US Holidays

PRESIDENTS' DAY

Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of February (February 15th, 2010). The federal holiday "Washington's birthday" was originally implemented by the United States Congress in 1880 in the District of Columbia and expended in 1885 including all federal offices. It was the first federal holiday which was celebrated in order to honor an American citizen and it was therefore celebrated the first time on Washington's Birthday on February 22nd. Only later on, in 1971, this holiday was moved to the third Monday in February and until today, it has been celebrated on that day.

In 1968 the draft of the Uniform Holidays Bill tried to rename that day to Presidents' Day in order to honor the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln, but the attempt failed ant the holiday kept the name of "Washington's Birthday".

In 1951 the "President's Day National Committee" was formed and wanted to create a Presidents Day. They did not want to honor any particular President, but to honor the office of the Presidency. First it was planned, that March 4, the original inauguration day should be deemed Presidents Day, but it was decided to move that day, because of its proximity to Lincoln's and Washington's Birthdays (three holidays so close together would not be good).

You can read more information online:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_Birthday