Presidents’ Day in 2021

The Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District (FSUSD) celebrated Lincoln’s Birthday on Friday, February 12, but extended the weekend to four days by celebrating Presidents’ Day on Monday, February 15.

Presidents’ Day celebrates all presidents of the United States, with a focus on the earliest presidents, especially George Washington, whose birthday is February 22.

Some areas only celebrate Presidents’ Day, combining the birthday celebrations of both Washington and Lincoln, two presidents who changed the United States. Washington’s birthday was first celebrated in Washington DC in 1880, but Presidents’ Day was not an official holiday until 1885. In 1971, it was moved from Washington’s actual birthday to the third Monday in February.

The change in dates came as a result of a decision in 1968. At that time, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, moving federal holidays to Monday. Since Lincoln’s birthday is on February 12 and is often celebrated on the second Monday of the month, they made Washington‘s birthday Presidents’ Day to honor Lincoln as well as all other Presidents, past and present.

Presidents’ Day has never actually fallen on a president’s birthday, although it comes close to Washington’s birthday. The ninth President, William Henry Harrison, and the 40th President, Ronald Reagan, are two other presidents who have birthdays in early February, February 9 and 6 respectively.

Many banks and schools are closed on Presidents’ Day and the holiday is often used by patriotic and historical groups to stage celebrations, reenactments and other events, although those are discouraged during the pandemic.