Quick Guide: What Is Presidents' Day​?

You see it on the calendar, and you may even get the day off from school or work — but what is Presidents’ Day, exactly? According to Britannica, this U.S. federal holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of February, began as a day to honor the nation’s first president, George Washington, whose birthday was February 22. The holiday was later expanded to include Abraham Lincoln, born on February 12. 

Today, the answer to “What is Presidents’ Day?” is that it honors all past presidents. Like other federal holidays, government employees get the day off, including postal carriers (which means mail is not delivered). President’s Day is also a time to show your patriotism by placing American flags in your front yard or making red, white and blue desserts. This Presidents’ Day guide will answer any lingering “What is Presidents’ Day?” questions you may have and plan the perfect Presidents’ Day celebration.

Jump to Section

• What Is Presidents' Day​? A Brief History
• Is It President’s Day, Presidents’ Day or Presidents Day?
• Presidents' Day FAQs
• Liven Up Your Presidents' Day Celebration With An Experience

What Is Presidents' Day​? A Brief History

Wondering, "What is Presidents’ Day?" Established in 1885, Presidents’ Day was originally called “Washington’s Birthday” to honor the first president of the United States, George Washington. The holiday was initially held on February 22, the day Washington was born. It became the first federal holiday honoring an individual’s birthdate. In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, which created three-day weekends by moving several U.S. federal holidays to Mondays; Washington’s Birthday was moved from February 22 to the third Monday in February in accordance with the act. 

Since the holiday now fell between Washington's and Lincoln’s birthdays (Lincoln was born on February 12), people began using the occasion to honor both men. The holiday also became known as “Presidents’ Day” (in plural and not singular) since it no longer celebrated only Washington. Interestingly, the name change was never officiated. To this day, Presidents’ Day is still technically called “Washington’s Birthday.” 

Why Do We Celebrate Presidents' Day?

Now you know the answer to the question, "What is Presidents’ Day," but why do we celebrate Presidents’ Day? While Presidents’ Day was created to honor George Washington, the nation’s foremost Founding Father, and then Washington and Lincoln, many Americans now use it to celebrate all former presidents. Some scholars, however, believe this generalization is dangerous because it threatens to diminish the importance of some of Washington’s greatest qualities, such as emphasizing a peaceful transfer of power, which helped establish our free and fair democracy. 

Like many other federal holidays that were originally created for a specific purpose, Presidents’ Day has lost much of its meaning over time. Today, just like Christmas and Thanksgiving, the holiday is commonly associated with big sales at major retailers, and the majority of Americans do not use it to honor past presidents in any meaningful way.

Is It President’s Day, Presidents’ Day or Presidents Day?

All three spellings for Presidents’ Day are used, and there isn’t one singular “correct” spelling. However, there are a few important distinctions. “President’s Day” (singular possessive) is used by certain states, including Arizona and Oregon, to honor only Washington, as the holiday originally intended. Merriam-Webster uses “Presidents’ Day” (plural possessive), while the Associated Press prefers “Presidents Day” (plural) because it’s grammatically consistent with other federal holidays, such as Veterans Day. 

Presidents' Day FAQs

Even though you now know the answer to “What is Presidents’ Day?”, you may have other questions about the holiday. No worries — we have answers.  

Is Presidents' Day A National Holiday?

Yes, Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the United States.

Are Banks Open On Presidents' Day​? Is Presidents' Day A Bank Holiday​?

No, banks are not open on Presidents’ Day. All U.S. federal holidays are bank holidays.

Is The Post Office Open On Presidents' Day​?

No, the post office is not open on Presidents’ Day.

Is The Stock Market Open On Presidents' Day​?

No, the U.S. stock market is closed on Presidents’ Day. This includes bond markets as well.

What States Do Not Celebrate Presidents' Day?

The following nine states do not acknowledge Presidents’ Day: Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Wisconsin. This means schools and state/local government offices may remain open; however, federal employees still get the day off. Other states observe Presidents’ Day at a different time. Indiana and Georgia celebrate the holiday on Christmas Eve, while New Mexico observes it the day after Thanksgiving. Presidents’ Day is still known as “Washington’s Birthday” in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Virginia. 

Liven Up Your Presidents' Day Celebration With An Experience

What is Presidents’ Day (or any holiday, for that matter) without festivities? While Presidents’ Day is formally celebrated at historic sites with special ceremonies, you can have an epic Presidents’ Day celebration on your own. For example, you may decide to host a gathering at home with themed foods and decorations. But what if you aren’t the best cook? Taking cooking classes is a great way to sharpen your kitchen skills and prepare a showstopping spread for your guests. Then, you can put a President’s Day spin on the foods you learned to make — for example, if you attend a baking class where you make cupcakes, you could use red, white and blue frosting when you recreate them at home.

An art class is another fantastic option for a President’s Day celebration. Not the artistic type? Don’t worry — you don’t need any skills, just a willingness to learn. You’ll discover basic techniques that you can use to paint, sculpt or photograph anything your heart desires. For Presidents’ Day, consider showing your patriotism by painting a portrait of Washington, Lincoln or both key Founding Fathers. Or, if you subscribe to the modern take on Presidents’ Day, which includes all past presidents, you may choose to paint your favorite former president, instead. No matter how you choose to celebrate this often overlooked and misunderstood holiday, make it special. 

Now that all of your “What is Presidents’ Day?” questions have been answered, you can use your newfound knowledge to honor Washington and Lincoln’s contributions to the nation. And don’t forget about the other February holidays! We have plenty of Valentine’s Day ideas to celebrate love in all its forms. 

For even more fun ideas to celebrate the leaders of the United States, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!