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original version of the holiday was in commemoration of George
Washington's birthday in 1796 (the last full year of his presidency).
Washington, according to the calendar that has been used since
at least the mid-18th century, was born on February 22, 1732.
According to the old style calendar in use back then, however,
he was born on February 11. At least in 1796, many Americans
celebrated his birthday on the 22nd while others marked the
occasion on the 11th instead.
By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday had taken
firm root in the American experience as a bona fide national
holiday. Its traditions included Birth night Balls in various
regions, speeches and receptions given by prominent public
figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the land.
Then along came Abraham Lincoln, another revered president
and fellow February baby (born on the 12th of the month).
The first formal observance of his birthday took place in
1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of
Congress gathered for a memorial address. While Lincoln's
Birthday did not become a federal holiday like George Washington's,
it did become a legal holiday in several states.
In 1968, legislation (HR 15951) was enacted that affected
several federal holidays. One of these was Washington's Birthday,
the observation of which was shifted to the third Monday in
February each year whether or not it fell on the 22nd. This
act, which took effect in 1971, was designed to simplify the
yearly calendar of holidays and give federal employees some
standard three-day weekends in the process.
Apparently, while the holiday in February is still officially
known as Washington's Birthday (at least according to the
Office of Personnel Management), it has become popularly (and,
perhaps in some cases at the state level, legally) known as
"President's Day." This has made the third Monday
in February a day for honoring both Washington and Lincoln,
as well as all the other men who have served as president.
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