Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the U.S. that honors President Washington and President Lincoln, arguably two of the best presidents in U.S. history. Presidents’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February.

Presidents’ Day was first started in 1880 by the U.S. government for government offices in the District of Columbia and was later extended to include all federal offices in 1885. The holiday is the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen. Until 1971 the holiday was celebrated on February 22, which is Washington’s birthday. In 1971 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted the holiday to the third Monday in February.

George Washington served as the first President of the United States from 1789-1797. Before he was president, Washington led the Continental Army to victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. Early in his career Washington was praised as the "Father of His Country. Read more about Washington’s contributions in American History magazine, The Economist and Time magazine.

In the 1980s due largely to a push from retail advertisers, the name Presidents’ Day began being used instead of "Washington’s Birthday." At this time the holiday was expanded to honor President Abraham Lincoln who was also born in February. Read more about retail advertisers in BusinessWeek, Money and Forbes magazine.

Lincoln was the sixteenth President of the United States. He successfully led the country through one of its greatest crisis, the American Civil War. Lincoln, the first Republican to be elected, was assassinated near the end of war in 1885. His death solidified him as a martyr to many Americans. Over the years, including in modern times, repeated polls of Americans has ranked Lincoln as the greatest president in American history. Lincoln’s legacy is one of upholding honesty, integrity and equality for all Americans. Read more about Lincoln’s contributions in Politics magazine, BusinessWeek and American History magazine.

Though many states now observe Presidents’ Day, it is not all-inclusive. In Massachusetts the state celebrates "Washington’s Birthday" and the state law requires the governor to issue an annual "Presidents’ Day" honoring presidents from Massachusetts, which includes John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and John F. Kennedy.

The state of Alabama also observes the day as "Washington and Jefferson Day" though Thomas Jefferson’s birthday is in April. Still, states New Jersey, Connecticut, California and Illinois celebrate Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, his actual birthday.

Presidents’ Day has become a day that retail stores, most notably car dealers, celebrate with sales. Up until the late 1980s most businesses closed on this holiday; many schools and non-retail businesses still remain closed in observance of Presidents Day.

Celebrations of Presidents’ Day vary from community to community. Alexandria, VA is host of the longest Presidents’ Day celebration with its month-long tribute that includes the longest George Washington Birthday parade.