| Washington's Birthday |
 | Lansdowne portrait of President Washington by Gilbert Stuart
| | Official name | Washington's Birthday | | Also called | Presidents Day, various U.S. state designations | | Observed by | United States | | Type | Federal (and most U.S. states) | | Significance | Chairman of Constitutional Convention, first U.S. President | | Date | Third Monday in February | | 2007 date | 2007 02 19 | | 2008 date | 2008 02 18 | | Observances | Presidents Day: Shopping, school history projects. Washington's Birthday: Community, historical celebrations; honoring the veterans and purple heart recipients; Congressional recognition. | | Related to | Lincoln's Birthday | Presidents Day (also styled President's Day or Presidents' Day) is the common name for the United States federal holiday officially designated as Washington's Birthday. It is celebrated on the third Monday of February. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (381x621, 47 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: George Washington Father of the Nation Lansdowne portrait Washington Administration ...
The Lansdowne portrait. ...
Self portrait, 1778 Gilbert Charles Stuart (né Stewart) (December 3, 1755 - July 9, 1828) was an American painter. ...
Presidents Day, officially known as Washingtons Birthday, is a national holiday in the United States of America celebrated on the third Monday of February. ...
In the United States, a Federal holiday is a holiday recognized by the United States Government. ...
As the official title of the federal holiday, Washington's Birthday was originally implemented by the federal government in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on Washington's actual birthday, February 22. In 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February. Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ...
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1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...
February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ...
In the late 1980s, with a push from advertisers (see detail below), the term Presidents Day began its public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another February President, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the United States. Although Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as "Presidents Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. It is also interesting to note that "Presidents Day" is not always an all-inclusive term. In Massachusetts, while their state holiday honors "Washington's Birthday", there is also a Presidents Day Proclamation honoring the Presidents that have come from the New England area. Alabama uniquely observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day," even though Jefferson's birthday was in April.[1] In Connecticut, while Presidents Day is a federal holiday, Abraham Lincoln's birthday is still a state holiday, falling on February 12 regardless of the day of the week. Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American politician elected from Illinois as the 16th President of the United States (1861 to 1865), and the first president from the Republican Party. ...
For other uses, see President of the United States (disambiguation). ...
February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
This article is about the U.S. State. ...
It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles. ...
In Washington's home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as "George Washington Day." Official language(s) English Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Area Ranked 35th - Total 42,793 sq mi (110,862 km²) - Width 200 miles (320 km) - Length 430 miles (690 km) - % water 7. ...
History George Washington was actually born on February 12, 1731/32 of the Julian calendar, in use before England's calendar reformation in September 1752. His birthday is equivalent to February 22, 1732 in the Gregorian calendar used since 1752. Later in life, Washington himself considered February 22 to be his birthday. George Washington (February 22, 1732–December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and was later elected the first President of the United States. ...
February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ...
The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and came into force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ...
Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification - by Athelstan AD 927 Area - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK) 50,346 sq mi Population - 2006 est. ...
1752 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...
February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
Events February 23 - First performance of Handels Orlando, in London June 9 - James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia. ...
The Gregorian calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world. ...
Public celebrations for George Washington's birthday actually predate his term as president, in honor of his service during the American Revolutionary War. Combatants American Revolutionaries, France, Dutch Republic, Spain, American Indians Kingdom of Great Britain, German mercenaries, Loyalists, American Indians Commanders George Washington, Comte de Rochambeau, Nathanael Greene, Bernardo de Gálvez Sir William Howe, Sir Henry Clinton, Lord Cornwallis (more commanders) The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the...
Observance of Washington's Birthday on the third Monday of February dates to the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill of 1968, which became effective in 1971. A draft of that bill called for a Presidents Day to honor both Washington and Lincoln, but the Judiciary Committee voted the change down. The Congressional Record notes that had supporters insisted on changing the holiday's name, the entire bill would have remained in committee. Supporters of the bill assured Congress the Monday selected would be a day on which Washington's birth date would occasionally fall, but this was incorrect. The Monday on which Washington's birth date would have occasionally fallen would have been the fourth Monday in February. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (public law no. ...
In the late 1980s, advertisers began playing a role in changing the holiday title. In 1986, when Congress implemented the second federal holiday tribute to an American-born citizen, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of Georgia, they chose a Monday on which King's birthday would occasionally fall. With neither Washington's birthdate of February 22, due to the Congressional error, nor Lincoln's birthdate of February 12, ever falling on the third Monday, the way was open to promote a generic agenda. Martin Luther King Jr. ...
February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
Advertisers, noting the discrepancy, began to aggressively amalgamate separate Lincoln and Washington birthday sales into a longer "Presidents Day" sales period. The popularity of the term grew, and in the process the emphasis on Washington and his achievements began to diminish.
Interestingly enough, although Georgia celebrates Washington's Birthday, the Governor is accorded the right to designate when state holidays occur. In Georgia, Washington's Birthday is recognized the day after Christmas.
There is an urban legend that when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was implemented in 1971, President Richard Nixon issued a proclamation calling for a Presidents Day on the third Monday to honor all U.S. presidents, including himself. Each February both the Law Library at the Library of Congress and the Nixon Library field an upsurge in calls on this question. No evidence of this exists in Nixon's official papers. An urban legend is a kind of modern folklore consisting of stories often thought to be factual by those circulating them. ...
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (public law no. ...
Nixon redirects here. ...
The Great Hall interior. ...
The Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace is the presidential library of Richard Milhous Nixon, 37th President of the United States, located at 18001 Yorba Linda Boulevard in Yorba Linda, California. ...
