Presidents' Day History, Folklore, and More
Presidents’ Day is Monday, February 17, 2025! Did you know that the official federal holiday is called “Washington’s Birthday”? So, why do some states call it Presidents’ Day? Learn more.
Is This Holiday Called Presidents’ Day or Washington’s Birthday?
Although the holiday is most often called “Presidents’ Day,” the observed federal holiday is officially called “Washington’s Birthday.”
Neither Congress nor the president has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington’s Birthday be changed to Presidents’ Day. Additionally, Congress has never declared a national holiday binding in all states; each state has the freedom to determine its legal holidays. This is why there are some calendar discrepancies when it comes to this holiday’s date. Read more from the National Archives.
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So Why Is Washington’s Birthday Commonly Called Presidents’ Day?
In a sense, calling the holiday Presidents’ Day helps us reflect on not just the first president but also our nation’s founding, its values, and what Washington calls in his Farewell Address the “beloved Constitution and union, as received from the Founders.” Also, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is February 12, so by calling the holiday “Presidents’ Day,” we can also include another remarkable president in our celebrations.
Today, many calendars list the third Monday of February as Presidents’ Day, just as many U.S. states do. Of course, all of the 3-day retail store sales are called “Presidents’ Day” sales, and this vernacular has also been influential in how we reference the holiday.
When Is Presidents’ Day?
Presidents’ Day is observed annually on the third Monday in February. In 2025, Presidents’ Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 17.
| Year | Presidents’ Day |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday, February 17 |
| 2026 | Monday, February 16 |
| 2027 | Monday, February 15 |
| 2028 | Monday, February 21 |
Presidents’ Day History
Historically, Americans began celebrating George Washington’s Birthday just months after his death, long before Congress declared it a federal holiday. It was not until 1879, under President Rutherford B. Hayes, that Washington’s Birthday became a legal holiday, to be observed on his birthday, February 22.
Washington’s birthday was celebrated on February 22 until well into the 20th century. In 1968, Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law to “provide uniform annual observances of certain legal public holidays on Mondays.” By creating more 3-day weekends, Congress hoped to “bring substantial benefits to both the spiritual and economic life of the Nation.”
Is Presidents’ Day a Federal Holiday?
Today, George Washington’s Birthday is one of only 11 permanent federal holidays established by Congress observed each year. One of the great traditions followed for decades has been the reading of George Washington’s Farewell Address by a U.S. senator in legislative session, which remains an annual event to this day.
When Is George Washington’s Real Birthday?
Although the federal holiday is held on a Monday (the third Monday of February), George Washington’s birthday is observed on February 22. To complicate matters, Washington was actually born on February 11, 1731! How can that be?
George Washington was born when the Julian calendar was in use. During Washington’s lifetime, people in Great Britain and America switched the official calendar system from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar (something that most of Europe had already done in 1582).
As a result of this calendar reform, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. Those born between January 1 and March 25, as Washington was, also had to add 1 year to be in sync with the new calendar.
By the time Washington became president in 1789, he celebrated his birthday on February 22 and listed his birth year as 1732.
To summarize, Washington’s birthday changed from February 11, 1731 (Old-Style Julian calendar), to February 22, 1732 (New-Style Gregorian calendar).
Myths About Washington
Legend has it that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree when he was 6 years old and, when confronted by his father, said, “I can not tell a lie. I did it with my hatchet.”
Well, we can not tell a lie, either. Washington didn’t say this; he didn’t even chop down the tree! This tale was, in fact, concocted by Parson Mason Weems (1759–1825), one of Washington’s biographers, who made up the story hoping to demonstrate Washington’s honesty.
This tale is not the only myth about Washington. His wooden dentures? They weren’t made of wood; they were made of hippopotamus teeth that had been filed down to fit into Washington’s mouth.
Cherry Recipes
It’s also just a myth that George Washington confessed to chopping down a cherry tree. But the story inspired our delicious No-Lie Cherry Pie recipe! Plus, enjoy more cherry recipes.
- No-Lie Cherry Pie
- Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cookies
- Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake
- Cherry Berry Pie
- Cherry Bounce (alcoholic drink)
George Washington Quote
Upon entering office, Washington was not convinced he was the right man for the job. He wrote, “My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.” Fortunately for the young country, he was wrong.
Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.
–George Washington (1732–99)
Do you do anything special to celebrate Presidents’ Day? Let us know in the comments!
