Ever wonder why we celebrate #presidentsday?
Monday, February 21, 2011 at 9:54AM
Per Answers.YourDictionary: The original act of Congress, in 1880, proclaimed a federal holiday to honor George Washington, on February 22, effective for government offices in the District of Columbia. In 1885, this was amended to include all federal offices, so that is the year the whole country started observing the holiday.
The date of this observance was changed in the Uniform Holidays Bill, passed in 1968, and implemented in 1971. From then on, Washington's Birthday has been celebrated on the third Monday in February.
Before the Uniform Holidays Bill was passed in 1968, a draft was submitted to change the day from a day to honor George Washington to a day to honor Washington and Abraham Lincoln. But, when the final version was passed, it only changed the date of the observance of Washington's Birthday from February 22nd to the third Monday in February.
The day has not been officially designated as anything other than Washington's Birthday, a day to honor the father of our country.
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