Presidents Day is on Monday, Feb. 16. The annual commemoration is set aside to mark the birthday of George Washington, the first president of the United States.
Established in 1879, the February holiday pays tribute to Washington, whose birthday falls on Feb. 22. Through the years, the celebration has expanded to include Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is on Feb. 12.
Now, Presidents Day is generally considered a day to honor all U.S. presidents, despite the fact that, officially, it’s still considered a holiday recognizing only Washington.
For many years, Presidents Day was observed on Feb. 22, regardless of which day of the week it fell on. However, the Uniform Monday Holiday Law, which was enacted in 1971, implemented a new policy in which certain federal holidays were shifted so they’d always land on a Monday, creating more three-day weekends for employees.
If you’re looking at the calendar and hoping for a long weekend, you may be wondering if Presidents Day is a federal holiday.
See below for all the details about Monday, Feb. 16, as well as a full list of federal holidays observed annually, so you can plan ahead.
Is Presidents Day a Federal Holiday?
The U.S. officially recognizes Presidents Day as a federal holiday.
That means most people will have the day off of work on Monday, Feb. 16, and a majority of schools will be closed in observance of the commemoration.
Additionally, most financial institutions and government agencies, including courts, government buildings, and the USPS, are also closed on Presidents Day, which means there won’t be mail delivery on Monday or trading at U.S. stock markets.
How is Presidents Day Commemorated?
Presidents Day is typically recognized through a variety of activities. Many museums host related exhibitions, municipalities may hold events in honor of the day, and Mount Vernon, the birthplace of America’s first president, hosts a patriotic celebration in Washington’s honor each year.
Presidents Day is also recognized as a significant shopping holiday, with many major retailers offering sales and deals throughout the three-day weekend.
What Are the Other Federal Holidays?
In addition to Presidents Day, there are 10 other federal holidays observed each year. They are:
New Year’s DayMartin Luther King Jr. DayMemorial DayJuneteenthIndependence DayLabor DayColumbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ DayVeterans DayThanksgivingChristmas Day