17-02-2025
Why is Washington's birthday a holiday? How Presidents Day came to be.
Why is Washington's birthday a holiday? How Presidents Day came to be. | Opinion While commercial sales and long weekends may now dominate the public consciousness, the holiday offers a moment to appreciate the weight of the presidency and the responsibility it carries.
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Presidents Day: what businesses are open and closed on the holiday
Washington's birthday, or Presidents Day, is the third Monday of February, so here are what businesses are open and closed on the federal holiday?
USA TODAY
For many Americans, Presidents Day is a welcome respite from work or school, an opportunity for a winter getaway, or simply a chance to take advantage of holiday sales. But this is a day with much historical significance for Americans and presidents themselves.
Some presidents have marked the day with formal ceremonies and public addresses, while others have taken a more unconventional approach.
The origins of Presidents Day lie in salutes to George Washington's Feb. 22 birthday, some highly ceremonial and others strikingly unusual. In the early 19th century, for instance, a formal invitation invited guests including then-President Andrew Jackson to a 'Washington's Birth Night Ball,' one of the grand social affairs of the early Republic.
In 1837, the tone was more unorthodox when President Jackson opened the doors of the executive mansion on Washington's birthday for citizens to enjoy an enormous cheese weighing nearly 1,400 pounds. Ever the populist, Jackson invited the public to join him in celebration and partake, a gesture reflecting his belief in an open and accessible White House.
Presidents Day has evolved over the years
Gatherings, celebrations, parades and public readings of Washington's Farewell Address – still an annual tradition in the U.S. Senate chamber – show the reverence with which President Washington was and continues to be regarded, setting a precedent for later presidential commemorations.
By the 20th century, mass communication transformed how presidents marked the occasion. On Feb. 12, 1931, President Herbert Hoover, an early proponent of what he called 'the magic of radio,' used the medium to address the nation on Abraham Lincoln's birthday, reflecting on the 16th president's enduring legacy. This was one of the many examples of a president using modern technology to connect with the public on important national days.
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In 1971, the law that moved many federal holidays to Mondays reassigned Washington's birthday commemoration to the third Monday in February, creating a long winter weekend and encouraging greater observance.
While still officially called 'Washington's Birthday' by the federal government today, the unofficial name 'Presidents Day' gained popularity as retailers and state and local governments broadened the scope to honor all our presidents, including Washington and Lincoln whose birthdays bookend that Monday.
Presidents Day is an opportunity to remember presidential history
Modern presidents have observed the holiday in a variety of ways, by relaxing, working and campaigning.
On the third Monday of February 1978, for instance, Jimmy Carter placed a morning call to his Labor secretary, watched a new movie in the afternoon with family and friends in the White House Theater (Mel Brooks' 'High Anxiety'), and then in the evening, traveled by Marine One helicopter to Delaware for a reelection fundraiser for then-U.S. Sen. (and later president) Joe Biden.
In mid-February 1981, President Ronald Reagan placed a wreath at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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The U.S. holiday is also noted worldwide. For years, the White House Historical Association has coordinated with embassies around the globe for wreath-laying ceremonies at overseas statues and memorials to past presidents. There are dozens of such statues in more than 20 countries, reflecting the global impact of American leadership.
Though the observance of Presidents Day has evolved over time, its significance endures. It remains a day to reflect on the vision, leadership and sacrifices of those who have guided the nation through triumph and turmoil. While commercial sales and long weekends may now dominate the public consciousness, the holiday nonetheless still offers a moment to appreciate the weight of the presidency and the responsibility it carries.
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This day is also an opportunity for families, communities and schools to engage in civic education. Presidents Day is more than a date on the calendar. It's a call to learn about all who have held the office and the one place they all share: the White House.
Whether you are enjoying a day off, taking advantage of holiday discounts or delving into history, take a moment to reflect on our American presidents who have held the office and consider how we can ensure that future generations appreciate the history and legacy of the presidency.
Stewart D. McLaurin is president of the nonprofit White House Historical Association and director of The People's House: A White House Experience multimedia educational center and museum.