As of 2006, the federal government and many state and local governments still officially designate the holiday as Washington's Birthday. Many private employers and calendar makers refer to it as Presidents Day.
Washington's Birthday is the designated holiday in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees.
Many sources differ on where to put the apostrophe in the holiday. A discussion of this debate appears in this story (external link).
Observance and traditions In many American schools, the days leading up to the holiday often use Presidents Day to educate students on the history of the Presidents of the United States, especially Washington and Lincoln.
Today, the February holiday has become well-known for being a day in which many stores hold sales. Until the late 1980s, corporate businesses were universally closed on this day, the way they are on (for example) Memorial Day or Christmas Day. With the late 1980s advertising push to rename the holiday, more and more businesses are staying open on the holiday each year, and, as on Veterans Day and Columbus Day, most delivery services outside of the Post Office now offer regular service on the day as well. Some public transit systems have also gone to regular schedules on the day. Various theories exist for this, one accepted reason being to make up for the growing trend of corporations to close in observance of the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. However, when reviewing the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill debate of 1968 in the Congressional Record, one notes that supporters of the Bill were intent on moving federal holidays to Mondays to promote business. Over time, as with many federal holidays, few Americans actually celebrate Presidents' Day, and it is mainly known as a day off from work or school. Sale is the name of several places: Sale, Victoria, Australia Sale, Greater Manchester, England Sale, Italy (pronunciation: SAH-leh) - in the province of Alessandria Salè, Morocco Sale Marasino (first pronunciation: SAH-leh), an Italian commune in the province of Brescia Sale is also a type of contract for the exchange...
Relatives and others traditionally place flags near veterans headstones on Memorial Day Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (most recently observed May 29, 2006). ...
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday that marks the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. ...
President Eisenhower signs HR7786, officially changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. ...
Columbus Day is a holiday celebrated in many countries in the Americas, commemorating the date of Christopher Columbuss arrival in the New World on October 12, 1492. ...
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent establishment of the executive branch of the United States Government (see 39 U.S.C. § 201) responsible for providing postal service in the United States. ...
The Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. ...
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act (public law no. ...
Consequently, most schools, which used to close for a single day for both Lincoln's and Washington's birthday, now often close for the entire week (beginning with the Monday holiday) as a "mid-winter recess". For example, the New York City school district began doing so in the late 1990's. Nickname: Big Apple, Gotham, NYC Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1613 - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area - City 1,214. ...
The federal holiday Washington's Birthday is intended to honor the accomplishments of the man who is known to his fellow citizens as "The Father of our Country". Celebrated for his patriotism, leadership, and statesmanship, the holiday also encourages the investigation of early colonial life, the importing of slavery from the Old World, and what it took to achieve a young country's independence in the midst of not all its citizens being free.
The holiday is also a tribute to the General who created the first military badge of merit for the common soldier. Revived on Washington's 200th birthday in 1932, the Purple Heart recognizes injuries received in battle. Like Memorial Day and Veterans Day, Washington's Birthday weekend offers another opportunity to honor the country's veterans. Year 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ...
A Purple Heart medal For the plant genus, see Purpleheart. ...
Relatives and others traditionally place flags near veterans headstones on Memorial Day Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (most recently observed May 29, 2006). ...
President Eisenhower signs HR7786, officially changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. ...
Community celebrations often display a lengthy heritage. Historic Alexandria, Virginia, hosts a month-long tribute, including the longest running George Washington Birthday parade, while the community of Eustis, Florida, continues its annual "George Fest" celebration begun in 1902. At the George Washington Birthplace National Monument in Westmoreland County, Virginia, and at Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia, visitors are treated to birthday celebrations throughout the federal holiday weekend and through February 22. Location in Virginia Coordinates: Country United States State Virginia Founded 1718 Mayor William D. Euille Area - City 39. ...
Eustis is a city located in Lake County, Florida. ...
1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...
Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the state of Virginia. ...
February 22 is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
In Arkansas, the third Monday in February is "George Washington's Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day," an official state holiday. Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area Ranked 29th - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²) - Width 239 miles (385 km) - Length 261 miles (420 km) - % water 2. ...
Daisy Bates Daisy Lee Gatson Bates (born November 11, 1914 in Huttig, Arkansas - died November 4, 1999 in Little Rock, Arkansas) was an American civil rights leader, journalist, publisher, and author. ...
In 2007, the country will celebrate both Washington's 275th birthday and the 75th anniversary of the rebirth of the Purple Heart medal. 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD (or CE) era. ...
Since 1862, there has been a tradition in the United States Senate that George Washington's Farewell Address be read on his birthday. Citizens asked that this be done in light of the approaching Civil War. The annual tradition continues with the reading of the address on or near Washington's Birthday. For many, the revisiting of Washington's Birthday is a strong reminder of the many contributions made by a great man to the early republic. Seal of the U.S. Senate The Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral United States Congress, the other being the House of Representatives. ...
Current dates Presidents Day (United States) will fall on the following dates in the next few years: February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
See also Image File history File links 500px-Xmas_tree_animated. ...
Family Day is an Albertan statutory holiday. ...
Motto: Fortis et liber (Latin: Strong and free) Official languages English (see below) Flower Wild rose Tree Lodgepole Pine Bird Great Horned Owl Capital Edmonton Largest city Calgary Lieutenant-Governor Norman Kwong Premier Ed Stelmach (PC) Parliamentary representation - House seats - Senate seats 28 6 Area Total - Land - Water (% of total...
Presidents Day, also known as Washingtons Birthday, is a national holiday in the United States of America celebrated on the third Monday of February. ...
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