Lincoln's Birthday: Difference between revisions

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
	Lincoln in 1864
Official name	Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln
Observed by	Various U.S. states
Type	Local
Significance	To honor Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States
Date	February 12
Next time	February 12, 2025
Frequency	Annual
Related to	Presidents' Day

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Lincoln's Birthday is a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states, observed on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky.^[1] Connecticut,^[2] Illinois,^[3] Indiana,^[4] Michigan,^[5] Ohio,^[6] California,^[7] Missouri,^[8] and New York^[9] observe the holiday.

In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday. Instead, Lincoln's birthday is combined with a celebration of President George Washington's birthday (also in February) and celebrated either along with the Federal holiday of Washington's Birthday or as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February.

History

The earliest known observance of Lincoln's birthday occurred in Buffalo, New York, in either 1873 or 1874. Julius Francis (d. 1881), a Buffalo druggist, made it his life's mission to honor the slain president. He repeatedly petitioned Congress to establish Lincoln's birthday as a legal holiday.^[10]

The day is marked by traditional wreath-laying ceremonies at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in Hodgenville, Kentucky, and at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The latter has been the site of a ceremony ever since the Memorial was dedicated. Since that event in 1922, observances continue to be organized by the Lincoln Birthday National Commemorative Committee and by the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS). A wreath is laid on behalf of the President of the United States, a custom also carried out at the grave sites of all deceased U.S. presidents on their birthdays. Lincoln's tomb is in Springfield, Illinois.

On February 12, 2009, the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial commemorated Lincoln's 200th birthday in grand fashion. An extended ceremony, organized by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission (ALBC) and with help from MOLLUS, featured musical performances from four-time Grammy-nominated singer Michael Feinstein and the U.S. Marine Corps Band. The morning celebration also featured remarks by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin; Lincoln scholar and ALBC Co-chair Harold Holzer; recently retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Chief Justice – and ALBC Commissioner – Frank J. Williams; and author Nikki Giovanni reciting her newest work, which was written especially for the Bicentennial.

As part of Lincoln's birthday bicentennial, the U.S. Mint released four new Lincoln cents. The commemorative coins have new designs on the reverse showing stages of his life. The first went into circulation on September 12, 2009. The standard portrait of Lincoln's head remains on the front. The new designs include a log cabin representing his birthplace, Lincoln as a young man reading while sitting on a log that he was taking a break from splitting, Lincoln as a state legislator in front of the Illinois Capitol, and the partially built dome of the U.S. Capitol.^[11]

New Jersey started observing the holiday on May 23, 2008, with the enactment of the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.^[12]

Origin of Black History Month

Black History Month has its origin in 19th-century celebrations of Lincoln's Birthday by African-American communities in the United States.^[13] By the early 20th century, black communities were annually celebrating Lincoln's birthday in conjunction with the birthday of former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass on February 14.^[13] The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced that the second week of February would be "Negro History Week" to coincide with the traditional Black commemorations of both men's birthdays.^[13] By the 1970s, "Negro History Week" had become "Black History Month".^[13] Black History Month has expanded further to Canada, where it is also celebrated in February, and to the United Kingdom, which celebrates it in October.

Official government holidays

Lincoln's Birthday was never a U.S. Federal Government holiday. The third Monday in February remains only "Washington's Birthday" in federal law.^[14] However, many state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday state holiday as "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations which explicitly or implicitly celebrate Lincoln's birthday. Regardless of the official name and purpose, celebrations and commemorations on or about the third Monday often include honoring Lincoln.

In Connecticut, Missouri and Illinois, while Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, Lincoln's Birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week. California still lists Lincoln's Birthday as a holiday,^[1] but as of 2009 no longer gives State employees a paid holiday on February 12.^[15] However, it is considered a "Court holiday" and state courts are closed.^[16]

In the following states, the third Monday in February is an official state holiday and known as:

Using "president"

Presidents' Day in Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota,^[17] Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Washington^[18]
President's Day in Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
Presidents Day in Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon
Washington's Birthday/President's Day in Maine
Lincoln/Washington/Presidents' Day in Arizona

Washington and Lincoln

Washington and Lincoln Day in Utah
Washington–Lincoln Day in Colorado^[19] and Ohio^[20]
Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday in Indiana^[21]
Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday in Montana
Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday in Minnesota^[22]

Washington alone

George Washington Day in Virginia

Washington and another person

George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday in Alabama^[23]
George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day in Arkansas

Unspecified

"The third Monday in February" in California.^[24]

Several states honor presidents with official state holidays that do not fall on the third Monday of February. In New Mexico, Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving.^[25] In Georgia, Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on Christmas Eve. (Observed on the prior Thursday if Christmas falls on Saturday; observed on the prior Friday if Christmas falls on a Sunday. If December 24 is a Wednesday, then this holiday is observed on Friday December 26.)^[26]

