Who is presidents day celebrated for

Things got a little confusing, though, when Congress suggested the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in the late s. This change would move the day of celebration from February 22 to a Monday, in order to create more three-days weekends and hopefully amp up retail sales.

The date change also meant that the country could honor Abraham Lincoln on the same day, so both men could be recognized together. Though the government never officially changed the name to Presidents' Day, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act forever altered what had formerly been a nod to Washington into a celebration for the presidency in general.

Since the law took effect in , nearly half of the states have changed the name to Presidents' Day. The third Monday in February.

This year, it falls on Monday, February 15, Though it began as a way to honor our first president, George Washington, it later was changed into a holiday that pays homage to the office as a whole. According to Fortune , yes. The post office and most banks, nonessential government offices, and schools are closed for the day. Country Life. Design Ideas. Home Maintenance. While they might not be as big as the greats, their time in office forms a part of the legacy as a whole and important in their own right.

Sometimes, we can take our history for granted, so why not create a quiz you can play at home? Split off into teams and write down questions about the presidents and the presidency. It has the dual benefit of informing everyone on American history and, as an added bonus, you can best everyone with your historical knowledge.

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, , which happened to be the 50th anniversary of the approval of the Declaration of Independence. George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected by all of the state representatives.

All of the successes and failures have had a direct effect on our current state, and if we hope to make things better, we have to know the truth of what went on before. We keep track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar — giving you exciting activities, deals, local events, brand promotions, and other exciting ways to celebrate.

Holiday survey data is powered by TOP Agency. Skip to content View the calendar. Today Thursday. November French Armistice Day. French Historical. National Education Day. Awareness Education. National Metal Day. Music Pop Culture. National Origami Day. Appreciation Hobby. National Sundae Day. Remembrance Day. Historical Military. Remembrance Day Australia. At the time, Washington was venerated as the most important figure in American history, and events like the centennial of his birth and the start of construction of the Washington Monument in were cause for national celebration.

Hayes signed it into law. The holiday initially only applied to the District of Columbia, but in it was expanded to the whole country. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day , signed into law in , was the second. Championed by Senator Robert McClory of Illinois , this law sought to shift the celebration of several federal holidays from specific dates to a series of predetermined Mondays.

While some argued that shifting holidays from their original dates would cheapen their meaning, the bill also had widespread support from both the private sector and labor unions and was seen as a surefire way to bolster retail sales. Nevertheless, the main piece of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed in and officially took effect in following an executive order from President Richard M.

Columbus Day , Memorial Day and Veterans Day were also moved from their traditionally designated dates. As a result of widespread criticism, in Veterans Day was returned to its original November 11 date. The move away from February 22 led many to believe that the new date was intended to honor both Washington and Lincoln, as it now fell between their two birthdays. Some states have even chosen to customize the holiday by adding new figures to the celebration. Arkansas, for instance, celebrates Washington as well as civil rights activist Daisy Gatson Bates.

Some lawmakers have objected to this view, arguing that grouping George Washington and Abraham Lincoln together with less successful presidents minimizes their legacies. As a federal holiday, many banks and schools are closed in observance of Presidents' Day. The post office is not open and non-essential federal workers have the day off. Like Independence Day, Presidents' Day is traditionally viewed as a time of patriotic celebration and remembrance.