Changes

When Washington was born, the [[Julian Calendar]] was still in use and his birthday was dated February 11, 1731.<ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="USparks"/> In 1752, Britain and its colonies, including the [[Thirteen Colonies]], switched to the newer and more accurate [[Gregorian Calendar]], and Washington's birthdate was moved to February 22, 1732.<ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="USparks">[http://usparks.about.com/library/weekly/aa021499.htm Presidents' Day - What Does it Mean?]</ref>

When Washington was born, the [[Julian Calendar]] was still in use and his birthday was dated February 11, 1731.<ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="USparks"/> In 1752, Britain and its colonies, including the [[Thirteen Colonies]], switched to the newer and more accurate [[Gregorian Calendar]], and Washington's birthdate was moved to February 22, 1732.<ref name="NationalArchives"/><ref name="USparks">[http://usparks.about.com/library/weekly/aa021499.htm Presidents' Day - What Does it Mean?]</ref>

The holiday was originally celebrated on George Washington's actual birthday, which is February 22, and it was celebrated by Americans long before it was declared a legal federal holiday by Congress.<ref name="NationalArchives"/> It was publicly celebrated in the late 18th Century when George Washington was still [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]].  Washington's Birthday became an official federal holiday 1879, and it along with all other federal holidays became pertinent for all federal employees in 1885.<ref name="NationalArchives"/> In 1968, the [[Congress|United States Congress]] passed the Monday Holidays Act, which changed the official observance of Washington's Birthday from his actual birthday to the third Monday in February,<ref name="NationalArchives"/> something supported by [[labor union]]s and big business organizations.<ref>Starr, Penny (February 19, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/what-happened-to-washingtons-birthday-big-business-labor-unions-lobbied-congress-for-presidents-day/ What Happened to Washington’s Birthday? Big Business, Labor Unions Lobbied Congress for ‘Presidents Day’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.</ref> This meant that the holiday can only occur between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21, which means that it is always after Lincoln's birthday and before Washington's birthday.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/spot/washington1.html ''Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?'', by Ann Marie Imbornoni]</ref>  Some political leaders wanted to change the official name of the holiday to "Presidents' Day" to honor both [[Abraham Lincoln]] (whose birthday is February 12) and Washington but that proposal was rejected by Congress.

The holiday was originally celebrated on George Washington's actual birthday, which is February 22, and it was celebrated by Americans long before it was declared a legal federal holiday by Congress.<ref name="NationalArchives"/> It was publicly celebrated in the late 18th Century when George Washington was still [[President of the United States of America|President of the United States]].  Washington's Birthday became an official federal holiday 1879, and it along with all other federal holidays became pertinent for all federal employees in 1885.<ref name="NationalArchives"/> In 1968, the [[Congress|United States Congress]] passed the Monday Holidays Act, which changed the official observance of Washington's Birthday from his actual birthday to the third Monday in February,<ref name="NationalArchives"/> something supported by [[labor union]]s and big business organizations.<ref>Starr, Penny (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/what-happened-to-washingtons-birthday-big-business-labor-unions-lobbied-congress-for-presidents-day/ What Happened to Washington’s Birthday? Big Business, Labor Unions Lobbied Congress for ‘Presidents Day’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 19, 2018.</ref> This meant that the holiday can only occur between Feb. 15 and Feb. 21, which means that it is always after Lincoln's birthday and before Washington's birthday.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/spot/washington1.html ''Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?'', by Ann Marie Imbornoni]</ref>  Some political leaders wanted to change the official name of the holiday to "Presidents' Day" to honor both [[Abraham Lincoln]] (whose birthday is February 12) and Washington but that proposal was rejected by Congress.

President Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, never became a federal holiday but was celebrated as a legal holiday in many states outside the old Confederacy.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/spot/washington1.html ''Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?'', by Ann Marie Imbornoni]</ref>

President Lincoln's birthday, Feb. 12, never became a federal holiday but was celebrated as a legal holiday in many states outside the old Confederacy.<ref>[http://www.infoplease.com/spot/washington1.html ''Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?'', by Ann Marie Imbornoni]</ref>