Today is celebrated as Presidents’ Day in the US. It’s actually, technically, still called Washington’s Birthday, but no one outside of the National Archives uses that name.
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) | National Archives
On the third Monday in February, we honor our first President, George Washington, whose birthday is February 22. We also traditionally honor President Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is February 12.
How did we even get this holiday? Here’s an interesting recap by a presidential scholar.
President’s Day Is a Weird Holiday. It Has Been Since the Beginning. – The Bulwark
In 1968, Congress passed and Lyndon Johnson signed legislation changing the holiday to the third Monday in February. Ironically, this means that the federal holiday still formally called Washington’s Birthday can mathematically never fall on Washington’s actual birthday—although the choice of date has the happy benefit of always falling between Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays (respectively Feb. 12 and 22).
And from the random fun department:
Curious as to what George was up to before he became President Washington? Brewing beer, for one thing.
Recipe for Small Beer · George Washington’s Mount Vernon
And after the presidency? Washington seems to have spent a not-inconsiderable amount of effort evading paparazzi;)
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