Cultural references

In the Ring Lardner short story "Gullible's Travels", a vacationer from Chicago is unaware that Lincoln's Birthday is not observed in Florida.^[27]

References

^ ^a ^b Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(c) Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Connecticut: Legal Holidays and Standard of Time". Cga.ct.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "105 ILCS 5/24-2". Ilga.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Assembly, Indiana General. "Indiana Code 2017 - Indiana General Assembly, 2017 Session". In.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "Michigan Legislature - Section 435.101". legislature.mi.gov.
^ "Section 5.23 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
^ "When is Lincoln's Birthday & Why is it Celebrated? (History)". edarabia.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
^ "State Holidays". Missouri Office of Administration. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
^ https://www.nyc.gov/assets/opa/downloads/pdf/2022-list-of-holidays.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ Continelli, Louise. "Lincoln Tribute Places Spotlight on Local Connection." www.buffalonews.com, February 17, 2003
^ AP/The Huffington Post. "New Lincoln Pennies Unveiled: See Pictures Of Each Penny" www.huffingtonpost.com, February 12, 2009
^ "P.L. 2008, c.89 (S1962 SCS)". Njleg.state.nj.us. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Daryl Michael Scott, "The Origins of Black History Month," Archived 2013-02-14 at the Wayback Machine Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 2011, www.asalh.org/
^ 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)
^ "How Abraham Lincoln lost his birthday holiday - National Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "Court Holidays - CA_courts". www.courts.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
^ "404 - North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner". North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. Retrieved 2 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
^ "RCW 1.16.050". Revised Code of Washington.
^ CRS 24-11-101
^ "Lawriter : ORC : Excluding first and including last day - legal holidays". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "SPD: State Holidays". In.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "645.44 - 2017 Minnesota Statutes". Revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "State of Alabama - Inform.Alabama.Gov - State Calendar". inform.alabama.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(a)(5) Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Official State Holidays". New Mexico State Treasurer's Office. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
^ "State Holidays". Georgia.gov. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
^ "Gullible's Travels". Gullible's Travels, Etc. Bobbs-Merrill Company. 1917. § II.

External links

Hannibal Hamlin Proposes Lincoln's Birthday a National Day of Observance 1887 Shapell Manuscript Foundation
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
Original Manuscript Letters and Documents written by Abraham Lincoln Shapell Manuscript Foundation
Schauffler, R. H. (1909) Lincoln's Birthday

[calif-1] Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(c) Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine

[2] "Connecticut: Legal Holidays and Standard of Time". Cga.ct.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[3] "105 ILCS 5/24-2". Ilga.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[4] Assembly, Indiana General. "Indiana Code 2017 - Indiana General Assembly, 2017 Session". In.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[5] "Michigan Legislature - Section 435.101". legislature.mi.gov.

[6] "Section 5.23 - Ohio Revised Code | Ohio Laws". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-21.

[7] "When is Lincoln's Birthday & Why is it Celebrated? (History)". edarabia.com. Retrieved 2023-12-21.

[8] "State Holidays". Missouri Office of Administration. 2012-07-18. Retrieved 2023-12-21.

[9] ttps://www.nyc.gov/assets/opa/downloads/pdf/2022-list-of-holidays.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[10] Continelli, Louise. "Lincoln Tribute Places Spotlight on Local Connection." www.buffalonews.com, February 17, 2003

[11] AP/The Huffington Post. "New Lincoln Pennies Unveiled: See Pictures Of Each Penny" www.huffingtonpost.com, February 12, 2009

[12] "P.L. 2008, c.89 (S1962 SCS)". Njleg.state.nj.us. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[Scott-13] Daryl Michael Scott, "The Origins of Black History Month," Archived 2013-02-14 at the Wayback Machine Association for the Study of African American Life and History, 2011, www.asalh.org/

[14] 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)

[15] "How Abraham Lincoln lost his birthday holiday - National Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[16] "Court Holidays - CA_courts". www.courts.ca.gov. Retrieved 2019-01-30.

[17] "404 - North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner". North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner. Retrieved 2 November 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)

[nlrodgers-18] "RCW 1.16.050". Revised Code of Washington.

[19] CRS 24-11-101

[20] "Lawriter : ORC : Excluding first and including last day - legal holidays". codes.ohio.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[21] "SPD: State Holidays". In.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[22] "645.44 - 2017 Minnesota Statutes". Revisor.mn.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[23] "State of Alabama - Inform.Alabama.Gov - State Calendar". inform.alabama.gov. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[24] Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(a)(5) Archived 2013-03-09 at the Wayback Machine

[25] "Official State Holidays". New Mexico State Treasurer's Office. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

[26] "State Holidays". Georgia.gov. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.

