📜 History & Origins
The holiday originated as an observance of George Washington's birthday (February 22, 1732), celebrated informally since the late 18th century and made a federal holiday in 1879 — originally applying only to the District of Columbia. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 shifted it to the third Monday of February, taking effect in 1971. Though never officially renamed at the federal level, it became popularly known as Presidents' Day and is widely associated with honoring both Washington and Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809).
