Presidents’ Day is a chance for many Americans to take time off work and enjoy a three-day weekend.
And while the extra day off and sales galore are welcome by many, the holiday has a rich history with roots tracing back to the country's first president George Washington.
While you enjoy the long weekend, refresh with the primer below. Here are some major facts you need to know about Presidents’ Day.
When is Presidents’ Day?
Presidents’ Day falls on the third Monday in February. This year, it falls on Monday, Feb. 21, 2022.
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Why do we celebrate it?
The story of the holiday traces back to 1800, the year after the death of George Washington, the country’s first president, according to History. As the most major historical figure of the US at the time, Washington’s Feb. 22 birthday became a national, but unofficial, day of remembrance.
His birthday would become a federal holiday in Washington, DC in 1879, and expand to a national holiday in 1885.
In the late 1960s, the day would be further expanded to celebrate the office of the presidency, and set to the third Monday of February under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This was a way to celebrate both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and to give the economy a retail boost via the three-day weekend.
Once the law took effect in 1971, many states have changed the name of the celebration to Presidents’ Day.
Is it a federal holiday?
Yes, Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday.
What’s closed on Presidents’ Day?
Because it is a federal holiday, the following is closed on Presidents’ Day:
—Banks
—The post office
—The DMV
—Public schools, as well as many private ones
The stock market — including the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ and the bond market — also shut down for Presidents’ Day.
What’s open on Presidents’ Day?
The following are open for Presidents’ Day:
—Major retailers, many of whom offer big sales during that weekend
—Many restaurants
—Various other businesses
Whether you’re looking for openings or closings, it is best to double check as schedules can across organizations, offices and businesses.
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