Presidents Day 2025: Date, History, and Significance.
Presidents Day is a federal holiday celebrated each year in mid-February to honor the U.S. presidents. It’s also part of the winter break for many schools, known as Presidents Day break or midwinter recess.
When is Presidents Day?
In 2025, Presidents Day will be observed on Monday, Feb. 17. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of February.
What is Presidents Day?
Officially named Washington's Birthday, Presidents Day was originally created to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. Washington, born on Feb. 11, 1731, according to the Julian calendar, later celebrated on Feb. 22, 1732, after the shift to the Gregorian calendar in 1752. The holiday initially focused on Washington’s birthday but expanded to include Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is Feb. 12.
Over time, the holiday became known as Presidents Day due to its proximity to Lincoln's birthday. In 1885, Congress made Feb. 22 a holiday for federal workers. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Law moved the celebration to the third Monday in February, aiming to create long weekends for American workers.
Why do we celebrate Presidents Day?
The tradition of celebrating Washington's birthday predates its establishment as a federal holiday. In 1832, around the centennial of Washington’s birth, a joint congressional committee was formed to celebrate his legacy. On Feb. 22, the House and Senate read aloud his farewell address, a tradition that continues today in the Senate.
Washington's Birthday became a legal holiday in 1879, with the official observance of Feb. 22 in the District of Columbia. In 1885, it was made a paid holiday for federal employees.
What is Open/Closed on Presidents Day?
On Presidents Day, federal offices, the U.S. Postal Service, banks, and most schools will be closed. Retail stores, grocery stores, and restaurants typically remain open.
Who Gets the Day Off on Presidents Day?
Federal employees, along with those working in schools or government offices, typically have the day off. If Presidents Day falls on a weekend, it’s observed the following Monday or Friday.
Other Federal Holidays in 2025:
- New Year's Day (Jan. 1)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day/Inauguration Day (Jan. 20)
- Presidents Day (Feb. 17)
- Memorial Day (May 26)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day (July 4)
- Labor Day (Sept. 1)
- Columbus Day (Oct. 13)
- Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
- Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27)
- Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
