2007-02-22 12:32:08 · 8 answers · asked by Rhula 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
It was created to combine Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday as one holiday on a Monday to avoid the two days off that the Fed used to honor them on.
2007-02-22 12:35:31 · answer #1 · answered by Isabel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was in first grade (circa 1960), I was taught that George Washington was born on February 22, and that Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12. When I was older, lots of federal holidays got combined so that there wouldn't be so many postal and bank holidays; among those combined were Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays, into one holiday called "President's Day." It's not ALL Presidents - just those two, as far as I know, and the observance is always on a Friday or Monday (maybe always on Mondays???) so that those who get the holiday will have a long weekend, as are other federal holidays except July 4th, which obviously changes from year to year.
2007-02-22 20:42:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The official name of the federal holiday observed on the third Monday in February is Washington's Birthday. It is unoffically called Presidents' Day.
Washington's birthday was made into a federal holiday back around 1885 and was observed on Washington's actual birthday, February 22nd.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 officially moved Washington's birthday to the 3rd Monday in February as of 1971. The act was aimed at giving federal employees more three day weekends.
Lincoln's birthday has never been a federal holiday, although several states have observed Lincoln's birthday as a state holiday.
2007-02-22 21:11:14 · answer #3 · answered by Nihl_of_Brae 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it was originally created for Washington and Lincoln because it falls on the 3rd Monday of February. but it has now I believe it is in honor of all the presidents.
2007-02-22 20:49:12 · answer #4 · answered by Dave aka Spider Monkey 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Our economic masters didn't like the loss of productivity when we honored Washington and Lincoln separately two weeks apart, so they put them together. As an after thought, they included the rest of the presidents. But it really wasn't about honoring anyone. It was about getting more productivity.
2007-02-22 20:42:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It wasn't created to acknowledge just presidents birthdays who fell in February - it just happens that they placed it in between Washington's & Lincoln's - which are both in February.
2007-02-22 20:36:44 · answer #6 · answered by lbkipp@verizon.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't think so. Presidents day resulted from the combining of
Washington's and Licoln's birthday, eliminating the need for two holidays spaced very close together.
2007-02-22 20:36:11 · answer #7 · answered by Skyhawk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ive always thought that the answer to that is yes
GOD BLESS
2007-02-22 20:36:04 · answer #8 · answered by thewindowman 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