Washington’s birthday is a federal holiday in the USA held every third Monday of February each year. It is also known as President’s Day. 
The celebration of this day originated to honor former President George Washington. But now that it is widely regarded as President’s Day, it is now celebrated to honor all the presidents of the USA.
What is President Day?
This day celebrates the birthday of George Washington. However, it is also now being celebrated as a day for honoring all the presidents of our country. According to the Uniform Federal Holidays Act of 1971, the observance of this holiday can happen between February 15 to 21. It is a state holiday in most states in USA. Its official names include Washington’s Birthday, Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday, and President’s Day. Activities related to honoring Washington and other US presidents are held as a way of celebrating the event.
What is the history of President Day?
The history of Washington’s Day can be traced back to when the USA had its first-ever President – George Washington. His legacy then left marks on the hearts of all the people of the USA. Thus, to honor him, Washington’s Day was created.
What is the history of George Washington?
George Washington was the first-ever president of the United States of America. His first term happened back in 1789 to 1793 while his second term happened in 1793 to 1797. But even before he became a US president, he played an important role in the US military. He led the American Continental Army to victory against the British invasion in 1783. Many people regard George Washington as the father of the USA. He is also the most popular American politician.
How was Washington’s Day Created?
First-ever Washington’s Day was celebrated in 1880 in the District of Colombia. But it was not until 1885 that the day was officially declared a federal holiday. Originally, the day was celebrated every February 22 of the year which is the birthday of George Washington. However, in 1971, the holiday was moved to the third Monday of February.
The historical backdrop of President’s Day goes back to the year 1800, after the demise of President George Washington in 1799. 22nd February is the day of his birthday which is a very crucial day to admire the services of Washington. In American history, Washington was perceived as the most essential figure.
During the 1800s Washington’s Birthday was not recognized as an official event but later on until 1870s Washington’s Birthday becomes a federal holiday.
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Representative Steven Wallace Dorsey was the first to propose the federal or government holiday in the memories of George Washington’s services, and in 1879 President Rutherford B. Hayes marked it into law & declared legit holiday every year. Washington’s Birthday, in the beginning, was just connected to the Columbia District, but later on, in 1885, it spread out among the whole nation of America.
Washington’s birthday joined 4 other government-recognized holidays federal bank holidays, New Year’s Holidays, Christmas Holidays, Independence Holidays, & Thanksgiving holidays. Formally, the American enjoy it as just Washington’s Birthday but later on, it was called President Day in the late 1960s when Congress proposed a measure which is called the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act”. This law looked to move the festival of a few government occasions from exact dates to a progression of foreordained Mondays.
While some people contended that moving occasions from their original & official dates would debase their importance & meaning, that actually does not happen.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act likewise incorporated an arrangement to join the festival of Washington’s Birthday with Abraham Lincoln’s, which fell on the assessed date of February 12. Lincoln’s Birthday had for quite some time been a state occasion in spots like Illinois, and many bolstered joining the two days as a method for giving equivalent acknowledgment to two of America’s most acclaimed statesmen.
In 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed and started officially in 1971. And as a result, the Washington Birthday Was officially moved as well from the 22nd of Feb to the third Monday of February and now it is celebrated every year.
When is Washington’s Day?
This holiday is always celebrated on the third Monday of February. This means that Washington’s Day will be celebrated on February 21.
Is Washington’s Day the same as President’s Day?
Yes, President’s Day is just the same as Washington’s Day. Before, Washington’s Day was celebrated only to honor the first-ever USA president. But over time, people started to consider the day President’s Day in general to honor all the presidents of the USA.
Is Washington’s Day a public holiday?
Washington’s Day is a public holiday in most states in the USA. But still, many businesses are open during this day. Many stores even hold sales during the day. Delivery services are also available during this time. However, the post office may be closed. Public transit systems are operating on their regular schedules. The day falls during the mid-winter recess hence, schools are closed for the entire week.
Why is Washington’s Day important?
