Presidents' Day: Difference between revisions

Washington's Birthday
Presidents' Day
Washington's Birthday; Presidents' Day
	George Washington by Gilbert Stuart (1797)
Official name	Varies by federal, state and city law
Observed by	United States
Type	Federal and most U.S. states and cities
Celebrations	Community and national celebrations
Date	third Monday in February
Frequency	Annual
First time	1879 (as an official federal holiday)
Related to	Lincoln's Birthday

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Presidents' Day, officially Washington's Birthday at the federal governmental level, is a holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday of February. It is often celebrated to honor all those who served as presidents of the United States and, since 1879, has been the federal holiday honoring Founding Father George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, presided at the Constitutional Convention of 1787, and was from 1789 to 1797 the first U.S. president.^[1]

The day is an official state holiday in most states under various names.^[2] Depending upon the specific law, the state holiday may officially celebrate Washington alone, Washington and Abraham Lincoln, or some other combination of U.S. presidents (such as Washington and Thomas Jefferson, who was born in April).^[2]

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 (N.S.). Washington's Birthday was celebrated on this date from 1879 until 1970. To give federal employees a three-day weekend, in 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the third Monday in February, which can occur from February 15 to the 21st.^[3] The day soon became known as Presidents(') Day^[4] (the presence and placement of the apostrophe varies) and provides an occasion to remember all the U.S. presidents, to honor Abraham Lincoln's and Washington's birthdays together, or any single president of choice.^[2]

As many states and cities followed suit, some states that had been celebrating Lincoln's birthday on February 12 combined the two into Presidents Day. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War, preserved the Union, abolished slavery, bolstered the federal government, and modernized the U.S. economy.

Official state holidays

Lincoln's Birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, but nearly half the state governments have officially renamed their observances "Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. (In historical rankings of presidents of the United States, Lincoln and Washington are often the top two.)

In the following states and territories of the United States, this same day is an official state holiday and known as^[5]—

Using "President" in the official title:

"Presidents' Day" in Hawaii,^[6] New Mexico, North Dakota,^[7] Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,^[8] Puerto Rico, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont,^[9] and Washington^[10]
"President's Day" in Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
"Presidents Day" in Nevada and Oregon
"Washington's Birthday/President's Day" in Maine
"Lincoln/Washington Presidents' Day" in Arizona^[11]

Using "Washington" alone:

"George Washington Day" in Virginia^[12]
"Washington's Birthday" in Connecticut,^[13] Florida,^[14] Illinois,^[15] Iowa,^[16] Louisiana, Massachusetts,^[17] Michigan,^[18] North Carolina,^[19] New Jersey,^[20] and New York^[21]

Using both "Washington" and "Lincoln":

"Lincoln's and Washington's Birthday" in Montana
"Washington–Lincoln Day" in Colorado,^[22] Ohio^[23]
"Washington and Lincoln Day" in Utah^[24]
"Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday" in Minnesota^[25]

Using "Washington" and another person:

"George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday" in Alabama^[26]
"George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Bates Day" in Arkansas

Using something else:

"The third Monday in February" generic term used in California^[27]

Not a holiday:

Some states do not officially observe the holiday on this day and do not have a day celebrating Washington or presidents in general. Delaware does not observe the Washington's Birthday federal holiday.^[28]

Several states honor presidents with official state holidays that do not fall on the third Monday of February. In Massachusetts, the state officially celebrates "Washington's Birthday" on the same day as the federal holiday. State law also directs the governor to issue an annual "Presidents Day" proclamation on May 29 (John F. Kennedy's birthday), honoring the presidents with Massachusetts roots: Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Calvin Coolidge.^[29] In California,^[30] Connecticut, Florida,^[14] Illinois,^[15] Michigan,^[31] and New Jersey,^[20] Lincoln's Birthday is a separate state holiday celebrated on February 12. In Missouri, Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, observed on the third Monday in February, and Abraham Lincoln's birthday is observed on the Monday closest to February 12 (always the Monday preceding Washington's Birthday).

