The holiday, according to the federal government, observed on the third Monday
in February is officially Washington's Birthday. But many Americans believe
that this holiday is now called "Presidents' Day," in honor of both
Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are Feb. 22 and Feb. 12,
respectively. It turns out that whether you honor one or the other or both of
these presidents may depend on where you live.
None of the states are not obliged to adopt federal holidays, which only affect
federal offices and agencies. While most states have adopted Washington's Birthday,
a dozen of them officially celebrate Presidents' Day. A number of the states
that celebrate Washington's Birthday also recognize Lincoln's Birthday as a
separate legal holiday.
This day of Washington's Birthday has a history as old as our country. It was
celebrated publicly for the first time in the late 18th century, while George
Washington was still president.
Washington's Birthday became official in 1885, when President Chester Arthur
signed a bill making it a federal holiday. Meanwhile, there was President Lincoln's
birthday on Feb. 12, which never became a federal holiday but was celebrated
as a legal holiday in many states outside the old Confederacy.
The Congress passed the Monday Holidays Act in 1968, which moved the official
observance of Washington's birthday from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in February.
Some reformers had wanted to change the name of the holiday as well, to Presidents'
Day, in honor of both Lincoln and Washington, but that proposal was rejected
by Congress, and the holiday remained officially Washington's Birthday.
Nonetheless, there was a popular misconception that the day had been officially
renamed, a misconception only reinforced by the fact that the third Monday in
February can only occur between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21. This means that the holiday
is always after Lincoln's birthday and before Washington's birthday, without
ever coinciding with either. Furthermore, some states which had previously celebrated
Lincoln's Birthday dropped the observance after the federal holiday reforms,
supporting the notion that the two presidential birthdays had been combined.
While the name change has never been authorized by Congress, it has gained
a strong hold on the public consciousness, and is generally used on calendars,
in advertising, and even by many government agencies. There have been attempts
to introduce legislation requiring federal agencies to call the day Washington's
Birthday, but these have never gotten very far. No matter what's in the law
books, the popular usage is now well established.
Many people feel that Lincoln, the president credited with preserving the nation
during the Civil War, has been short-changed. To them, having Presidents' Day
is a sensible way to recognize both Washington and Lincoln. Others feel just
as strongly that having an inclusive Presidents' Day diminishes Washington's
importance in American history.
