Washington’s inauguration as the first president on April 30, 1789, prompted an explosion of birthday celebrations across the nation. Gadsby’s Tavern, in Alexandria, Virginia, started hosting birthnight balls in the 1790s. In 1798 and 1799, Washington attended the festivities.
These celebrations continued after Washington left office, but were haphazard and on a state-by-state basis. In 1879, Congress passed a law making February 22 (Washington’s birthday) a holiday in Washington, D.C. In 1885, they expanded the holiday to all federal offices.
In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved most observed holidays to Mondays. This bill allowed more workers to take long weekends, but also increased efficiency and productivity, because you didn’t have people taking random days off here and there. When the bill went into effect in 1971, it established the official Washington’s Birthday recognition as falling on the third Monday of February.
At the time, there was discussion about expanding the holiday to include Abraham Lincoln, as his birthday falls on February 12. Representative Robert McClory of Illinois led these efforts. While the holiday remains officially Washington’s birthday, many states began referring to it as Presidents’ Day anyway. In the 1980s, retailers used Presidents’ Day in the sales campaigns, further embedding it in the American imagination.
Not all states have fallen in line, however. Indiana recognizes Abraham Lincoln’s birthday the day after Thanksgiving and Washington’s birthday in December. Georgia observes Washington’s birthday on December 24. They acknowledge the original dates, but move the holidays to provide sensible vacation days for employees. And Alabama includes Thomas Jefferson in its celebrations.
If that is the history, then here are my thoughts. In general, I am uncomfortable celebrating birthdays of public figures. It feels too monarchical to me. Kings are celebrated from birth because their arrival marks the continuation of a hereditary dynasty. Many monarchs justified their rule based on divine right—power inherently granted by God. Their births, therefore, were a religious event.
Presidents have nothing to do with their birth and often much of their lives are unremarkable. It would be much more republican, and therefore much more American, to celebrate their deeds. Take for example, Washington’s return of his commission in December 1783 (and thus preventing a military dictatorship). Or the second time he relinquished power with the Farewell Address. We could celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. These are exceptional moments in our history and deserve to be remembered.