Presidents Day, often referred to in casual use as presidents day, is a federal holiday officially named Washington's Birthday under Section 6103(a) in Title 5 of the US Code, and it is observed on the third Monday of February.
The shift to a Monday observance followed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress in 1968 and implemented in 1971, creating long weekends, according to the reporting.
The holiday began as a tribute to George Washington, whose birthday moved from Feb. 11 under the Julian calendar to Feb. 22 after Britain and its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar, as described in the historical account.
President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the first federal observance into law on Jan. 31, 1879, after an Act introduced by Sen. Stephen Wallace Dorsey, and federal observance expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices, the historical record shows.
What Happens On Presidents Day And How Americans Observe It
Presidents Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, Feb. 16, and as a federal holiday many government offices, courts and public libraries will be closed, according to reporting and federal guidance.
The U.S. Postal Service will close post offices and suspend mail delivery on Presidents Day and resume regular service the following Tuesday, the USPS said, while the U.S. Office of Personnel Management affirms the federal holiday status.
Federal Reserve banks and branches close on the holiday, and banks observe the day as well, though ATMs remain available, the coverage noted.
Many public school districts and colleges cancel classes, although some districts use the day to make up weather-related missed days, so schedules vary by district and institution.
Retailers widely run Presidents Day sales, a practice that took hold after the Monday observance began and became common by the 1980s, and major chains were reported to operate as usual, while package carriers including UPS, FedEx and Amazon continue operations.
Ceremonial observances continue as well, including an annual Senate tradition to read George Washington's 7,641-word Farewell Address, a practice that began on Feb. 22, 1862; Sen. Roger Wicker recited the address on Feb. 18, 2025, according to the record.
Historians and curators note the holiday's broader meanings. Lindsay Chervinsky of Mount Vernon urged reflection on the office's origins, and Peter Kastor observed how Lincoln's mid-February birthday and later retail practices shaped the modern Presidents Day.
