You probably think it’s just a Monday off. Maybe a chance to grab a half-off mattress or a discounted SUV. Honestly, for most of us, that’s the reality. But the story of why do we celebrate Presidents Day is actually a messy, bureaucratic tangle of calendar shifts and historical ego.
It wasn't always this vague "celebrate everyone" vibe.
Originally, it was about one man. George Washington. His birthday is February 22. After he died in 1799, people started celebrating him informally because, well, he was the guy who stayed the course when the whole American experiment almost fell apart. By 1879, it became an official federal holiday. But here is where it gets weird. We don't actually celebrate it on his birthday anymore. We don't even officially call it "Presidents Day" at the federal level.
The government still calls it Washington’s Birthday. Seriously. Check the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) website.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act: When Logistics Trumped History
In the late 1960s, Congress decided that Americans needed more three-day weekends. They weren't necessarily trying to honor the presidency more deeply; they were trying to boost the economy. They figured if people had three days off, they’d travel, shop, and spend money.
Enter the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968.
This law moved several holidays—Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Washington’s Birthday—to specific Mondays. For Washington, they picked the third Monday in February. The irony? Because of how the calendar works, the third Monday can never actually fall on February 22. It always lands between the 15th and the 21st. We basically moved Washington’s party so we could have a longer weekend, and in the process, we ensured the holiday never actually hits his real birthday.
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During the debate over this bill, some people wanted to rename it "Presidents Day" to honor Abraham Lincoln too. Lincoln’s birthday is February 12. It made sense, right? Put them together. But Virginia lawmakers—Washington's home state—weren't having it. They fought to keep the name "Washington's Birthday." They won the battle but lost the war of public perception.
By the mid-1980s, advertisers realized that "Presidents Day Sale" sounded way more inclusive and catchier than "Washington's Birthday Sale." The name stuck because of car dealerships and department stores.
Why the Date Actually Matters (Sorta)
If you look at the life of George Washington, he was obsessed with his public image. He knew he was setting the precedent for everything. When he stepped down after two terms, he shocked the world. King George III famously said that if Washington truly walked away from power, he would be "the greatest man in the world."
Celebrating him isn't just about the cherry tree myth—which, by the way, was totally made up by a guy named Mason Locke Weems to sell books. It’s about the transition of power.
Then you have Lincoln.
Lincoln is the other pillar of February. While Washington founded the country, Lincoln saved it from literal self-destruction. Most states now recognize the day as a tribute to both, and some states even throw in Thomas Jefferson or local heroes. In Alabama, they celebrate Washington and Thomas Jefferson (even though Jefferson was born in April). In Arkansas, they celebrate Washington and Daisy Gatson Bates, a civil rights icon.
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It's a bit of a localized free-for-all.
The Controversy You Didn't Know Existed
Not everyone is a fan of the "Presidents Day" umbrella. Some historians argue that by lumping everyone together, we dilute the importance of the truly great leaders. If we celebrate everyone, are we celebrating the bad ones too? Does Franklin Pierce get the same nod as FDR?
There is a legitimate movement among some historical societies to revert the name back to Washington's Birthday. They argue that Washington's specific contribution to the concept of the presidency is unique. He was the one who refused to be a king. By turning it into a generic "Presidents Day," we lose that specific lesson in civic humility.
But let’s be real. Most people are just looking at the weather forecast for a ski trip.
What Really Happened With the Calendar Shift?
Before the 1970s, February was a crowded month for banks. They’d close for Lincoln’s birthday on the 12th and Washington’s on the 22nd. Business leaders hated this. It disrupted the flow of commerce. When the 1968 Act finally kicked in in 1971, it was a massive win for the retail sector.
This is why you see the deluge of advertisements. The holiday is inextricably linked to the American consumer engine. It’s a bit cynical, sure. But it’s also uniquely American. We took a day of somber remembrance for a founding father and turned it into a peak season for buying household appliances.
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Modern Traditions and Weird Facts
- The Senate Reading: Every year since 1896, the U.S. Senate has a tradition where one senator reads Washington's Farewell Address aloud. It takes about 45 minutes. They still do it, regardless of which party is in power.
- The Purple Heart: Washington created the "Badge of Military Merit," which eventually became the Purple Heart. Many veterans' groups use the holiday to reflect on his military legacy specifically.
- The Food: While there’s no "standard" meal like Thanksgiving turkey, cherry pie became a staple because of the (fake) cherry tree story.
Honestly, the holiday is what you make of it. If you’re a history buff, it’s a day to argue about executive overreach or the Federalist Papers. If you’re a parent, it’s a day to scramble for childcare because the schools are closed but your office might not be.
Why Do We Celebrate Presidents Day Today?
We celebrate it because it serves as a collective pause. Even if the "why" has shifted from a specific man to a general office, it’s a moment to look at the trajectory of the country. We look at the 46 people who have held the job—the brilliant, the mediocre, and the disastrous.
The evolution of the holiday from "Washington’s Birthday" to "Presidents Day" mirrors the evolution of America itself: moving from the veneration of a single "Great Man" to a broader, more complicated celebration of an institution.
It’s about the office, not just the person.
The resilience of the American system is that it survives the people in it. That’s worth a Monday off.
How to Actually Use This Day (Beyond Shopping)
If you want to move past the sales and actually engage with the history, here are a few things that aren't boring.
- Read the Farewell Address. Skip the dry parts. Look at his warnings about political parties and foreign entanglements. It’s eerie how relevant it feels in 2026.
- Visit a Local Landmark. Most people think you have to be in D.C. or at Mount Vernon. But almost every original colony has a spot where Washington slept or Lincoln spoke.
- Check Your State's Definition. Look up your state's code. You might find that your state officially celebrates three or four different people on this day. It’s a fun rabbit hole.
- Support a National Park. Many historic sites have free entry or special reenactments on the third Monday of February. It’s better than sitting in a mall.
The holiday is a weird hybrid of history, retail, and labor law. Understanding why do we celebrate Presidents Day requires accepting that it’s not just one thing. It’s a messy, lived-in piece of American culture that changes depending on who you ask and what you're trying to buy.