Presidents Day 2024: Theme, Significance, History, George Washington & His Life Achievements

Every year, the third Monday of February is celebrated as Presidents Day or Washington’s Birthday in United States. It is a federal government holiday that is observed in the honor of all Presidents who have served the United States with special homage to the first president George Washington for leading the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

The day was created in 1879 to honor the first president of the US George Washington and was observed the following year in 1880 on February 22. It commemorated the birth anniversary of Washington which coincided on February 22, but was later shifted to third Monday of February to give federal employees a three-day weekend.

Presidents Day 2024 Date

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for this important day for the next 5 years.

Presidents Day 2024 Quick Overview

George Washington & His Life Achievements

George Washington, born February 22, 1732, was the first President of the United States who served the country for 10 years from 1789 to 1797. He was a military officer appointed as commander of the Continental Army, who led the Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War carried out from 1775 to 1783.

He served as the president of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which created the Constitution of the United States and the American federal government. George Washington is termed as the Founding Father and Father of the Nation owing to his multiple contributions in the formation of the country.

Washington is known for his crucial role in adopting and sanctioning the Constitution of the United States. As the president of the states, he implemented a strong and well-financed national government. He was the one to begin the swearing the Oath of Office on the Bible and popularizing the title ‘Mr. President’. He was elected as the president by the Electoral College twice.

Significance of Presidents Day

Washington’s Birthday is celebrated as a federal holiday in the United States and is observed on the third Monday of February rather than original birthday. The day celebrates the achievements of George washing ton and honors him for his contributions towards building the nation.

President’s day also signifies and honors the role of all American presidents in the nurture and development of the States. Special homage is paid on this day to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.

History of Presidents Day Observation

During an Act of Congress in 1879, a federal holiday was decided in the honor of George Washington. The act adopted his birthday February 22 as Washington’s Day and was implemented originally for government offices in Washington.

It further expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices and in 1971 the day of was celebration was changed to the third Monday in February. The action was taken by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act to give federal workers a three-day weekend.

How is Presidents Day celebrated?

Federal and state government services such as U.S. Postal Service, state Departments of Motor Vehicles, federal and state courts will remain close on this occasion.

Most schools and universities are also generally closed on the Presidents Day. Brave soldiers who got injured in battle are presented with the Purple Heart medal bearing Washington’s image, a custom that revived on Washington’s 200th birthday in 1932.

Other than this community celebrations are also a common practice on Presidents Day. Laredo, Texas, hosts a month-long tribute and Alexandria, Virginia (Washington’s hometown) hosts the longest-running and largest George Washington Birthday parade. George Washington’s Farewell Address is also read on his birthday, a tradition that started in 1862.

There is also a tradition of baking cherry pie on this day based on the legend of Washington in his youth chopping down a cherry tree.

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