Catherine Boeckmann
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Thanks for President Washington’s Birthday fun facts. Thoroughly enjoyed it. It let me wandering though, since his teeth were not made of wood, whether his famous terrible breath was for real or just a fable
Mountain every been rebuild
I also remember celebrating on two different days in February to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. We were also taught in school the value of why we honored those specific two Presidents and the impact they’re Presidency made on our country. In the 90’s it was changed to Presidents Day thereby blending the two honored Presidents with all presidents….losing the value of their standout contribution. Our calendar went through quiet a few changes during that era….including the dates of Daylight Savings Time. You won’t read about this….but many of us lived it.
I have recently read several articles, memes, etc., indicating Presidents' Day is for Washington's birthday. We used to have 2 national holidays in the short month of February; Lincoln's birthday on the 12th and Washington's on the 22nd. The consolidation was to combine the holiday, celebrating BOTH of their birthdays. Why had everyone forgotten about old Abe?
It is certainly a convoluted topic!
- Washington’s Birthday is the federal holiday; the United States Code, Title 5, Section 6103, lists “Washington’s Birthday” as a legal public holiday, observed on the third Monday of February. It is also the official name for some state holidays on the third Monday in February.
- Lincoln’s birthday was never celebrated at the federal level, but is at the state level in certain states, such as Illinois and Connecticut.
- Presidents’ Day is an official state holiday in certain states, such as Pennsylvania and California (although the location of the apostrophe varies — President’s Day or Presidents’ Day or Presidents Day.)
In 1968, Rep. Robert McClory attempted to change “Washington’s Birthday” to “Presidents’ Day,” but the idea wasn’t accepted. The observance was, however, changed to the third Monday in February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill. This bill moved the observance of Washington’s birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February, starting in 1971. Because of this, many thought that the newly moved holiday was to honor both presidents, or all presidents. Some states even changed the name to Presidents’ Day. “Presidents’ Day” was picked up by retailers as well, and it became a widely accepted name due in part because the date was so close to both Lincoln’s and Washington’s actual birthdays.
Lincoln’s birthday was never a holiday at the federal level, but several states did, and still do, celebrate it. When new holidays were introduced at the federal level, some states moved to remove Lincoln’s birthday from the list of state observances in favor of others, or combined it with Washington’s birthday on the third Monday in February (usually renaming it Presidents’ Day), or some other combination.
Because the federal and state level of holiday observances can vary, it has led to much confusion!
Missing from the article is that fact that my father, Harold S. Fischer, was the founder and National Director of the President's Day National Committee from 1951 to 1972. He attempted to have President's Day as a National Holiday on March 4th, the original inauguration day, and a day when school children would study the Office of the Presidency. It was never accepted by Congress as they felt that it would be a third holiday, close on the heels of Lincoln's Birthday and Washington's Birthday. However, Governors of states around the country would issue proclamations, proclaiming March 4th as President's Day in their jurisdiction.
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I have read the farmers almanac since I began to read as our family (great-grandparents, grandparents and parents) always bought it.
Because it was such a valued reference manual it always was around. I even used to look at the illustrations before I could read :).
It was a happy topic of conversations around the kitchen table and while in the garden.
When I grew to be on my own in life, I used to buy it whenever I could find it.
Now I live in a remote location and we have no newsstands here.
I have really missed it and still have a few older copies that I keep with my other reference materials.
I am just so delighted to have found you again and especially that you are still carrying on as all ways. I will be making one of your cherry recipes to honor our traditions over the next few days.
Thank you for always being a bright light and inspiration in my life.
Kind Regards,
Sunne
Four days after the assassination of The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1968), legislation was introduced to make MLK Jr. Day a federal holiday. However, it took 15 years before legislation was passed (1983). Then, it was another three years before the legislation and MLK Jr. Day were in effect (1986).
By merging the Lincoln and Washington birthday celebration into one holiday it made room in the federal calendar to add Martin Luther King day without impacting the work time in labor contracts and other employment agreements.
This gets more complicated because later many companies offered people either the Columbus Holiday or MLK holiday at an option, but not both.
Lastly the Federal Holidays only impact federal workers and federal facilities. The holidays are actually established by the individual states. This also impacted the roll out of MLK day.
It's not called Presidents Day simply because it is Washington's birthday...its a combination of both Lincolns birthday & Washington's birthday to do away with the 2 separate days we used to celebrate to make it on the 3rd Monday for the 3 day weekend designated by the bill in 1968 that changed several holidays to be 3 day weekend holidays, including my birthday...Memorial Day).
Christine, you did not read the Almanac article, where it says the U.S. Code designates the 3rd Monday in February as Washington's Birthday. I also have thought the day is an observance of both Lincoln and Washington's birthdays but we are wrong.
