Presidents Day was originally established in 1885 to recognize President George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22, Presidents Day later became a popular holiday in 1971 when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed to create more long weekends for workers.
Celebrated on the third Monday in February, Presidents Day was created with the provision to combine both Washington and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, which fall a few days apart in February. By the mid-1980s, the holiday started being marketed as Presidents Day, with sales advertised in stores nationwide.
“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” – George Washington
“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.” – Abraham Lincoln
