Happy Presidents Day
February 17
On the third Monday in February, we honor our first President, George Washington, whose birthday is February 22.
We also traditionally honor President Abraham Lincoln at the same time, whose birthday is February 12.
Ways To Observe Presidents Day
- Celebrate your favorite U.S. president.
- Watch a documentary about the office of POTUS and past Presidents.
- See if you can name all the presidents in order.
- Challenge yourself to some presidential trivia.
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Four presidents actually have birthdays in February:
- George Washington (the 22nd),
- Abraham Lincoln (the 12th),
- William Henry Harrison (the 9th), and
- Ronald Reagan (the 6th).
After George Washington’s death in 1799, his February 22 birthday became a perennial day of remembrance.
In 1862, Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring February 22nd a day of celebration honoring Washington.
A Federal holiday on February 22nd was officially passed into law in 1879.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act combined Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. It passed in 1968 and officially took effect in 1971 following an executive order from President Richard M. Nixon.