In New Mexico, Presidents' Day, at least as a state-government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving,^[32]^[33] although the legal public holiday remains the third Monday in February.^[34] In Georgia, Washington's Birthday is not a state-government paid holiday, although until 2018 it was officially observed on Christmas Eve.^[35] Similarly, in Indiana, Washington's Birthday is observed on Christmas Eve, or the day preceding the weekend if Christmas falls on Saturday or Sunday, while Lincoln's Birthday is the day after Thanksgiving.^[36]

History

George Washington was born on February 11, 1731 (O.S.), at his parents' Pope's Creek Estate near Colonial Beach in Westmoreland County, Virginia, now the George Washington Birthplace National Monument. At the time, the entire British Empire, including its North American possessions, was on the Julian calendar; the Empire, not being bound to the Catholic Church, had not yet adopted the modern Gregorian calendar that Catholic countries had adopted in 1582. Consequently, by the 1730s, the Julian calendar used by Britain and the Colonies was eleven days behind the Gregorian, because of leap year differences. Furthermore, the British civil year began on March 25 rather than January 1, so that dates in February (such as this one) 'belonged' to the preceding year. (See Dual dating). In 1752, The British Empire switched to the Gregorian calendar; since then, Americans born prior to 1752, including Washington, have typically had their birthdays recognized according to the Gregorian calendar ("New Style" dates).^[37] Since February 11, 1731, on the Julian calendar was February 22, 1732, on the Gregorian, and he was alive at the time the change was made, Washington changed his birth date to February 22, 1732, to match the new calendar.^[38]

The federal holiday honoring Washington was originally implemented by an Act of Congress in 1879 for government offices in Washington (20 Stat. 277) and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices (23 Stat. 516). As the first federal holiday to honor an American president, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's birthday under the Gregorian calendar, February 22.^[39] On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.^[40] This places it between February 15 and 21, which makes "Washington's Birthday" something of a misnomer, since it never occurs on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. (A rough analogue of this phenomenon can be seen in Commonwealth realms, where the reigning monarch's official birthday is celebrated without regard to the monarch's actual date of birth.)^{[citation needed]}

The first attempt to create a Presidents Day occurred in 1951 when the "President's Day National Committee" was formed by Harold Stonebridge Fischer of Compton, California, who became its National Executive Director for the next two decades. The purpose was not to honor any particular president but to honor the office of the presidency. It was first thought that March 4, the original inauguration day, should be deemed Presidents Day, but the bill recognizing March 4 stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee (which had authority over federal holidays). The committee felt that, given its proximity to Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays, three holidays so close together would be unduly burdensome. But meanwhile the governors of a majority of the states issued proclamations declaring March 4 Presidents' Day in their respective jurisdictions.^[41]

An early draft of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act would have renamed the holiday "Presidents' Day" to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln, which would explain why the chosen date falls between the two, but this proposal failed in committee, and the bill was voted on and signed into law on June 28, 1968, keeping the name "Washington's Birthday".^[41]^[42]

By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began its public appearance.^[43]

In Washington's adopted hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, celebrations are held throughout February.^[44]

Observance and traditions

A food traditionally associated with the holiday is cherry pie, based on the legend of Washington in his youth chopping down a cherry tree.^[45]

Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses generally closed on this day, similar to present corporate practices on Memorial Day or Christmas Day.^[46] However, after having been moved to the third Monday, most businesses remain open with many offering sales and other promotions. Federal and state government services close (U.S. Postal Service, state Departments of Motor Vehicles, federal and state courts).^[47] Class schedules at universities and colleges vary depending on the school. Public elementary and secondary schools are generally closed, but some school districts, such as New York City, may close for an entire week as a "mid-winter recess".^[48]

The holiday is also a tribute to the general who created the first military badge of merit for the common soldier. Revived on Washington's 200th birthday in 1932, the Purple Heart medal (which bears Washington's image) is awarded to soldiers who are injured in battle.^[49]

Community celebrations often display a lengthy heritage. Laredo, Texas, hosts a monthlong tribute, as does Washington's hometown of Alexandria, Virginia, which includes what is claimed to be the nation's longest-running and largest George Washington Birthday parade.^[50] Eustis, Florida, holds an annual "GeorgeFest" celebration that began in 1902,^[51] and in Denver, Colorado, there is a society dedicated to observing the day.^[52] At the George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland County, Virginia, visitors are treated to birthday celebrations on the holiday,^[53] while at Mount Vernon they last throughout the holiday weekend and through February 22.^[54]