[27] "Gullible's Travels". Gullible's Travels, Etc. Bobbs-Merrill Company. 1917. § II.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Refimprove|date=February 2017}}
 {{Short description|Holiday celebrating Abraham Lincoln's birthday}}
 {{Infobox holiday
-|holiday_name=Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
+| holiday_name  = Abraham Lincoln's Birthday
-|image=Thomas Hicks - Leopold Grozelier - Presidential Candidate Abraham Lincoln 1860 - cropped to lithographic plate.jpg
+| image         = Abraham Lincoln O-84 by Brady, 1864.jpg
-|caption=Abraham Lincoln
+| caption       = Lincoln in 1864
-|official_name=Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln
+| official_name = Birthday of President Abraham Lincoln
-|observedby=[[Illinois]] and various [[U.S. state]]s
+| observedby    = Various [[U.S. state]]s
-|duration=1 day
+| duration      = 1 day
-|frequency=Annual
+| frequency     = Annual
-|scheduling=same day each year
+| scheduling    = same day each year
-|date=February 12
+| date          = February 12
-|mdy=yes
+| mdy           = yes
-|type=Local
+| type          = Local
-|significance=Honors 16th President of the United States
+| significance  = To honor [[Abraham Lincoln]], [[List of presidents of the United States|16th President of the United States]]
-|relatedto=[[Presidents Day (United States)|Presidents Day]]
+| relatedto     = [[Presidents' Day]]
 }}
-[[File:Photograph of ceremony at Lincoln Memorial attended by Vice President Truman, celebrating Lincoln's Birthday. - NARA - 199057.jpg|thumbnail|Photograph of ceremony at Lincoln Memorial attended by Vice President Truman, celebrating Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1945]]
-[[File:Carson Pirie Scott Building on Lincoln's 100th Birthday.jpg|thumbnail|[[Carson Pirie Scott & Co.]] store on State Street in [[Chicago, Illinois]] decorated for Lincoln 100th birthday in 1909]]
-[[File:Flags of the Confederacy displayed at movie house on Lincoln's birthday, Winchester, Virginia.jpg|thumbnail|Flags of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] displayed at a movie house on Lincoln's birthday in [[Winchester, Virginia]], in February 1940]]
-[[File:78TH ANNIVERSARY OF LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY (held by) REPUBLICAN CLUB OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK (at) DELMONICO'S (HOT) (NYPL Hades-269617-474267).jpg|thumbnail|Menu from Lincoln's Birthday celebration held by the [[Republican Club of the City of New York]] in 1887.  Many [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] organizations hold Lincoln's Birthday celebrations because Lincoln was the first Republican president.]]
-'''Lincoln's Birthday''' is [[Public holidays in the United States|a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states]], observed on the anniversary of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s birth on February 12, 1809 in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky.<ref name='calif'>Cal. Gov. Code § [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 6700(c)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309101941/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 |date=2013-03-09 }}</ref> [[Connecticut]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/pub/Chap002.htm|title=Connecticut: Legal Holidays and Standard of Time|website=Cga.ct.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Illinois]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/010500050k24-2.htm|title=105 ILCS 5/24-2|website=Ilga.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Indiana]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title1/ar1/ch9.html|title=Indiana Code 2017 - Indiana General Assembly, 2017 Session|first=Indiana General|last=Assembly|website=In.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Ohio]], [[Texas]], [[California]], [[Missouri]], and [[New York (state)|New York]] observe the holiday.
+'''Lincoln's Birthday''' is [[Public holidays in the United States|a legal, public holiday in some U.S. states]], observed on the anniversary of [[Abraham Lincoln]]'s birth on February 12, 1809, in Hodgenville (Hodgensville, Hodgen's Mill), Kentucky.<ref name='calif'>Cal. Gov. Code § [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 6700(c)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309101941/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 |date=2013-03-09 }}</ref> [[Connecticut]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/pub/Chap002.htm|title=Connecticut: Legal Holidays and Standard of Time|website=Cga.ct.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Illinois]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/010500050k24-2.htm|title=105 ILCS 5/24-2|website=Ilga.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Indiana]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title1/ar1/ch9.html|title=Indiana Code 2017 - Indiana General Assembly, 2017 Session|first=Indiana General|last=Assembly|website=In.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Michigan]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.aspx?mcl-435-101|title=Michigan Legislature - Section 435.101|website=legislature.mi.gov}}</ref> [[Ohio]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Section 5.23 - Ohio Revised Code {{!}} Ohio Laws |url=https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-5.23 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=codes.ohio.gov}}</ref> [[California]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=When is Lincoln's Birthday & Why is it Celebrated? (History) |url=https://www.edarabia.com/lincolns-birthday/ |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=edarabia.com |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Missouri]],<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2012-07-18 |title=State Holidays |url=https://oa.mo.gov/commissioner/state-holidays |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Missouri Office of Administration |language=en}}</ref> and [[New York (state)|New York]]<ref>https://www.nyc.gov/assets/opa/downloads/pdf/2022-list-of-holidays.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}</ref> observe the holiday.
