Presidents' Day, officially known as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the third Monday in February. It was originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the first President of the United States. It is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government.
The day is now often viewed as a time to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present. The shift from Washington's Birthday to Presidents' Day began in the late 1960s when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was proposed, aiming to create more three-day weekends for the nation's workers. Presidents' Day is now commonly bracketed with the weekend to create a long holiday period known as Presidents' Weekend.
For many Americans, Presidents' Day means retail sales and deals. Many businesses, particularly car dealers, launch sales campaigns on the holiday weekend. Besides these commercial aspects, the day also holds significant historical and patriotic value. Many historical sites and schools organize events and lessons to remember and appreciate the work of America’s past leaders.