Since 1862 there has been a tradition in the United States Senate that George Washington's Farewell Address be read on his birthday. Citizens asked that this be done in light of the ongoing Civil War.^[55]

Commercialism

The holiday is well-known for coinciding with deep sales discounts for big ticket items such as appliances, furniture, and especially mattresses. This is due to retailers trying to clear their inventory and taking advantage of tax season.^[56] These are typically referred to as "President's Day Sales".^{[citation needed]}

Sports

Since the mid-2000s, the National Basketball Association has held their annual All-Star festivities during the holiday weekend. As a result, no games are played on the holiday itself, and the season resumes the following Thursday.^{[citation needed]}

The day before Presidents Day is the traditional running of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race; there have been occasions when the race was cut short, or either finished on or postponed entirely to the holiday due to inclement weather, the most recent of which was the 2024 edition.

Punctuation

Because "Presidents' Day" is not the official name of the federal holiday, there is variation in how it is rendered, both colloquially and in the name of official state holidays.^[3]

When used with the intention of celebrating more than one individual, the form "Presidents' Day" was usual in the past. This is celebrating President Washington Day, President Fillmore Day, up to President Biden Day, individually.^[57] In recent years, as the use of attributive nouns (nouns acting as modifiers) has become more widespread, the form "Presidents Day" has become more common (It would mean celebrating Presidents Washington through Biden Day collectively);^[58] the Associated Press Stylebook, most newspapers and some magazines use this form.^[59]

"President's Day" as an alternate rendering of any one particular president, or for the purpose of commemorating the presidency as an institution, is a proper use of a possessive and is the legal rendering in eight states.^[60]

Dates

Year								Presidents' Day
1994	2000	2005	2011		2022	2028	2033	February 21 (week 8)
1995		2006	2012	2017	2023		2034	February 20 (week 8)
1996	2001	2007		2018	2024	2029	2035	February 19 (week 8)
	2002	2008	2013	2019		2030	2036	February 18 (week 7)
1997	2003		2014	2020	2025	2031		February 17 (week 7)
1998	2004	2009	2015		2026	2032	2037	February 16 (week 7)
1999		2010	2016	2021	2027		2038	February 15 (week 7)