-In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday.  Instead Lincoln's Birthday is combined with a celebration of President [[George Washington]]'s birthday (also in February) and celebrated either as [[Washington's Birthday]] or as [[Presidents' Day]] on the third Monday in February, concurrent with the [[Federal holidays in the United States|federal holiday]].
+In many other states, Lincoln's birthday is not celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday.  Instead, Lincoln's birthday is combined with a celebration of President [[George Washington]]'s birthday (also in February) and celebrated either along with the [[Federal holidays in the United States|Federal holiday]] of [[Washington's Birthday]] or as Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February.
 ==History==
+[[File:Galveston Labor Journal (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 1, No. 16, Ed. 1 Friday, February 12, 1909 - DPLA - 4ff704e5230bf40d7aa87e44201862cd (page 1) (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|The February 12, 1909 edition of the ''Galveston Labor Journal'', in [[Galveston, Texas]], honors Lincoln. From the collections of the [[Rosenberg Library]].]]
 The earliest known observance of Lincoln's birthday occurred in [[Buffalo, New York]], in either 1873 or 1874. Julius Francis (d. 1881), a Buffalo druggist, made it his life's mission to honor [[Abraham Lincoln assassination|the slain president]]. He repeatedly petitioned [[United States Congress|Congress]] to establish Lincoln's birthday as a [[Civic holiday|legal holiday]].<ref>Continelli, Louise. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=BN&p_theme=bn&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F94DDB5EDB987BB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "Lincoln Tribute Places Spotlight on Local Connection."] www.buffalonews.com, February 17, 2003</ref>
 The day is marked by traditional wreath-laying ceremonies at [[Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site]] in [[Hodgenville, Kentucky]], and at the [[Lincoln Memorial]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] The latter has been the site of a ceremony ever since the Memorial was dedicated. Since that event in 1922, observances continue to be organized by the [[Lincoln Birthday National Commemorative Committee]] and by the [[Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States]] (MOLLUS). A wreath is laid on behalf of the [[President of the United States]], a custom also carried out at the grave sites of all deceased U.S. presidents on their birthdays. [[Lincoln Tomb|Lincoln's tomb]] is in [[Springfield, Illinois]].
-On February 12, 2009, the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial commemorated Lincoln's 200th birthday in grand fashion.  An extended ceremony, organized by the [[Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission]] (ALBC) and with help from MOLLUS, featured musical performances from four-time Grammy-nominated singer [[Michael Feinstein]] and the [[United States Marine Band|U.S. Marine Corps Band]].  The morning celebration also featured remarks by Illinois Sen. [[Dick Durbin]]; Lincoln scholar and ALBC Co-Chair [[Harold Holzer]]; recently retired [[Rhode Island Supreme Court]] Chief Justice – and ALBC Commissioner – [[Frank J. Williams]]; and author [[Nikki Giovanni]] reciting her newest work, which was written especially for the [[wikt:bicentennial|Bicentennial]].
+On February 12, 2009, the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial commemorated Lincoln's 200th birthday in grand fashion.  An extended ceremony, organized by the [[Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission]] (ALBC) and with help from MOLLUS, featured musical performances from four-time Grammy-nominated singer [[Michael Feinstein]] and the [[United States Marine Band|U.S. Marine Corps Band]].  The morning celebration also featured remarks by Illinois Sen. [[Dick Durbin]]; Lincoln scholar and ALBC Co-chair [[Harold Holzer]]; recently retired [[Rhode Island Supreme Court]] Chief Justice – and ALBC Commissioner – [[Frank J. Williams]]; and author [[Nikki Giovanni]] reciting her newest work, which was written especially for the [[wikt:bicentennial|Bicentennial]].
+[[File:78TH ANNIVERSARY OF LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY (held by) REPUBLICAN CLUB OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK (at) DELMONICO'S (HOT) (NYPL Hades-269617-474267).jpg|thumbnail|Menu from Lincoln's Birthday celebration held by the [[Republican Club of the City of New York]] in 1887.  Many [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] organizations hold Lincoln's Birthday celebrations because Lincoln was the first Republican president.]]
