Presidents' Day

American holidays · history · George Washington · leadership

A day for leaders. Presidents' Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February and honors George Washington, the first president of the United States, plus all the other presidents who came after him.

Washington's big wins. George Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War, which freed America from British rule. He was so respected that people asked him to help write the Constitution and then elected him president.

A long-standing tradition. The federal government has celebrated Washington's Birthday as a holiday since 1879, making it one of America's oldest and most important holidays.

Building a nation. Washington served as president from 1789 to 1797 and helped shape how the U.S. government works. He also presided over the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where the Constitution was written.