References

^ "George Washington's Life". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved February 12, 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c Strauss, Valerie (February 16, 2014). "Why Presidents' Day Is slightly strange". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Hertzberg, Hendrik (February 19, 2007). "Too Many Chiefs". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2017.
^ "Presidents' Day". govinfo.gov. February 12, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^ See Public holidays in the United States for citations.
^ "Years 2016 and 2017 Holidays to be observed by the Hawaii State Government" (PDF). Hawaii. August 11, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
^ "Holidays". Office of Management and Budget. North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "Act 138 of 1893". last amended by Act of December 13, 1985, P.L. 329, No. 88
^ "Vermont Laws". legislature.vermont.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
^ "RCW 1.16.050". Revised Code of Washington. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015.
^ State of Arizona (February 19, 2023). "A.R.S. § 1-301. Holidays enumerated". Arizona State Legislature, Revised Statutes. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
^ "Va. Code § 2.2-3300. Legal holidays". Code of Virginia. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
^ State of Connecticut (February 19, 2023). "C.G.S. § 1-4. Days designated as legal holidays". Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes, Chapter 2. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b State of Florida (February 19, 2023). "Fla. Code § 683.01 Legal holidays". 2020 Florida Statutes. Florida Senate. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Office of the Secretary of the State. "State Holidays". Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
^ "Public Holidays and Recognition Days, §1C,2" (PDF). Iowa Legislature. December 13, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "Massachusetts Legal Holidays". www.sec.state.ma.us. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
^ "Legal Holidays (Excerpt)". Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
^ State of North Carolina (February 19, 2023). "N.C.G.S. § 103-4. Dates of public holidays". North Carolina General Assembly, Enacted Legislation, Statutes. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "N.J.S.A. § 36:1-1 (2022) Legal holidays". 2022 New Jersey Revised Statutes, Title 36 - Legal Holidays. Justia.com.
^ "New York State Holidays" (PDF). NY Office of General Services, Business Services Center. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
^ "Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24. Government State § 24-11-101. Legal holidays – effect". FindLaw. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "1.14 Excluding first and including last day – legal holidays". LAWriter Ohio Laws and Rules. April 10, 2001. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "Washington and Lincoln Day in Utah, per state code". February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.
^ "2016 Minnesota Statutes". Revisor of Statutes. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "2017 Holiday Schedule". State of Alabama. February 2017. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "California government code". Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^ "DHR - Division of Labor Relations and Employment Practices - 2022 State Holidays".
^ "Section 15VV Presidents Day". The General Laws of Massachusetts. ch. 6, § 15vv. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. (Coolidge was the only one born outside of Massachusetts. George H. W. Bush, on the other hand, was born in Massachusetts, but has spent most of his life elsewhere.)
^ Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(a)(4) Archived March 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Michigan Legislature - Section 435.101". legislature.mi.gov.
^ "Official State Holidays". New Mexico State Treasurer's Office. Archived from the original on November 7, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
^ New Mexico State Personnel Board (November 9, 2019). "General Memorandum 2019-003" (PDF).
^ "New Mexico Statutes Chapter 12. Miscellaneous Public Affairs Matters § 12-5-2. Legal holidays; designation".
^ "Observing State Holidays". Georgia. August 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
^ "SPD: State Holidays". Indiana State Personnel Department. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
^ Boorstin, Daniel (1983). The Discoverers. Random House. pp. 8–10. ISBN 978-0-394-72625-0.
^ Engber, Daniel (January 18, 2006). "What's Benjamin Franklin's Birthday?". Slate. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^ Washington was born on February 11, 1731, based on the Julian calendar then in use in the British Colonies. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Great Britain, Ireland and the EMpire (1752), he opted to begin observing his birthday anniversary on the equivalent date of February 22, 1732.
^ "Uniform Monday Holiday Act". National Archives and Records Administration. January 15, 1968. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
^ ^a ^b Hannaford, Peter D. (February 17, 2012). "The Day That Isn't". The American Spectator. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
^ Arbelbide, C. L. (August 15, 2016). "By George, IT IS Washington's Birthday!". National Archives. Vol. 36, No. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
^ Arbelbide, C.L. (Winter 2004). "By George, It Is Washington's Birthday!". Prologue Magazine. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
^ The George Washington Birthday Celebration Archived May 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
^ Mirabile, Jasper J. Jr. (February 16, 2014). "Celebrate George Washington's birthday with cherry pie". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ Glass, Andrew (February 20, 2017). "Presidents Day is being observed today, Feb. 20, 2017". Politico. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ May, Ashley (February 15, 2018). "What is open and closed on Presidents Day?". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
^ "2017–2018 Holidays and Key Dates". New York City Department of Education. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ Miller, T. Christian (September 8, 2010). "A History of the Purple Heart". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ "Parade". George Washington Birthday Celebration. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ "Celebrating 113 Years of GeorgeFest". Lake County News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
^ "The Charter". Presidents Day Society. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
^ "George Washington Birthplace Birthday Celebration". Find Your Chesapeake. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ "Washington's Birthday Celebration". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ "Washington's Farewell Address". United States Senate. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
^ "Why do mattresses go on sale on President's Day?". February 19, 2024.
^ "Punctuation matters". The Week. February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
^ Nelson, Pam (March 23, 2006). "Kids Day or Kids' Day". Grammar Guide. The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009.
^ "What’s in a Name: The Truth About Presidents Day" Archived October 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Dialynn Dwyer, February 13, 2015, Boston.com
^ Office of the Press Secretary (February 19, 2007). "President Bush Visits Mount Vernon, Honors President Washington's 275th Birthday on President's Day" (Press release). The White House. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

External links

Media related to Washington's Birthday at Wikimedia Commons

Schauffler, R. H. (1926), Washington's Birthday

[1] "George Washington's Life". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Retrieved February 12, 2024.

[WaPostFeb14-2] Strauss, Valerie (February 16, 2014). "Why Presidents' Day Is slightly strange". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved February 17, 2014.

[2manyCh1efs-3] Hertzberg, Hendrik (February 19, 2007). "Too Many Chiefs". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2017.

[4] "Presidents' Day". govinfo.gov. February 12, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021.

[5] See Public holidays in the United States for citations.

[6] "Years 2016 and 2017 Holidays to be observed by the Hawaii State Government" (PDF). Hawaii. August 11, 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 25, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.

