Presidents Day in the United States is a federal holiday that falls on the third Monday of February.
That’s February 17 in 2014.
The holiday sees many banks and all post offices across the country closed, along with some businesses and most schools.
Originally George Washington’s Birthday, the holiday was created by an Act of Congress in 1879. It was the first federal holiday to honor an American president.
In 1971, the date was shifted from February 22 (Washington’s actual birthday) to the third Monday in February.
During the change of the name to Presidents Day in the mid 1980s, President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, was also considered to be encompassed by Presidents Day.
While some stores close, others are known for holding sales on the holiday.
