Why President's Day?

National Monument Mount Rushmore showing from left to right is Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.
Image Credits: Michele Buttle
By Irais Aguilar Coconi

Most young kids, teenagers, and adults know Presidents’ Day exists and that it is often a day where one doesn’t go to school or work. What few knows is why Presidents' Day became a holiday. Presidents’ Day dates back to after America’s first president, George Washington, passed away on December 14, 1799. President’s day was first known as “Washington’s Birthday” because it took place on February 22, 1800 as a day of remembrance for President Washington. This date was an unofficial holiday until 1879 when President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law. Washington’s Birthday only applied to the District of Columbia at first but then expanded to all of the United States. However, later in 1968, during a debate to change several federal holidays to be on a Monday (called the Uniform Monday Holiday Act), the idea of changing the holiday name from Washington’s Birthday to President’s Day was proposed because President Lincoln's birthday was also in February. Changing the holiday’s name would not only honor President Lincoln and Washington but all other presidents as well but Congress rejected the new name. It wasn’t until 1971 that the day we so commonly call as Presidents’ Day was actually called Presidents’ Day. This holiday is typically celebrated with public ceremonies that often take place across the country, but mainly in Washington D.C. Although this year’s ceremonies might look different this year, it will be interesting to see what celebrations are held considering we recently welcomed a new president in office.