Presidents' Day is a holiday held on the third Monday of February. The day is held to honor the presidents of the United States, which includes our first president, George Washington. The day was originally created in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, and to this day, it is still called Washington’s Birthday by the federal government. Washington’s actual day of birth, however, is February 22nd, but was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which was an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.
Who Are The Presidents We Honor?
President's Day never actually falls upon the actual birthday of any of the presidents we honor: George Washington, William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan. All born in February, their birthdays have always come either too early or late to coincide with Presidents’ Day.
George Washington was the first president of the United States of America. George Washington is often seen as the father of the country.
William Henry Harrison Sr. was the ninth President of the United States, an American military officer, and the last president born as a British subject. He became the first to die in office, serving the shortest term in U.S. Presidential history, at the age of 32.
Abraham Lincoln became the United States' 16th President in 1861, issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that declared free all the slaves in the Confederacy in 1863.
Ronald Reagan became the 40th President of the United States serving from 1981 to 1989. His term was served with the goal of "peace through strength". He also created National Inventor’s Day.
Although President’s Day isn’t celebrated as widely and festively as say New Years or Halloween, it’s always nice to take a moment to remember these four presidents, as they are the reason you get good car sale deals.
Nicole Stetsyuk
Every Third Monday of February