Honoring the Past: A Look at Presidents’ Day

As the third Monday of February aproaches, Americans are gettin’ ready to celebrate Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday that honors the birthdays of two of the country’s most influencial leaders: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. But where did this holiday come from, and what makes it so special? I mean, seriously, a long weekend? Best. Holiday. Ever.

A Brief History

Presidents’ Day has it’s roots in the 18th century, when George Washington’s birthday (February 22nd) was celebrated, like, a big deal. However, it wasn’t until 1879 that Congress passed a law makin’ February 22nd a federal holiday. Can you believe it took that long?! But then, it wasn’t until 1968 that the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the holiday to the third Monday in February, creating a long weekend for many Americans. Thank goodness for that!

A New Addition: Abraham Lincoln

In 1971, Congress declared Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) as a seperate federal holiday, tho it’s not always observed on the same day as Presidents’ Day. Kinda weird, right? This decision was made to honor the 16th president’s legacy and to provide an opportunity for Americans to learn more about his life and accomplishments. He was pretty awesome, if you ask me.

Current Celebrations

So, what can you expect on Presidents’ Day? Parades, ceremonies, and other events are held at presidential libraries, museums, and historical sites across the country. Many businesses and government offices are closed, and some offer special deals and discounts. Woohoo! Some states and cities also host additional celebrations, such as reenactments, historical lectures, and cultural events. I’m hoping for a reenactment this year!

New Developments

In recent years, there’s been some pretty cool new developments on Presidents’ Day. In 2020, the National Park Service announced that it would be offering free admission to all national parks and federal recreational lands on Presidents’ Day, to promote tourism and conservation. That’s pretty neat! In 2022, the U.S. Postal Service released a new set of commemorative stamps featuring images of both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. I totally snagged a set!

Interesting Facts

Here are some fun facts about Presidents’ Day:

Fact	Description
George Washington’s birthday is not actually his actual birthday, but rather the day he was born on February 22, 1732.	Seriously?
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is also not his actual birthday, but rather the day he was born on February 12, 1809.	Go figure.
The first presidential inauguration took place on April 30, 1789, when George Washington was sworn in as the first president of the United States.	History is wild!
The longest-serving president in U.S. history was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who served from 1933 to 1945. Wowzers!

Presidential Profiles

Let’s take a closer look at the two presidents whose birthdays we’re celebrating:

George Washington

Born: February 22, 1732
Died: December 14, 1799
Served as: First President of the United States (1789-1797)
Notable Accomplishments: Led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolution, established the cabinet system, and set the precedent for a two-term limit on presidential terms. What a guy!

Abraham Lincoln

Born: February 12, 1809
Died: April 15, 1865
Served as: 16th President of the United States (1861-1865)
Notable Accomplishments: Led the country through its Civil War, issued the Emancipation Proclamation, and ultimately abolished slavery. A true hero.

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