 As part of Lincoln's birthday bicentennial, the U.S. Mint released four new [[Lincoln cent]]s.  The [[Modern United States commemorative coins|commemorative coins]] have new designs on the [[Obverse and reverse|reverse]] showing stages of his life. The first went into [[Circulation (currency)|circulation]] on September 12, 2009. The standard portrait of Lincoln's head remains on the front. The new designs include a [[log cabin]] representing his birthplace, Lincoln as a young man reading while sitting on a log that he was taking a break from splitting, Lincoln as a state legislator in front of the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site|Illinois Capitol]], and the [[United States Capitol dome|partially built dome]] of the [[United States Capitol|U.S. Capitol]].<ref>AP/The Huffington Post. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/12/new-lincoln-pennies-unvei_n_166394.html "New Lincoln Pennies Unveiled: See Pictures Of Each Penny"] www.huffingtonpost.com, February 12, 2009</ref>
-[[New Jersey]] stopped observing the holiday on May 23, 2005 with the enactment of the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL08/89_.HTM|title=P.L. 2008, c.89 (S1962 SCS)|website=Njleg.state.nj.us|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
+[[New Jersey]] started observing the holiday on May 23, 2008, with the enactment of the Public Employee Pension and Benefits Reform Act of 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/PL08/89_.HTM|title=P.L. 2008, c.89 (S1962 SCS)|website=Njleg.state.nj.us|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
 ===Origin of Black History Month===
@@ Line 41: / Line 38: @@
 ==Official government holidays==
+[[File:Photograph of ceremony at Lincoln Memorial attended by Vice President Truman, celebrating Lincoln's Birthday. - NARA - 199057.jpg|left|thumbnail|Photograph of ceremony at Lincoln Memorial attended by Vice President Truman, celebrating Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1945]]
-Lincoln's Birthday was never a [[U.S. Federal Government]] holiday.  The third Monday in February remains only "Washington's Birthday" in federal law.<ref>5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/6103]</ref>  However, many state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday state holiday as "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations which explicitly or implicitly celebrate Lincoln's birthday.  Regardless of the official name and purpose, celebrations and commemorations on or about the third Monday often include honoring Lincoln.
+Lincoln's Birthday was never a [[U.S. Federal Government]] holiday.  The third Monday in February remains only "Washington's Birthday" in federal law.<ref>[https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/6103 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a)]</ref>  However, many state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday state holiday as "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations which explicitly or implicitly celebrate Lincoln's birthday.  Regardless of the official name and purpose, celebrations and commemorations on or about the third Monday often include honoring Lincoln.
 In [[Connecticut]], [[Missouri]] and [[Illinois]], while Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, Lincoln's Birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week. California still lists Lincoln's Birthday as a holiday,<ref name='calif'/> but as of 2009 no longer gives State employees a paid holiday on February 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2013/02/how-abraham-lincoln-lost-his-birthday-holiday/|title=How Abraham Lincoln lost his birthday holiday - National Constitution Center|website=National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> However, it is considered a "Court holiday" and state courts are closed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/holidays.htm|title=Court Holidays - CA_courts|website=www.courts.ca.gov|access-date=2019-01-30}}</ref>
@@ Line 48: / Line 47: @@
 ''Using "president"''
-*Presidents' Day in [[Hawaii]], [[New Mexico]], [[North Dakota]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nd.gov/tax/misc/state-holidays.html|title=404 - North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner|website=North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Oklahoma]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[South Carolina]], [[South Dakota]], [[Texas]], [[Vermont]] and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]<ref name="nlrodgers">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=1.16.050 |title= RCW 1.16.050 | work= Revised Code of Washington}}</ref>
+*Presidents' Day in [[Hawaii]], [[New Mexico]], [[North Dakota]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nd.gov/tax/misc/state-holidays.html|title=404 - North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner|website=North Dakota Office of State Tax Commissioner|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref> [[Oklahoma]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[South Carolina]], [[South Dakota]], [[Texas]], [[Vermont]], and [[Washington (state)|Washington]]<ref name="nlrodgers">{{cite web |url=http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=1.16.050 |title= RCW 1.16.050 | work= Revised Code of Washington}}</ref>