[7] "Holidays". Office of Management and Budget. North Dakota. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[8] "Act 138 of 1893". last amended by Act of December 13, 1985, P.L. 329, No. 88

[VermontLaws-9] "Vermont Laws". legislature.vermont.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2023.

[nlrodgers-10] "RCW 1.16.050". Revised Code of Washington. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015.

[11] State of Arizona (February 19, 2023). "A.R.S. § 1-301. Holidays enumerated". Arizona State Legislature, Revised Statutes. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

[12] "Va. Code § 2.2-3300. Legal holidays". Code of Virginia. Retrieved February 13, 2023.

[13] State of Connecticut (February 19, 2023). "C.G.S. § 1-4. Days designated as legal holidays". Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes, Chapter 2. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

[:1-14] State of Florida (February 19, 2023). "Fla. Code § 683.01 Legal holidays". 2020 Florida Statutes. Florida Senate. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

[:2-15] Office of the Secretary of the State. "State Holidays". Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved February 20, 2023.

[16] "Public Holidays and Recognition Days, §1C,2" (PDF). Iowa Legislature. December 13, 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[17] "Massachusetts Legal Holidays". www.sec.state.ma.us. Retrieved February 16, 2019.

[18] "Legal Holidays (Excerpt)". Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2018.

[19] State of North Carolina (February 19, 2023). "N.C.G.S. § 103-4. Dates of public holidays". North Carolina General Assembly, Enacted Legislation, Statutes. Retrieved February 19, 2023.

[:0-20] "N.J.S.A. § 36:1-1 (2022) Legal holidays". 2022 New Jersey Revised Statutes, Title 36 - Legal Holidays. Justia.com.

[21] "New York State Holidays" (PDF). NY Office of General Services, Business Services Center. September 15, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 24, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2019.

[22] "Colorado Revised Statutes Title 24. Government State § 24-11-101. Legal holidays – effect". FindLaw. February 16, 2017. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[23] "1.14 Excluding first and including last day – legal holidays". LAWriter Ohio Laws and Rules. April 10, 2001. Archived from the original on February 19, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[24] "Washington and Lincoln Day in Utah, per state code". February 13, 2015. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016.

[25] "2016 Minnesota Statutes". Revisor of Statutes. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[26] "2017 Holiday Schedule". State of Alabama. February 2017. Archived from the original on February 5, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[27] "California government code". Retrieved February 21, 2023.

[28] "DHR - Division of Labor Relations and Employment Practices - 2022 State Holidays".

[29] "Section 15VV Presidents Day". The General Laws of Massachusetts. ch. 6, § 15vv. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. (Coolidge was the only one born outside of Massachusetts. George H. W. Bush, on the other hand, was born in Massachusetts, but has spent most of his life elsewhere.)

[30] Cal. Gov. Code § 6700(a)(4) Archived March 9, 2013, at the Wayback Machine

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

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

[33] New Mexico State Personnel Board (November 9, 2019). "General Memorandum 2019-003" (PDF).

[34] "New Mexico Statutes Chapter 12. Miscellaneous Public Affairs Matters § 12-5-2. Legal holidays; designation".

[35] "Observing State Holidays". Georgia. August 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 26, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.

[36] "SPD: State Holidays". Indiana State Personnel Department. Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2016.

[37] Boorstin, Daniel (1983). The Discoverers. Random House. pp. 8–10. ISBN 978-0-394-72625-0.

[38] Engber, Daniel (January 18, 2006). "What's Benjamin Franklin's Birthday?". Slate. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.

[39] Washington was born on February 11, 1731, based on the Julian calendar then in use in the British Colonies. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted in Great Britain, Ireland and the EMpire (1752), he opted to begin observing his birthday anniversary on the equivalent date of February 22, 1732.

[unifmonday-40] "Uniform Monday Holiday Act". National Archives and Records Administration. January 15, 1968. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved February 15, 2011.

[Spectator-41] Hannaford, Peter D. (February 17, 2012). "The Day That Isn't". The American Spectator. Retrieved February 20, 2023.

[42] Arbelbide, C. L. (August 15, 2016). "By George, IT IS Washington's Birthday!". National Archives. Vol. 36, No. 4. Retrieved July 6, 2021.

[Arbelbide-43] Arbelbide, C.L. (Winter 2004). "By George, It Is Washington's Birthday!". Prologue Magazine. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 13, 2009.

