Why we celebrate Presidents Day
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Monday is Presidents Day — or "Washington's Birthday," depending on where you are.
The holiday was established nationwide in 1885 to recognize George Washington's birthday on Feb. 22. In 1971, however, the observance was officially moved to the third Monday in February each year as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act — an effort to align federal holidays with the weekend, and in theory, cut back on employees taking a day off work in the middle of the week.
The bill also included a provision to include Abraham Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, to the holiday. While it's still officially called "Washington's Birthday" almost every state now refers to the holiday as "Presidents Day," and so it's now used as a day to observe all of the nation's presidents.
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Your voice matters. And we want to hear it.
Will you help shape the future of Minnesota Public Radio by taking our short Listener Survey?
It only takes a few minutes, and your input helps us serve you better—whether it’s news, culture, or the conversations that matter most to Minnesotans.