.

Many states and cities followed this change. Some states that used to celebrate Lincoln's birthday on February 12 combined the two holidays. Lincoln guided the nation through the American Civil War. He helped keep the country united and ended slavery. He also made the federal government stronger and helped modernize the U.S. economy.

How States Celebrate Presidents' Day

Abraham Lincoln by Alexander Gardner (1863)

Washington's Birthday sign, c. 1890–1899

Flag and bunting mark Washington's Birthday in Toronto, Ontario

Lincoln's Birthday on February 12 was never a federal holiday. However, almost half of the state governments have officially changed the name of their holiday. They call it "Presidents' Day," "Washington and Lincoln Day," or similar names. In many lists of important presidents, Lincoln and Washington are often ranked as the top two.

Here are some ways states and territories celebrate this official state holiday:

States Using "President" in the Name

• "Presidents' Day" is used in Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Washington state.
• "President's Day" is used in Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
• "Presidents Day" is used in Nevada and Oregon.
• "Washington's Birthday/President's Day" is used in Maine.
• "Lincoln/Washington Presidents' Day" is used in Arizona.

States Using "Washington" Alone

• "George Washington Day" is used in Virginia.
• "Washington's Birthday" is used in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, and New York.

States Using Both "Washington" and "Lincoln"

• "Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday" is used in Montana.
• "Washington–Lincoln Day" is used in Colorado and Ohio.
• "Washington and Lincoln Day" is used in Utah.
• "Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday" is used in Minnesota.

States Using "Washington" and Another Person

• "George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday" is used in Alabama.
• "George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Bates Day" is used in Arkansas.

States Using Other Names

• "The third Monday in February" is a general term used in California.

States Without the Holiday

• Some states do not officially observe this holiday. Delaware does not observe the Washington's Birthday federal holiday.

Some states honor presidents on different days. In Massachusetts, "Washington's Birthday" is on the same day as the federal holiday. But the governor also announces a "Presidents Day" on May 29. This day honors presidents from Massachusetts, like John F. Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Calvin Coolidge. In several states like California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York, Lincoln's Birthday is a separate state holiday on February 12. In Missouri, Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday. Lincoln's birthday is observed on the Monday closest to February 12.

In New Mexico, Presidents' Day is a state holiday for government workers on the Friday after Thanksgiving. However, the official public holiday is still the third Monday in February. In Georgia, Washington's Birthday is not a paid state holiday. In Indiana, Washington's Birthday is observed on Christmas Eve. Lincoln's Birthday is the day after Thanksgiving.

History of the Holiday

Procession for the 100-year celebration of Washington's Birthday, Philadelphia, February 1832

George Washington was born on February 11, 1731, according to the old calendar. This was at his family's Pope's Creek Estate in Virginia. At that time, the British Empire, including the American colonies, used the Julian calendar. This calendar was 11 days behind the modern Gregorian calendar. Also, the British year started on March 25, not January 1. So, February dates were considered part of the previous year. In 1752, the British Empire switched to the Gregorian calendar. After this, people born before 1752, like Washington, had their birthdays recognized by the new calendar. So, February 11, 1731, on the Julian calendar became February 22, 1732, on the Gregorian calendar. Washington himself started using February 22, 1732, as his birth date.

The federal holiday honoring Washington began in 1879 for government offices in Washington. It was expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. This was the first federal holiday to honor an American president. It was celebrated on Washington's birthday, February 22. On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was moved to the third Monday in February. This was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This means "Washington's Birthday" never actually falls on February 22 anymore.

An early idea to create a "Presidents Day" happened in 1951. The goal was to honor the office of the presidency itself, not just one president. It was first suggested that March 4, the original inauguration day, become Presidents Day. But this idea did not pass in Congress. Lawmakers felt that having three holidays so close together (Lincoln's, Washington's, and March 4) would be too much.

An early version of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act wanted to rename the holiday "Presidents' Day." This would honor both Washington and Lincoln. This is why the chosen date falls between their birthdays. However, this name change was not approved. The bill was signed into law in 1968, keeping the name "Washington's Birthday." By the mid-1980s, businesses started using the name "Presidents' Day" more often for sales.

In Washington's adopted hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, celebrations happen throughout February.

Holiday Traditions and Observances

Los Angeles streetcar decorated for Washington's Birthday, c. 1892

Washington's Birthday—Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street, etching by Childe Hassam, 1916

A traditional food for the holiday is cherry pie. This comes from a famous story about young Washington chopping down a cherry tree.

Until the late 1980s, many businesses closed on this day. Now, most businesses stay open. Many offer sales and special deals. Federal and state government services, like the U.S. Postal Service and courts, are closed. School schedules vary. Public elementary and secondary schools are usually closed. Some school districts, like New York City, might even close for a whole week.

The holiday also honors the general who created the first military badge for soldiers. This badge was called the Purple Heart. It was brought back on Washington's 200th birthday in 1932. The Purple Heart medal, which has Washington's image, is given to soldiers injured in battle.

Many communities have long-standing celebrations. Laredo, Texas, has a month-long tribute. Washington's hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, has what is said to be the nation's longest and largest George Washington Birthday parade. Eustis, Florida, holds an annual "GeorgeFest" celebration that started in 1902. In Denver, Colorado, there is a group dedicated to observing the day. At the George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Virginia, visitors enjoy birthday celebrations. At Mount Vernon, celebrations last throughout the holiday weekend and until February 22.

Since 1862, there has been a tradition in the United States Senate. George Washington's Farewell Address is read aloud on his birthday. Citizens asked for this during the Civil War.

Shopping Sales

The holiday is well-known for big sales on items like appliances, furniture, and mattresses. Stores often offer these "President's Day Sales" to clear out inventory.

Sports Events

Since the mid-2000s, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has held its annual All-Star festivities during this holiday weekend. No NBA games are played on the holiday itself. The season starts again the following Thursday.

The day before Presidents Day is usually when the Daytona 500 NASCAR race takes place. Sometimes, due to bad weather, the race has finished on or been moved to the holiday. This happened most recently with the 2024 Daytona 500.

How "Presidents' Day" is Written

"Presidents' Day" is not the official name of the federal holiday. So, people write it in different ways.

• When it honors more than one president, "Presidents' Day" (with the apostrophe after the 's') is often used. This means it celebrates each president individually.
• The form "Presidents Day" (without an apostrophe) is also common. This treats "Presidents" as a descriptive word for the day. It honors the idea of all presidents together. Many newspapers use this form.
• "President's Day" (with the apostrophe before the 's') means it honors one particular president. It can also mean it honors the presidency as an institution. Eight states legally use this way of writing it.

Dates of Presidents' Day

See also

In Spanish: Día de los Presidentes para niños

• List of memorials to George Washington
• Jefferson's Birthday
• Family Day (Canada)
• Historical rankings of presidents of the United States