The third labor holiday of this 2023 is near: Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day began as a commemoration for the birth of George Washington; however, it has become a day celebrating all the presidents of the United States, past and present. We explain when it is celebrated this year.
Presidents’ Day 2023: What is it and when is it celebrated?
Every year on the third Monday of February Presidents’ Day is celebrated in the United States. This 2023, is commemorated this Monday, February 20. It is important to mention that the holiday is for the birthday of George Washington, the first president of the USA, but over the years it has been unofficially called Presidents’ Day.
The origin of Presidents Day dates back to the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington (February 22), commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and first President of the United States, was first celebrated as a federal holiday.
Later, in 1885, it was formally established in recognition of President Washington. Years later, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day. after it was moved as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971.
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Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Act, which moved several federal holidays to certain Mondays. The change was designed so that workers would have several long weekends throughout the year. In the case of Presidents’ Day, its celebration was instituted on the third Monday of February.
During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington and Lincoln (February 12), but Congress rejected the name change.
Nevertheless, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents’ Day is often marked by public ceremonies in Washington, DC, and across the country, while government and post offices, banks, schools, and more remain closed.