When is Washington’s Birthday?

Why do we observe it?

Federal law calls this holiday Washington’s Birthday. It began to honor George Washington; many people call it Presidents’ Day.

Traditions and celebrations

Historical sites and museums may offer special programming.

Planning tips

Check the observed federal date separately from retailer promotions and local school calendars.

Is it a federal holiday?

Yes. It is one of the U.S. federal holidays, though schedules for private employers, schools and states can differ.

Is it a bank holiday? What’s open and closed

Washington’s Birthday, widely called Presidents’ Day, is a federal holiday, so banks, the stock market, the post office and most government offices close. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment.

The history behind the day

The holiday began in 1879 as a commemoration of George Washington’s birthday, which falls on February 22. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved it to the third Monday in February starting in 1971, which means the holiday can never actually fall on Washington’s real birthday.

“Presidents’ Day” is the popular nickname, born from marketing and the sense that the third-Monday date honors the presidency more broadly, but the holiday’s official federal name has always remained Washington’s Birthday; Congress never voted to rename it.

How it’s marked across the country

Retailers built one of the country’s biggest furniture, mattress and car sale traditions around the long weekend, which is often how most Americans encounter the holiday today. Some schools and civic groups use the day for lessons on the presidency and Washington’s role as the first U.S. president.

One thing you might not know

Because the U.S. federal government’s official name for the day never changed, government documents and federal pay schedules still list it as “Washington’s Birthday,” even though almost no one calls it that in daily conversation.

Washington’s Birthday or Presidents’ Day?

The federal holiday’s legal name is Washington’s Birthday. “Presidents’ Day” is widely used by states, schools and businesses, but local calendars do not all use the same name or honor the same group of presidents.

Because the holiday always falls on a Monday, it creates a three-day federal weekend. Confirm Friday deadlines and Tuesday reopening times if you need a bank, court, government office or mailed document.

Washington’s Birthday planning checklist

• Before the date: Finish time-sensitive banking or government business before the holiday weekend.
• Check locally: Check school and child-care calendars; their schedules can differ from federal offices.
• For travel: Confirm museum, historic-site and retail hours before traveling.
• Final check: Allow an extra processing day for transactions tied to a federal business day.