articlesforchristians

Washington’s Birthday or Presidents’ Day?

It all began with Washington’s Birthday. In 1885, the U.S. government chose to honor the first president, George Washington, by creating a federal holiday in his name. The celebration took place on his actual birthday, February 22, which in 1885 happened to fall on a Sunday.

• George Washington was born February 11, 1731, however, when the British colonies changed their calendar from Julian to Gregorian in 1752, Washington’s birth date became February 22, 1732.

Nearly a century later, in 1971, the US Congress moved Washington’s birthday celebration to the third Monday in February to give people a three-day weekend. However, they never changed the name—federally, it’s still officially called “Washington’s Birthday.”

The naming differences become clearer when you look at the state holidays. Several US states introduced their own state holidays with different names:

• 7 states and DC call it “Washington’s Birthday” or “George Washington Day.”
• 5 states use some combination of Washington and another president, usually Lincoln.
• 4 states use Washington and “Presidents’ Day” in their title.
• 24 states use “Presidents’ Day” in some variation—eleven use “Presidents’ Day” (plural), ten call it “President’s Day” (singular), and three simply use “Presidents Day.”
• 10 states do not celebrate the day at all.

So both “Presidents’ Day” and “Washington’s Birthday” are correct. Today, most people use “Presidents’ Day” as the name for this holiday.

Is Presidents’ Day a Public Holiday?

Presidents’ Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday, is a federal holiday celebrated across all US states, giving most federal employees the day off. In 41 states, there’s also a state holiday on the same date, often called “Presidents’ Day,” “Washington’s Birthday,” or something similar. However, state holidays aren’t always public holidays—they can just be observances—so it’s best to check your local state rules to see if it’s recognized as a public holiday where you live.

Stories about George Washington

• Great Stories for Little Americans: George Washington and His Hatchet
• Great Stories for Little Americans: George Washington’s Christmas Gift
• Great Stories for Little Americans: How George Washington Got out of a Trap
• Great Stories for Little Americans: Washington’s Last Battle