The federal holiday honoring Washington was originally started
by an Act of Congress in 1879 for government offices in D.C.
and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices.
As the first federal holiday to honor an American president,
the holiday was celebrated on Washington’s birthday under
the Gregorian calendar, February 22.
On January 1, 1971, the federal holiday was shifted to the
third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday
Act.
Government offices, banks, and the U.S. Postal Service will
be closed, providing a long weekend for many.
