Americans have celebrated George Washington’s birthday since achieving independence from Britain. It had been the custom for British colonists to celebrate the birthdays of their kings and queens. After independence, many wanted to honor the birthday of the president instead.

presidents day history

According to the calendar used in colonial days, George Washington was born on February 11, 1732. Using our current calendar, his birthday falls on February 22. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809. Observances of his birthday have taken place since 1866, the year after his assassination.

The Uniform Monday Holidays Act, enacted in 1971, moved the official observance of Washington's birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. The federal holiday technically observes only Washington's birthday, but President Richard Nixon referred to the holiday as Presidents Day and the name stuck. Many states adopted this name for the holiday to celebrate both Washington and Lincoln.

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