-*President's Day in [[Alaska]], [[Idaho]], [[Maryland]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Nebraska]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Tennessee]], [[West Virginia]] and [[Wyoming]]
+*President's Day in [[Alaska]], [[Idaho]], [[Maryland]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Nebraska]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Tennessee]], [[West Virginia]], and [[Wyoming]]
-*Presidents Day in [[Michigan]], [[Nevada]], [[New Jersey]] and [[Oregon]]
+*Presidents Day in [[Michigan]], [[Nevada]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Oregon]]
 *Washington's Birthday/President's Day in [[Maine]]
 *Lincoln/Washington/Presidents' Day in [[Arizona]]
+[[File:Carson Pirie Scott Building on Lincoln's 100th Birthday.jpg|thumbnail|[[Carson Pirie Scott & Co.]] store on State Street in [[Chicago, Illinois]] decorated for Lincoln's 100th birthday in 1909]]
 ''Washington and Lincoln''
@@ Line 71: / Line 72: @@
 *"The third Monday in February" in [[California]].<ref>Cal. Gov. Code § [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 6700(a)(5)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309101941/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=06001-07000&file=6700-6724 |date=2013-03-09 }}</ref>
-Several states honor presidents with official state holidays that do not fall on the third Monday of February.  In [[New Mexico]], Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on the [[Black Friday (shopping)|Friday following]] [[Thanksgiving]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stonm.org/AboutTheTreasurersOffice/OfficialStateHolidays |title= Official State Holidays |publisher= New Mexico State Treasurer's Office |access-date= January 21, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111107102812/http://www.stonm.org/AboutTheTreasurersOffice/OfficialStateHolidays |archive-date= November 7, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> In [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on [[Christmas Eve]]. (Observed on the prior Thursday if [[Christmas]] falls on Saturday; observed on the prior Friday if [[Christmas]] falls on a Sunday.  If December 24 is a Wednesday, then this holiday is observed on Friday December 26.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgia.gov/popular-topic/observing-state-holidays|title=State Holidays|website=Georgia.gov|access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
+Several states honor presidents with official state holidays that do not fall on the third Monday of February.  In [[New Mexico]], Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on the [[Black Friday (shopping)|Friday following]] [[Thanksgiving]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stonm.org/AboutTheTreasurersOffice/OfficialStateHolidays |title= Official State Holidays |publisher= New Mexico State Treasurer's Office |access-date= January 21, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111107102812/http://www.stonm.org/AboutTheTreasurersOffice/OfficialStateHolidays |archive-date= November 7, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref> In [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on [[Christmas Eve]]. (Observed on the prior Thursday if [[Christmas]] falls on Saturday; observed on the prior Friday if [[Christmas]] falls on a Sunday.  If December 24 is a Wednesday, then this holiday is observed on Friday December 26.)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://georgia.gov/popular-topic/observing-state-holidays|title=State Holidays|website=Georgia.gov|access-date=2 November 2017|archive-date=26 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226175333/https://georgia.gov/popular-topic/observing-state-holidays|url-status=dead}}</ref>
+[[File:Flags of the Confederacy displayed at movie house on Lincoln's birthday, Winchester, Virginia (cropped).jpg | thumbnail | Flags of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] displayed at a movie house on Lincoln's birthday in [[Winchester, Virginia]], in February 1940]]
+==Cultural references==
+* In the [[Ring Lardner]] short story "Gullible's Travels", a vacationer from Chicago is unaware that Lincoln's Birthday is not observed in Florida.<ref>{{cite book <!-- |last1=Lardner |first1=Ring --> |title=Gullible's Travels, Etc. |date=1917 |publisher=[[Bobbs-Merrill Company]] |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/35162<!-- https://books.google.com/books?id=57q8XhXCF50C --> |language=en|chapter=Gullible's Travels|at=§ II}}</ref>
 ==See also==
 * [[Public holidays in the United States]]
+* [[Jefferson's Birthday]]
 * [[United States commemorative coin]]
+* [[Darwin Day]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 85: / Line 94: @@
 * [http://www.nps.gov/abli Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site]
 * [http://www.shapell.org/manuscript.aspx?169218 Original Manuscript Letters and Documents written by Abraham Lincoln] Shapell Manuscript Foundation
+* [[Robert Haven Schauffler|Schauffler, R. H.]] (1909) ''[https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21267 Lincoln's Birthday]''
 {{US Holidays}}
@@ Line 95: / Line 105: @@
 [[Category:Presidential birthdays in the United States]]
 [[Category:State holidays in the United States]]
+[[Category:Holidays related to the American Civil War]]

