Today is President’s Day. I usually write something every year on President’s Day and over the years a lot of the information is repeated because there’s only so much you can say about one subject, but I think it’s important because George Washington’s Birthday is one of only eleven permanent holidays established by Congress. You notice I said Washington’s Birthday, not President’s Day. The federal holiday we’re observing today, that we often refer to as President’s Day, is officially called Washington’e Birthday. Neither Congress nor the President has ever stipulated that the name of the holiday be changed to President’s Day. Washington’s Birthday became a legal holiday, observed on February 22 in 1879. Congress passed the Monday Holiday Law in 1968 to create more 3-day weekends. George’s birthday was moved to the third Monday in February, and many people started calling it President’s Day, but the name was never officially changed — it’s still Washington’s Birthday.
To say that Washington’s birthday is confusing is an understatement. George Washington was born when the Julian calendar was in use, on February 11 in 1731. When the Gregorian calendar was adopted, people born before 1752 were told to add 11 days to their birth dates. So George’s birthday changed from February 11 to February 22.
So here’s how we got to today and we (at least some of us) are celebrating President’s Day:
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.
Lincoln’s birthday was never celebrated at the federal level, but is at the state level in certain states, such as Illinois and Connecticut.
President’s Day is an official state holiday in certain states, such as Pennsylvania and California.
In 1968, representative Robert McClory attempted to change “Washington’s Birthday” to “President’s 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 Washington and Lincoln, or all presidents.
So you can celebrate whatever you wish today, it’s officially a three-day weekend, but not officially President’s Day. It’s still Washington’s Birthday, well, not actually, he was born on Feb 11, except that doesn’t count anymore either and people pretty much ignore February 22, except for those celebrating National Margareta Day….
Happy ____________ (you fill in the blank.)
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