Washington’s Day is an official way of honoring the life and works of George Washington. This is just a right activity and an important one because all the citizens of the country should know who Washington is. In addition, the tradition of celebrating this holiday has also encompassed honoring all the other past presidents of the USA aside from Washington. During the days leading up to the holiday, most schools organize events for past presidents. Teachers also bring in lessons about these important people that everyone, even children, should be familiar with.
How to Celebrate Washington’s Day?
Washington’s Day is an important day for US citizens. Because of that, there are various activities held during this day as a way of celebrating it. Some of them are:
Learn More About Washington and the Past USA Presidents
A good thing to do for this day is to learn more about Washington and the other past presidents of the USA. Perhaps you can grab their biographies or books about them so that you can learn how their lives went on when they were still living. It might serve as a good inspiration for you and you might also learn a thing or two about living your life in the most successful way possible. Those things that you learn are so important that it should also be good to share them with the people that you know. Perhaps you can share the facts on your social media accounts while using the hashtag #Washington’sDay.
Bake Some Good Cherry Pie
A staple food during this celebration is cherry pie. The reason for this is that it is associated with the legendary cutting down of a cherry tree during the childhood days of Washington. It will be easy to cook this delicacy. You just have to prepare the right ingredients for it.
Go to a Washington Memorial or Plaza to Pay Respects
Another good way to celebrate this event is to go to a Washington memorial or plaza to pay respects to Washington. All other people doing this usually offer some flowers to Washington’s statues. You can also take pictures of yourself with the statue and then share them on your social media accounts.
Washington’s Birthday Traditions
The third Monday of February is Washington’s Birthday and it is celebrated as the time of remembering the services of George Washington and patriotic celebration. Many historical & patriotic groups arrange stage celebrations, re-enactments & many other events to enjoy Washington’s Birthday holiday.
Schools of the states are required to educate the students about the services and accomplishments of US presidents especially Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
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Washington’s Birthday Observance
| Date | Holiday | Day | Week number |
| February 18, | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday | Monday | 8 |
| February 17, | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday | Monday | 8 |
| February 15, | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday | Monday | 7 |
| February 21, 2022 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2022 | Monday | 8 |
| February 20, 2023 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2023 | Monday | 8 |
| February 19, 2024 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2024 | Monday | 8 |
| February 17, 2025 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2025 | Monday | 8 |
| February 16, 2026 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2026 | Monday | 8 |
| February 15, 2027 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2027 | Monday | 7 |
| February 21, 2028 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2028 | Monday | 8 |
| February 19, 2029 | Presidents Day and Washington’s Birthday 2029 | Monday | 8 |
People Also Ask
Is President’s Day the same as Washington’s birthday?
Washington’s Birthday is also called Presidents’ Day. The Government announced a holiday on the 3rd of Monday of February. The event was celebrated to honor the past & present presidents of the United States of America especially George Washington & Abraham Lincoln.
Is President’s Day a holiday for everyone?
Yes, it’s a Federal Holiday so it’s a holiday for everyone. You can observe this Holiday on Third Monday in February. It is one of the 10 legal US holidays but it’s not a public holiday for all the states.
What day in February is Presidents Day?
3rd Monday of February – is held on the Presidents Day or the George Washington’s Birthday which is observed on February 22nd.
When did Washington’s Birthday become President’s Day?
Every third Monday in February the Federal Government declared the holiday in the memory of Washington’s Birthday but later on, in the late 1960s, Washington’s Birthday moved to the President Day in the honor of all present & past presidents.
Facts about Washington’s Day
And of course, your celebration of this day will not be maxed out if you don’t share some interesting facts for Washington’s Day. Some good ones are:
- George Washington was the first-ever President of the USA who served from 1789 to 1797.
- He is also the only president unanimously elected by the electoral college.
- People started calling Washington’s Day President’s Day to honor other US presidents such as Abraham Lincoln.
- Washington was born on February 22, 1732.
- In 1968, congress passed the Monday Holidays Act wherein existing federal holidays during that time will now be observed on a Monday, thereby effectively giving government workers a three-day weekend from Saturday to Monday.
- On February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born.
- Lincoln became president of the USA from 1861 to 1865.