Presidents Day

Categories:: Federal
Tags:: Historical
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: Third Monday of February
Holiday emoji:: 🇺🇸

Presidents’ Day arrives every third Monday of February, celebrating the lives and legacies of all U.S. presidents. This federal holiday encourages reflection on American history and leadership. Take the opportunity to learn about past presidents, visit historical sites, or engage in civic activities.

Deals
Platforms
Social
Hero
History
Timeline
FAQs
Importance
Celebrate
Traditions
Stats

Expected Presidents' Day Deals

Presidents’ Day is synonymous with major retail sales, especially on big-ticket items. While we await official 2027 promotions, history shows that brands like Macy’s, Best Buy, Tempur-Pedic, and various car dealerships consistently offer significant discounts on mattresses, furniture, electronics, and vehicles. Home improvement stores such as The Home Depot and Lowe’s also run promotions. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as February 2027 approaches.

Platform Guide for Presidents' Day

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #PresidentsDay. Share historical facts, quotes from presidents, or polls about favorite presidential moments.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #PresidentsDay. Post questions to spark discussion about presidential history or share local events.

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #PresidentsDay. Discuss leadership lessons from U.S. presidents or share insights on civic engagement.

Presidents' Day Hero

George Washington

George Washington, born February 22, 1732, was the commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the first President of the United States. His leadership was crucial in establishing the nation's independence and setting foundational precedents for the presidency. His birthday was the original focus of the holiday, later expanded to honor all presidents.

History of Presidents' Day

After the death of George Washington in 1799, his birthday was unofficially celebrated as a day of remembrance called Washington Day. Throughout the 1800s, people used this day to honor the man that shaped America and the legacy he left. In 1832, a resolution permitted the removal and internment of George Washington’s body in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and the erection of the Washington Monument in 1848 caused more celebrations nationwide.

It wasn’t until the late 1870s that Steven Wallace Dorsey proposed that Washington’s birthday should become a national federal holiday. President Rutherford B. Hayes signed it into law in 1879 and joined the four existing bank holidays that were previously approved in 1870. Because of Abraham Lincoln’s legacy and the proximity of his birthday on February 12, it was proposed that Washington Day should become Presidents’ Day to celebrate both men, but that idea was rejected by Congress.

Washington’s Birthday didn’t officially become Presidents’ Day until the late 1960s. Senator Robert McClory of Illinois concocted a plan that moved key bank holidays to Mondays to increase the number of three-day weekends for workers in what’s known as the Uniform Monday’s Act. The hope was that it would increase productivity and decrease employee absenteeism. Unsurprisingly, the labor union agreed with this idea and so did the private sector.

In 1971, Richard M. Nixon made the executive order to pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which shifted Washington’s Birthday, Columbus Day, Memorial Day, and Veterans’ Day to Monday. With the date landing in the middle of Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday, it became known as Presidents’ Day, while having a simultaneous benefit for retail stores as they advertised their special sales events during this time. By the mid-1980s, Presidents’ Day became the common term and continues to be called as such to this day.

Presidents' Day timeline

1800s

George Washingtons’ Birthday

After George Washington’s death in 1799, his birthday is celebrated nationwide.

1879

Official Holiday

President Rutherford B. Hayes signs Washington’s Birthday into law.

1968

Uniform Monday Holiday Bill

Congress passes the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill and shifts four bank holidays to Monday including Washington’s Birthday.

1980s - Present

Presidents’ Day is Official

Presidents’ Day becomes the common term, honoring all presidents and creating a marketing boon for retailers.

Presidents' Day Around the World
Country	Holiday	Occasion	Date
Kazakhstan	First President Day	Observes the election of Kazakhstan’s first president after gaining independence.	December 1
Palau	Presidents Day	A day to honor the president and the presidency in general.	June 1
Botswana	Presidents Day	A one-day public holiday for remembering the presidents of the country.	July 19
Tajikistan	Presidents Day	The country started celebrating this day recently from 2016 onwards.	November 16

Presidents' Day Traditions

There are fantastic deals on home furniture and appliances on Presidents’ Day, so keep a lookout for that throughout the week. The two presidents most widely celebrated on this holiday are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, followed by Thomas Jefferson. As this holiday was originally to celebrate Washington’s birthday, cherry pie and other desserts using cherries are eaten. The reason for this is the widely known story of Washington chopping down a cherry tree. His farewell address is also read and discussed in history lessons and online forums.

