HOLIDAYS
Presidents’ Day 2024: What are the origins and why is it celebrated on February 19?
On February 19th, the United States celebrates Presidents’ Day. But what is the origin of this holiday and why is it on this date?
Presidents’ Day will be celebrated on Monday, February 19th. Public workers and many employed by private businesses will have the day off to celebrate. The holiday is one of eleven federal holidays to take place in 2024. However, not everyone knows the celebration’s origin and the reason behind its ever-changing date. Here’s a quick guide explaining everything you need about Presidents’ Day.
What are the origins of Presidents’ Day?
The origins of Presidents’ Day can be traced back more than two centuries ago, to the death of the country’s first president, George Washington, in 1799.
In the 19th century, Washington was celebrated as the most crucial figure in American history, and his birthdate, the 22nd of February, became a day of remembrance. His legend was further venerated in 1848 with the start of the construction of the Washington Monument. However, it was not until the late 1870s that a real push was made for Washington’s birthday to become a federal holiday. Senator Stephen Wallace Dorsey proposed the idea, and in 1879, then-President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law.
The holiday was restricted to the District of Columbia for the initial few years, but in 1885, it was expanded to become a national holiday. It was only the fifth holiday to enjoy such garlanded status, following Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving. Presidents’ Day was the first federal holiday to celebrate the life and achievements of a single American; even today only George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. enjoy that status.
Why does the date of Presidents’ Day change every year?
The holiday celebrating all presidents’ achievements was originally connected to Washington, and his birthday was initially chosen for the holiday. However, in 1968, a legislative change was made, and now the exact date of the holiday varies each year.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holidays Bill, which ensured that some holidays would fall on a Monday. This legal change was implemented to give workers long weekends, as Monday holidays were deemed more popular than a midweek break.
During the Congressional debates around the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, a suggestion was made to rename Washington’s Birthday holiday to Presidents’ Day to honor both Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. Although this suggestion was initially rejected, the bill went into effect in 1971, and Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name for the holiday.