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'''Washington's Birthday''', often misnamed "President's Day" by [[liberal]]s, is a federal holiday in the [[United States]] for the third Monday in February. In 2017, the holiday occurs on February 20.

'''Washington's Birthday''', often misnamed "President's Day", is a federal holiday in the [[United States]] for the third Monday in February.

It was originally celebrated on [[George Washington|George Washington's]] actual birthday, which is February 22.  In 1968 the [[Congress|United States Congress]] passed the Monday Holidays Act, which changed the official observance of Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February.  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 President's Day to honor both [[Abraham Lincoln]] (whose birthday is February 12) and Washington but that proposal was rejected by Congress. 

It was originally celebrated on [[George Washington|George Washington's]] actual birthday, which is February 22.  In 1968 the [[Congress|United States Congress]] passed the Monday Holidays Act, which changed the official observance of Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February.  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 President's Day to honor both [[Abraham Lincoln]] (whose birthday is February 12) and Washington but that proposal was rejected by Congress.

 

Liberals prefer the name "President's Day" because it converts the respect for George Washington, a devout Christian, into a secular worship of the office including liberals who have held it.

State governments are not bound to have a state observance of that day, but all fifty states and the [[District of Columbia]] do.  29 states and the District of Columbia officially call the day George Washington's Birthday.<ref>http://law.jrank.org/pages/11821/Legal-Holidays.html</ref>  [[Georgia]] and [[Iowa]] are among those states, but they do not have a day off for state employees that day.  13 states officially call the day "President's Day".  5 states officially call the day "Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday."  [[Alabama]] officially calls the day "Washington's and Jefferson's Birthday."  In [[Arkansas]], the day is officially "Washington's birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day."  In [[Colorado]], the day is officially "Washington-Lincoln" Day.

State governments are not bound to have a state observance of that day, but all fifty states and the [[District of Columbia]] do.  29 states and the District of Columbia officially call the day George Washington's Birthday.<ref>http://law.jrank.org/pages/11821/Legal-Holidays.html</ref>  [[Georgia]] and [[Iowa]] are among those states, but they do not have a day off for state employees that day.  13 states officially call the day "President's Day".  5 states officially call the day "Washington's and Lincoln's Birthday."  [[Alabama]] officially calls the day "Washington's and Jefferson's Birthday."  In [[Arkansas]], the day is officially "Washington's birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day."  In [[Colorado]], the day is officially "Washington-Lincoln" Day.