v t e Holidays, observances, and celebrations in the United States
January	New Year's Day (federal) Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (federal) Birthday of Eugenio María de Hostos (PR) Confederate Heroes Day (TX) Eve of Three Kings' Day (PR, religious) Feast of Epiphany / Feast of Theophany (religious) Fred Korematsu Day (AZ, CA, FL, HI, VA) Idaho Human Rights Day (ID) Inauguration Day (federal quadrennial) Kansas Day (KS) Makar Sankranti / Pongal (religious) Robert E. Lee Day (FL) Stephen Foster Memorial Day (36) The Eighth (LA) Three Kings' Day (PR, VI, religious) World Religion Day (religious)
January–February	Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year (NY, cultural, religious) Super Bowl Sunday Vasant Panchami (religious)
February American Heart Month Black History Month	Washington's Birthday (federal) Valentine's Day Birthday of Luis Muñoz Marín (PR) Candlemas (religious) Charles Darwin Day / Darwin Day (CA, DE) Day of Remembrance (CA, OR, WA, cultural) Georgia Day (GA) Groundhog Day Imbolc (religious) Lincoln's Birthday (CA, CT, IL, IN, MO, NY, WV) National Girls and Women in Sports Day National Freedom Day (36) Nirvana Day (religious) Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple (religious) Promised Reformer Day (religious) Ronald Reagan Day (CA) Rosa Parks Day (CA, MO) Saviours' Day (religious) Susan B. Anthony Day (CA, FL, NY, WI, WV, proposed federal) Tu B’shvat (religious)
February–March	Mardi Gras Ash Wednesday (PR, religious) Carnival (PR, VI, religious) Clean Monday (religious) Courir de Mardi Gras (religious) Intercalary Days (religious) Mahashivaratri (religious) Purim (religious) Shrove Tuesday (religious) Super Tuesday
March Irish-American Heritage Month Colon Cancer Awareness Month Women's History Month	Saint Patrick's Day (religious) Spring break (week) Annunciation of the Virgin Mary / Annunciation of the Theotokos (religious) Casimir Pulaski Day (IL) Cesar Chavez Day (CA, CO, TX, proposed federal) Emancipation Day in Puerto Rico (PR, cultural) Evacuation Day (Suffolk County, MA) Harriet Tubman Day (NY) Hola Mohalla (religious) Holi (NY, religious) L. Ron Hubbard's Birthday (religious) Lailat al-Mi'raj (religious) Liberation and Freedom Day (Charlottesville, VA, cultural) Mardi Gras (AL (in two counties), LA) Maryland Day (MD) Medal of Honor Day National Poison Prevention Week (week) Nowruz (cultural, religious) Ostara (religious) Pi Day Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Day (HI) Promised Messiah Day (religious) Saint Joseph's Day (religious) Seward's Day (AK) Texas Independence Day (TX) Town Meeting Day (VT) Transfer Day (VI) Trans Day of Visibility (cultural)
March–April	Easter (religious) Good Friday (CT, NC, PR, NJ, VI, religious) Hanuman Jayanti (religious) Holy Thursday (PR, VI, religious) Holy Week (PR, religious, week) Lazarus Saturday (religious) Mahavir Janma Kalyanak (religious) Mesha Sankranti / Hindu New Year (religious) Palm Sunday (PR, religious) Passover (religious, week) Easter Monday / Bright Monday (VI, religious) Ramnavami (religious) Chandramana Uugadi / Souramana Uugadi (religious)
April Arab American Heritage Month Confederate History Month	420 April Fools' Day Arbor Day Birthday of José de Diego (PR) Confederate Memorial Day (AL, MS) Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust (week) Earth Day Emancipation Day (cultural) Thomas Jefferson's Birthday (AL) Lag B’Omer (religious) Last Friday of Great Lent (religious) Pascua Florida (FL) Patriots' Day (MA, ME) Ridván (religious) San Jacinto Day (TX) Siblings Day Walpurgis Night (religious) Yom Ha'atzmaut (cultural, religious)
May Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Jewish American Heritage Month Military Appreciation Month	Memorial Day (federal) Mother's Day (36) Cinco de Mayo Ascension of Baháʼu'lláh (religious) Ascension of Our Lord (religious) Caliphate Day (religious) Declaration of the Bab (religious) Harvey Milk Day (CA) International Workers' Day / May Day (CA, unofficial, proposed state) Law Day (36) Loyalty Day (36) Malcolm X Day (CA, IL, proposed federal) Military Spouse Day National Day of Prayer (36) National Day of Reason National Defense Transportation Day (36) National Maritime Day (36) Peace Officers Memorial Day (36) Pentecost (religious) Shavuot (religious) Truman Day (MO) Vesak / Buddha's Birthday (religious)
June Pride Month	Juneteenth (federal, cultural) Father's Day (36) Bunker Hill Day (Suffolk County, MA) Carolina Day (SC) Don Young Day (AK) Fast of the Holy Apostles (religious) Flag Day (36, proposed federal) Helen Keller Day (PA) Honor America Days (3 weeks) Jefferson Davis Day (AL, FL) Kamehameha Day (HI) Litha (religious) Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib (religious) Odunde Festival (Philadelphia, PA, cultural) Senior Week (week) Saint John's Day (PR, religious) West Virginia Day (WV)
July	Independence Day (federal) Asalha Puja Day (religious) Birthday of Don Luis Muñoz Rivera (PR) Birthday of Dr. José Celso Barbosa (PR) Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands (VI, cultural) Guru Purnima (religious) Khordad Sal (religious) Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea (HI, unofficial, cultural) Martyrdom of the Báb (religious) Parents' Day (36) Pioneer Day (UT) Puerto Rico Constitution Day (PR)
