First celebrated in the 1880s as a celebration of George Washington, Presidents’ Day was the first federal holiday to honor an individual’s date of birth and was originally called Washington’s Birthday.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved several federal holidays to Mondays. This was designed to allow workers several long weekends throughout the year. With the holiday now falling every third Monday of February, it often occurred near both Washington’s (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln’s (12 February) birthdays, and the holiday became a celebration of both of them. The holiday is also sometimes seen as a celebration of all U.S. presidents.
Public events are held in Washington, D.C., to commemorate the anniversary, such as a wreath-laying ceremony at the Washington Monument and a proclamation from the president. The long weekend is also widely used by individuals to vacation or spend time with friends and family. In addition, celebrations and events are frequently organized by organizations and schools to inform the public about the origins and significance of the holiday.