[44] The George Washington Birthday Celebration Archived May 6, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

[45] Mirabile, Jasper J. Jr. (February 16, 2014). "Celebrate George Washington's birthday with cherry pie". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2018.

[46] Glass, Andrew (February 20, 2017). "Presidents Day is being observed today, Feb. 20, 2017". Politico. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018.

[47] May, Ashley (February 15, 2018). "What is open and closed on Presidents Day?". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2018.

[48] "2017–2018 Holidays and Key Dates". New York City Department of Education. Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[49] Miller, T. Christian (September 8, 2010). "A History of the Purple Heart". National Public Radio. Archived from the original on July 20, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[50] "Parade". George Washington Birthday Celebration. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[51] "Celebrating 113 Years of GeorgeFest". Lake County News. Archived from the original on March 18, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.

[52] "The Charter". Presidents Day Society. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

[53] "George Washington Birthplace Birthday Celebration". Find Your Chesapeake. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[54] "Washington's Birthday Celebration". George Washington's Mount Vernon. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[55] "Washington's Farewell Address". United States Senate. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2018.

[56] "Why do mattresses go on sale on President's Day?". February 19, 2024.

[57] "Punctuation matters". The Week. February 18, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2023.

[58] Nelson, Pam (March 23, 2006). "Kids Day or Kids' Day". Grammar Guide. The News & Observer. Raleigh, NC. Archived from the original on March 19, 2009.

[59] "What’s in a Name: The Truth About Presidents Day" Archived October 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Dialynn Dwyer, February 13, 2015, Boston.com

[60] Office of the Press Secretary (February 19, 2007). "President Bush Visits Mount Vernon, Honors President Washington's 275th Birthday on President's Day" (Press release). The White House. Archived from the original on May 7, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

