Students will not have school on February 10 due to Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day, a February holiday observed on the third Monday, celebrates George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two highly respected presidents. The day’s primary intention was to commemorate Washington’s birthday on February 22. Washington’s birthday became a federal holiday in 1885 and for several years it acted as a meaningful, solemn commemoration of the first president’s large contributions to the nation.
The 1968 Uniform Monday Holiday Act considerably affected the date of Presidents’ Day because it targeted to give workers more three-day weekends. The third Monday in February, the new holiday date, could fall between Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays, the 12 and 22nd respectively. Therefore, the holiday’s meaning expanded to honor not just Washington but other U.S. presidents as well, especially Abraham Lincoln, whose leadership during the Civil War and role in ending slavery remain deeply meaningful.
According to the website, Britannica, Washington and Lincoln both agreed on naming it Presidents’ Day instead of Washington’s birthday. It was also “designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year.”
Presidents’ Day is a widely celebrated holiday honoring all U.S. presidents. It holds special importance for Washington and Lincoln. Presidents’ Day sales are common among many retailers and the holiday’s commercial importance has grown, blending a celebration of American leadership with large economic activity. Presidents’ Day initially honored specific people. It has since become a symbol of the nation’s collective history and the presidency.
