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History of the Holiday
The original version of the holiday was in commemoration
of George Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year
of his presidency). Washington, according to the calendar
that has been used since at least the mid-18th century,
was born on February 22, 1732. According to the old style
calendar in use back then, however, he was born on February
11. At least in 1796, many Americans celebrated his birthday
on the 22nd while others marked the occasion on the 11th
instead.
By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken
firm root in the American experience as a bona fide national
holiday. Its traditions included Birthnight Balls in various
regions, speeches and receptions given by prominent public
figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the
land. Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president
and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the month).
The first formal observance of his birthday took place in
1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses
of Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's
Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's,
it did become a legal holiday in several states.
In 1968, legislation (HR 15951) was enacted that affected
several federal holidays. One of these was Washington's
Birthday, the observation of which was shifted to the third
Monday in February each year whether or not it fell on the
22nd. This act, which took effect in 1971, was designed
to simplify the yearly calendar of holidays and give federal
employees some standard three-day weekends in the process.
Apparently, while the holiday in February is still officially
known as Washington's Birthday (at least according to the
Office of Personnel Management), it has become popularly
(and, perhaps in some cases at the state level, legally)
known as "President's Day." This has made the
third Monday in February a day for honoring both Washington
and Lincoln, as well as all the other men who have served
as president.
 
  
       
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