The United States declared February 22nd, Washington’s birthday, an official holiday in 1879. It is now common to refer to the third Monday in February as “Presidents’ Day.” Which one is it then? We uncover the truth about what is and isn’t official.
An Official Birthday Event
George Washington was a modest person who disliked ostentatious festivities. Throughout his life, Washington never acknowledged his own birthday and frequently “celebrated” it by attending to Mount Vernon or answering letters.
On the other hand, his birthday was celebrated nationally both during his lifetime and after his passing. Even though his birthday is still observed today, its meaning was altered when it became unofficially known as “Presidents’ Day” in the late 20th century.
It was a convoluted and protracted journey to become what most Americans today recognize as Presidents’ Day. Washington’s birthday was sporadically observed across the nation after his death in 1799. The federal government did not officially celebrate Washington’s birthday as a holiday until January 31, 1879.
Washington’s birthday is commemorated in yet another unusual way. Since 1896, it has been customary for a current member of the US Senate to recite George Washington’s Farewell Address on February 22, which is his actual birthday. This custom honors a man whose sense of patriotism continues to motivate us, especially government employees who continue to preserve the values he helped establish.
Transitioning to a Monday
Washington’s birthday was usually observed on February 22nd until 1968. It served as both a custom and a potent reminder of the man who contributed to the development of modern-day America.
Congress passed the “Uniform Monday Holiday Act” on June 28, 1968. The purpose of this statute was to establish consistent yearly observances of specific Monday-based lawful public holidays. The act was also designed to increase the number of three-day weekends available to government employees. The significance and meaning of Washington’s birthday would be somewhat lost under this new statute, which would honor it on the third Monday of February. Since the statute went into force in 1971, Washington’s birthday has not been observed on the day of his actual birth.
Themes from “Presidents’ Day” Error Message
Today, on the third Monday in February, the country celebrates both Presidents’ Day and Washington’s Birthday together. Nevertheless, the official name of the holiday is not Presidents’ Day.
Although this Monday holiday was suggested to be called “Presidents’ Day” in 1951, the name was never formally altered by the US government. Thanks to holiday sales advertising campaigns in the 1980s, the term gained popularity and gained widespread acceptance.
The purpose of the name was to designate a holiday that honored the presidency as an office rather than a particular person. In addition to honoring President Lincoln’s birthday on February 12th, this joint acknowledgment would allow George Washington—the father of our nation—to have his own day.
George Washington Day
Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, and New York especially celebrate the third Monday in February as “Washington’s Birthday” or “George Washington Day,” despite the impression that the entire country honors “Presidents’ Day.” In several states, like Virginia, February is dedicated to celebrating Washington’s birthday. An annual celebration of Washington’s birthday, which dates back to 1898, takes place in Laredo, Texas, and lasts the full month!