A month-long celebration for presidents is hosted in Alexandria, Virginia, concluding with a birthday parade for George Washington. In Florida, a ‘George-Fest’ has taken place every year since 1902.

Presidents' Day By the Numbers

3 – the number of universities named after George Washington.

5 – the number of national parks named after Roosevelt.

6’4″ – President Lincoln’s height, making him the tallest president ever.

4 – the number of American Presidents with a February birthday.

32 – the number of days after becoming president that William Henry Harrison passed away.

5’4″ – President James Madison’s height, making him the shortest president ever.

42 – the age of President Teddy Roosevelt at the start of his tenure, making him the youngest to ever hold office.

2006 – the year a Grammy Award was given to Barack Obama for his voiceover on the audiobook “Dreams From My Father.”

Presidents' Day FAQs

When is Presidents' Day?

In 2027, Presidents’ Day is observed on Monday, February 15. It’s a time to honor the contributions of all U.S. presidents and engage with American history.

How many U.S. presidents have there been?

By 2027, the count of U.S. presidents remains at 46 individuals, spanning from George Washington to the current officeholder. Each has left a unique mark on the nation’s history.

What is the origin of Presidents' Day?

The holiday’s roots trace back to honoring George Washington, but it evolved to encompass Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12) and eventually all U.S. presidents. The shift to a Monday aimed to create more three-day weekends for workers.

Is Presidents' Day a federal holiday?

Indeed, Presidents’ Day holds federal holiday status, ensuring a nationwide observance. Its designation provides a moment for public employees and many private sector workers to pause and commemorate national leadership.

Presidents' Day Activities

Take a historical journey
There are plenty of historical sites and tours that you and your family can indulge in to learn about the history of the presidency. Washington D.C. is the obvious place, but if you don’t live in Virginia and don’t wish to travel, learn about your local government and how presidents have impacted your community. Your local history museum is sure to have documents and artifacts that are sure to enlighten you.
Know your presidents
Take this time to take a deep dive into the history of the American presidents that aren’t often spoken of. Everyone knows the names Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington, but what about Martin Van Buren and John Tyler? While they might not be as big as the greats, their time in office forms a part of the legacy as a whole and important in their own right.
Make it a game
Sometimes, we can take our history for granted, so why not create a quiz you can play at home? Split off into teams and write down questions about the presidents and the presidency. It has the dual benefit of informing everyone on American history and, as an added bonus, you can best everyone with your historical knowledge.

5 Surprising Facts About Presidents’ Day

Died on the fourth of July
Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4th, 1826, which happened to be the 50th anniversary of the approval of the Declaration of Independence.
Presidents’ Day sales
Merchants see a 1.2% weekly boost in sales on average in the week of Presidents' Day.
The undefeated Washington
George Washington was the only president to be unanimously elected by all of the state representatives.
In between
The “S” in Harry S. Truman doesn’t actually stand for anything.
Going backwards
A pair of bills attempted to return the official name of Presidents’ Day to Washington's Birthday, but it didn't receive much support.

Why We Love Presidents' Day

Knowledge is power
Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. It’s important to know history so that we can properly understand the state of things. All of the successes and failures have had a direct effect on our current state, and if we hope to make things better, we have to know the truth of what went on before.
Remembrance
Presidents’ Day allows us to pause and give respect to the legacy of those who came before. It’s easy to take life for granted, and the acts of these men seem so long ago, but the American presidents have been a driving force in every aspect of life.
Inspiration
While nothing is perfect, it’s important to hold onto the ideals that the country stands for and allow it to inspire you to reach greater heights. "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is meant for all people and it’s up to us to make sure it happens.