Presidents’ Day

The federal holiday on the third Monday of February is called Washington’s Birthday, while several US states celebrate it as “Presidents’ Day” (spellings vary). The holiday creates a long weekend.

Federal Holiday: These Services Are Closed

Presidents’ Day (officially “Washington’s Birthday”) is a federal holiday in the United States on the third Monday in February. Because it is a federal holiday, federal services, such as US Postal Service post offices, are closed on Presidents’ Day. Some schools close as well, especially in the DC area. Private businesses are usually open, as well as private mail and delivery companies. Public transport often operates on a Saturday schedule.

Why Is Presidents’ Day on a Monday?

Presidents’ Day is celebrated on a Monday to create a long weekend—initially only for federal employees. The holiday has only been celebrated on a Monday since 1971 when the US Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The act moved three federal holidays from their original dates to a Monday: Washington’s Birthday (originally February 22), Memorial Day (originally May 30), and Veterans Day (originally November 11, and moved back to that date in 1978).

Washington’s Birthday or Presidents’ Day?

It all started with Washington’s Birthday. In 1885, the US Government decided to honor the first US president, George Washington, with his own federal holiday: Washington’s Birthday. It was celebrated on Washington’s actual birthday*, February 22. In 1885, this day was a Sunday.

Almost one hundred years later, in 1971, the US Congress changed the date for Washington’s birthday celebration to the third Monday in February to create a three-day weekend. Congress never changed the name—federally, the holiday is still called “Washington’s Birthday.”

The naming differences become clearer when you look at the state holidays. Several US states introduced their own state holidays with different names:

• 7 states and DC call it “Washington’s Birthday” or “George Washington Day.”
• 5 states use some combination of Washington and another president, usually Lincoln.
• 4 states use Washington and “Presidents’ Day” in their title.
• 24 states use “Presidents’ Day” in some variation—eleven use “Presidents’ Day” (plural), ten call it “President’s Day” (singular), and three simply use “Presidents Day.”
• 10 states do not celebrate the day at all.

So both “Presidents’ Day” and “Washington’s Birthday” are correct. Today, most people use “Presidents’ Day” as the name for this holiday.

Is Presidents’ Day a Public Holiday?

Presidents’ Day or Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday in all US states. Federal employees will usually have a day off from work. 41 US states have instituted a state holiday on the same date, usually called “Presidents’ Day” or “Washington’s Birthday” or some variation thereof. State holidays are not necessarily public holidays, they can be observances as well—please check with your local state rules and regulations to see if Presidents’ Day is a public holiday in your state.

* George Washington was born February 11, 1731, however, when the British colonies changed their calendar from Julian to Gregorian in 1752, Washington’s birth date became February 22, 1732.