Celebrating Our Nation's Presidents

February 16, 2026•5 min read

Celebrating Our Nation's Presidents

Presidents’ Day, officially recognized at the federal level asWashington’s Birthday, began as a tribute to George Washington, according to the National Archives. Its roots go back to the early years of the Republic, when the nation was still defining how it would honor its first president—and, in many ways, how it would define itself.

Interestingly, Washington himself did not make much of his birthday. He typically worked straight through it. But after his death, Americans elevated him into a unifying national symbol—an embodiment of character, restraint, courage, and duty. In 1879, Congress formally established Washington’s Birthday as a federal holiday, and for decades it remained focused squarely on his legacy.

Over time, however, the meaning began to shift. States started informally recognizing Abraham Lincoln’s February birthday around the same time, and popular usage gradually transformed “Washington’s Birthday” into “Presidents’ Day.” Even today, the federal holiday remains officially dedicated to Washington alone—but culturally, it has expanded to honor the presidency more broadly.

A major turning point came in 1971 with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved several federal holidays to Mondays to create more three-day weekends and stimulate travel and commerce. That decision reshaped the observance. What was once primarily a day of national reflection gradually became part historical tribute, part mid-winter break—and increasingly, part commercial event.

Today, schools and government offices close. Museums, libraries, and historic sites offer educational programs and reflections on Washington, Lincoln, and the office of the presidency itself.

And that evolution raises a meaningful question:

Who is your favorite U.S. president—and why?

For me, it isGeorge Washington.

Not because he was flawless. Not because he won battles or held power. But because of what he chose not to do.

Washington voluntarily gave up power—twice. After leading the Continental Army, he stepped away rather than grasping for control. Later, after serving two terms as president, he refused calls to continue indefinitely. In doing so, he established a precedent of peaceful transfer of power that shaped the character of the nation. Leadership, at its best, is not about holding authority; it is about stewarding it.

Washington understood restraint. He understood that institutions matter more than individuals. He understood that unity requires sacrifice. At a time when the young country could easily have drifted toward monarchy or fracture, he modeled humility and constitutional loyalty.

Presidents’ Day offers us more than a long weekend. It invites reflection on the responsibilities and burdens of leadership. It challenges us to consider the character required to serve something larger than ourselves. And it reminds us that our understanding of history continues to evolve with each generation.

Whether we spend the weekend learning, shopping, resting, or reflecting, the day ultimately asks us to think about leadership—what it looks like, what it costs, and what it demands.

So as Presidents’ Day approaches, perhaps the most important tradition isn’t a sale or even a ceremony.

It’s the conversation.

Who is your favorite president—and why?

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