Happy Presidents Day!
Presidents Day, also known as Washington’s Birthday was the first federal holiday to honor an American president. The holiday was traditionally celebrated on Washington’s birthday, February 22 until 1971 when it was moved to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Did you know that the correct punctuation of “Presidents/President’s/Presidents’ Day depends on what state you live in?
Presidents Day Has Different Meanings Across the United States
Presidents Day has a different meaning and punctuation in many states. In some states, Presidents’ Day honors no specific U.S. president. It celebrates all of them. In some states, it’s used to honor both Washington and Lincoln where others honor Washington and Thomas Jefferson but not Lincoln. And, in one state it honors Washington and someone else entirely. See the list below:
State by State Comparison
- Presidents’ Day: Hawaii, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Washington
- President’s Day: Alaska, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wyoming
- Presidents Day: California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Oregon
- Washington’s Birthday/President’s Day: Maine
- Lincoln, Washington and Presidents’ Day: Arizona
- Washington’s Birthday: Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Louisiana, Virginia and New York
- Washington’s and Lincoln’s Birthday: Minnesota, Colorado, Ohio, Utah, Montana
- George Washington/Thomas Jefferson Birthday: Alabama
- George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day: Arkansas
Punctuation aside, we hope you enjoy your holiday!