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v t e George Washington
1st President of the United States (1789–1797) Senior Officer of the Army (1798–1799) Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army (1775–1783) Delegate to the Second Continental Congress (1775) Delegate to the First Continental Congress (1774)
Military career Revolutionary War	Military career French and Indian War Jumonville Glen Battle of Fort Necessity Battle of the Monongahela Forbes Expedition Washington in the American Revolution Commander-in-chief, Continental Army Aides-de-camp Washington's headquarters office and sleeping tent Boston campaign Siege of Boston New York and New Jersey campaign Delaware River crossing Battle of Trenton Battle of the Assunpink Creek Battle of Princeton Philadelphia campaign Battle of Brandywine Battle of Germantown Battle of White Marsh Valley Forge Battle of Monmouth Battles of Saratoga Sullivan Expedition Yorktown campaign Siege of Yorktown Culper Spy Ring Newburgh Conspiracy Newburgh letter Asgill Affair Evacuation Day Resignation as commander-in-chief Badge of Military Merit Purple Heart Washington Before Boston Medal Horses Nelson Blueskin
Other U.S. founding events	Initiated, co-wrote, 1769 Virginia Association Initiated, 1774 Fairfax Resolves Continental Association Court of Appeals in Cases of Capture 1785 Mount Vernon Conference Chairman, 1787 Constitutional Convention George Washington's political evolution
Presidency (timeline)	1788–89 United States presidential election First inauguration inaugural bible 1792 presidential election Second inauguration Reception at Trenton Title of "Mr. President" Cabinet of the United States Secretary of State Attorney General Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of War Judiciary Act of 1789 Oath Administration Act Nonintercourse Act Whiskey Rebellion Militia Acts of 1792 Coinage Act of 1792 United States Mint Presidential Succession Act of 1792 United States Capitol cornerstone laying Proclamation of Neutrality Neutrality Act of 1794 Jay Treaty Pinckney's Treaty Slave Trade Act of 1794 Residence Act Thanksgiving Proclamation Farewell Address State of the Union Address January 1790 December 1790 1791 1792 1793 1796 Cabinet Federal judicial appointments John Rutledge Supreme Court nominations
Views and public image	Presidential library The Washington Papers Religious views Town Destroyer Legacy
Life and homes	Early life Birthplace Ferry Farm boyhood home Mount Vernon Fishery Gristmill Whiskey distillery Woodlawn Plantation Longfellow House–Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site Ford Mansion, Washington's headquarters Hasbrouck House First Presidential Mansion Second Presidential Mansion President's House, Philadelphia Germantown White House Custis estate Washington's relations with the Iroquois Confederacy Potomac Company James River and Kanawha Canal Mountain Road Lottery Congressional Gold Medal Thanks of Congress President General of the Society of the Cincinnati Washington College Washington and Lee University Electoral history of George Washington Post-presidency of George Washington
Memorials and depictions	Washington, D.C. Washington state Washington Monument Mount Rushmore Washington's Birthday Purple Heart The Apotheosis of Washington Washington Monument (Boonsboro, Maryland) Washington Monument (Baltimore) George Washington (Houdon) plaster copy George Washington (Ceracchi) George Washington (Canova) George Washington (Greenough) George Washington (Trumbull) George Washington and the Revolutionary War Door Revolutionary War Door Washington Crossing the Delaware The Passage of the Delaware General George Washington at Trenton Washington at Verplanck's Point General George Washington Resigning His Commission Surrender of Lord Cornwallis Unfinished portrait Lansdowne portrait The Washington Family portrait Washington at Princeton paintings George Washington Taking the Salute at Trenton Reception at Trenton painting Statues Trenton Battle Monument Princeton Battle Monument Point of View sculpture George Washington on Horseback Austin statue Baltimore statue Boston statue Mexico City statue Morristown statue Newark statue New York City statue Wall Street statue Paris statue Perth Amboy statue Philadelphia statue Portland statue Washington, D.C. statue West Point monument George Washington University Washington University in St. Louis Washington Masonic National Memorial George Washington Memorial Parkway George Washington Bridge Washington and Jefferson National Forests Washington Square Park Arch U.S. Postage stamps Washington–Franklin Issues 1932 bicentennial Currency Washington quarter 50 State Quarters D.C. and territories quarters America the Beautiful quarters American Women quarters History Instructing Youth dollar Washington dollar Lafayette dollar Silver bullion coins Washington nickel Washington half eagle 250th Anniversary half dollar Mount Rushmore Anniversary coins Mount Washington Cultural depictions George Washington (1984 miniseries 1986 sequel) A More Perfect Union (1989 film) The Crossing (2000 film) We Fight to Be Free (2006 film) Turn: Washington's Spies (2014–2017 series) The War that Made America (2006 miniseries) Washington (2020 miniseries) Hamilton (film)
Related	Bibliography List of articles Founders Online Founding Fathers of the United States Republicanism Federalist Party Federalist Era Virginia dynasty Coat of arms Cherry-tree anecdote River Farm Washington's Crossing Washington–Rochambeau Revolutionary Route 1751 Barbados trip Category Syng inkstand General of the Armies Conway Cabal American Foxhound American Philosophical Society American Revolution patriots Betsy Ross flag Mount Vernon Ladies' Association Mount Vernon replicas George Washington Memorial Building Attempted theft of Washington's skull
Family	Martha Washington (wife) John Parke Custis (stepson) George Washington Parke Custis (step-grandson, adopted son) Eleanor Parke Custis (step-granddaughter, adopted daughter) Augustine Washington (father) Mary Ball Washington (mother) Lawrence Washington (half-brother) Augustine Washington Jr. (half-brother) Elizabeth Washington Lewis (sister) Samuel Washington (brother) John A. Washington (brother) Charles Washington (brother) Lawrence Washington (grandfather) Mildred Gale (grandmother) John Washington (great-grandfather) George Reade (2nd great-grandfather) Bushrod Washington (nephew)
Slavery	Washington and slavery List of enslaved people of Mount Vernon Betty Caroline Branham William Costin West Ford Sarah Johnson Oney Judge Philip Lee William Lee Hercules Posey Christopher Sheels Deborah Squash Harry Washington
John Adams → Category Outline

v t e Federal holidays in the United States
Current	New Year's Day Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Washington's Birthday Memorial Day Juneteenth Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day
Proposed	VE Day (1945) Victory Day (1950) Flag Day (1950) Election Day/Democracy Day (1993, 2005, 2014) Malcolm X Day (1993–1994) Cesar Chavez Day (2008) Susan B. Anthony Day (2011) Native American Day (2013) Patriot Day (2021) Rosa Parks Day (2021)
Related	Uniform Monday Holiday Act

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 Gospel Music Heritage 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.