Each February, the United States celebrates Presidents Day. But how did the holiday start? And does it fall on Lincoln's birthday or Washington's birthday?
The history of Presidents Day can be traced to the late 1700s. People began celebrating George Washington’s Birthday (February 22) while he was still president. About a hundred years later, his birthday became a federal holiday.
After Abraham Lincoln’s death in 1865, many people also celebrated Lincoln’s birthday (February 12), although it never became a federal holiday.
Since the Monday Holidays Act was passed in 1968, Washington’s Birthday has been celebrated on the third Monday in February. In the spirit of the tradition to celebrate both Washington and Lincoln's birthdays, the date falls between their birthdays.
Then where did "Presidents Day" come from? President Nixon called Washington's Birthday "Presidents Day" to honor all past presidents, and many states and people have followed his example.
