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Tuesday, Mar. 18, 2025

Fact Brief: Did Presidents Day originally celebrate George Washington’s birthday?

Drew Shaw, Fort Worth Report
yes

Congress designated Feb. 22 as a federal holiday in 1879 to celebrate President George Washington’s birthday.

In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Law changed the holiday’s date to the third Monday in February. 

The move placed the holiday between the birthdays of Washington and Abraham Lincoln, which is Feb. 12. This led to the day being named “Presidents Day.”

Washington’s birthday became an unofficial national celebration of his birthday while he was alive.

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