President's Day

Presidents' Day: A Brief History By Alex JohnstonEpoch Times Staff Created: Feb 21, 2011

Presidents' Day, the federal holiday celebrated this year on Monday, Feb. 21, is known mostly as a day off from work and school for most Americans, a day when the post office is closed, as well as a day where numerous advertisers, such as car dealerships, have deals.

Presidents’ Day, as a national holiday, is known as the birthday of first president George Washington, but later in the 1960s, also began to honor former president Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday also fell in February. Some say that the day honors all presidents.

Years before Congress declared Presidents’ Day an actual holiday, people used to celebrate Washington’s birthday separately. For example, the 100th anniversary of his birth drew national celebrations and Congress attempted to make arrangements to make the day a national holiday. In 1832, Congress said they would adjourn on Feb. 22 to commemorate Washington’s birth.

Lincoln was born on Feb. 12 and his birthday was formally observed in 1866, months after he was assassinated. His birthday was never made into a national holiday but some states have observed it.In 1971, President Richard Nixon decided to combine Lincoln’s birthday and Washington’s birthday, creating the Presidents’ Day holiday. The day is now celebrated on the third Monday in February.

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