July–August	Summer vacation Tisha B'Av (religious)
August	American Family Day (AZ) Barack Obama Day in Illinois (IL) Bennington Battle Day (VT) Dormition of the Theotokos (religious) Eid-e-Ghadeer (religious) Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus (religious) Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (religious) Hawaii Admission Day / Statehood Day (HI) Krishna Janmashtami (religious) Lammas (religious) Lyndon Baines Johnson Day (TX) Naga Panchami (religious) National Aviation Day (36) Paryushana (religious) Raksha Bandhan (religious) Transfiguration of the Lord (religious) Victory Day (RI) Women's Equality Day (36)
September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Childhood Cancer Awareness Month	Labor Day (federal) Brazilian Day (NY, cultural) California Admission Day (CA) Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day (36) Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (36) Constitution Week Defenders Day (MD) Elevation of the Holy Cross (religious) Feast of San Gennaro (NY, cultural, religious) Ganesh Chaturthi (religious) Gold Star Mother's Day (36) His Holiness Sakya Trizin's Birthday (religious) Mabon (religious) National Grandparents Day (36) National Payroll Week (week) Nativity of Mary / Nativity of the Theotokos (religious) Native American Day (proposed federal) Patriot Day (36) Von Steuben Day
September–October Hispanic Heritage Month	Chehlum Imam Hussain (religious) Oktoberfest Pitri Paksha (religious) Rosh Hashanah / Feast of Trumpets (TX, NY, religious) Shemini Atzeret (religious) Simchat Torah (religious) Vijaya Dashami (religious) Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement (TX, NY, religious)
October Breast Cancer Awareness Month Disability Employment Awareness Month Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month Filipino American History Month LGBT History Month	Columbus Day (federal) Halloween Alaska Day (AK) Child Health Day (36) General Pulaski Memorial Day German-American Day Indigenous Peoples' Day International Day of Non-Violence Leif Erikson Day (36) Missouri Day (MO) Nanomonestotse (cultural) National School Lunch Week (week) Native American Day in South Dakota (SD) Nevada Day (NV) Spirit Day (cultural) Sweetest Day Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles (religious, week) Virgin Islands–Puerto Rico Friendship Day (PR, VI) White Cane Safety Day (36)
October–November	Birth of the Báb (religious) Birth of Baháʼu'lláh (religious) Day of the Dead (VI) Diwali (NY, religious) Mawlid al-Nabi (religious)
November Native American Indian Heritage Month	Veterans Day (federal) Thanksgiving (federal) Ascension of ‘Abdu’l Baha (religious) All Saints' Day (religious) Beginning of the Nativity Fast (religious) Beltane / Samhain (religious) Barack Obama Day in Alabama (Perry County, AL) D. Hamilton Jackson Day (VI) Day after Thanksgiving (24) Day of the Covenant (religious) Discovery of Puerto Rico Day (PR) Election Day (CA, DE, HI, KY, MT, NJ, NY, OH, PR, VA, WV, proposed federal) Family Day (NV) Friendsgiving Guru Nanak Gurpurab (religious) Hanukkah (religious) Lā Kūʻokoʻa (HI, unofficial, cultural) Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (religious) Native American Heritage Day (MD, WA, cultural) Presentation of the Theotokos to the Temple (religious) Trans Day of Remembrance (cultural) Unthanksgiving Day (cultural)
December	Christmas (religious, federal) New Year's Eve Advent Sunday (religious) Alabama Day (AL) Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib (religious) Bodhi Day (religious) Chalica (religious) Christmas Eve (KY, NC, SC, PR, VI) Day after Christmas (KY, NC, SC, TX, VI) Festivus HumanLight Hanukkah (religious, week) Immaculate Conception (religious) Indiana Day (IN) Kwanzaa (cultural, week) Milad Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (religious) National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (36) Nativity of Jesus (religious) Old Year's Night (VI) Pan American Aviation Day (36) Pancha Ganapati (religious, week) Rosa Parks Day (OH, OR) Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (religious) Wright Brothers Day (36) Yule (religious) Zartosht No-Diso (religious)
Varies (year round)	Eid al-Adha (NY, religious) Eid al-Fitr (NY, religious) Islamic New Year (religious) Yawm al-Arafa (religious) Hajj (religious) Laylat al-Qadr (religious) Navaratri (religious, four times a year) Obon (religious) Onam (religious) Ramadan (religious, month) Ghost Festival (religious) Yawm Aashura (religious)
Legend: (federal) = federal holidays, (abbreviation) = state/territorial holidays, (religious) = religious holidays, (cultural) = holiday related to a specific racial/ethnic group or sexual minority, (week) = week-long holidays, (month) = month-long holidays, (36) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies See also: Lists of holidays, Hallmark holidays, Public holidays in the United States, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands.