What is known popularly as President’s Day or Presidents’ Day started in the late 1800’s to honor George Washington.  It was observed on his birthday, February 22, after being signed into law by Rutherford B. Hays in 1879.  The holiday initially was only observed in the District of Columbia, but in 1885 it was expanded to the whole country.  The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 shifted the observance to the third Monday of February, effective in 1971.  This allowed for a consistent three-day weekend.  Ironically, this made it impossible for the holiday to ever fall on Washington’s actual birthday. 

What are we celebrating?  Many people believe that the holiday is designed to honor both George Washington’s birthday (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12).  This may be true in some states.  However, the federal holiday officially celebrates Washington’s birthday.  Others believe that the holiday is designed to honor all who have served as President.  This may be true colloquially.  However, the federal holiday officially is a celebration of Washington’s birthday.

How do we spell the holiday?  Some spell it Presidents Day.  Others spell it President’s Day.  Still others spell it Presidents’ Day.  This may depend on the state in which you live.  However, the federal holiday is still officially Washington’s birthday (Holidays, commerce.gov).

George Washington set many precedents for future Presidents.  (1) He appointed a cabinet.  (2) He proposed legislation to Congress.  (3) He had people address him as “Mr. President.”  Some wanted to address the President with exalted titles such as “His Excellency” or “His Highness, the Protector of our Liberties.”  (4) He presented the annual State of the Union report,  required by the Constitution, as a personal speech delivered to Congress.  Thomas Jefferson would break this precedent by sending his report over to be read by clerks in each house of Congress.  Woodrow Wilson revived the precedent.  It has generally been delivered in person since then.  (5) He hosted dinner parties with invited guests.  (6) He had retreats to Mount Vernon.  (7) He retired after serving eight years.  Franklin D. Roosevelt is the only President to be elected more than two terms; he was elected four times.  The 22^nd Amendment of the Constitution was ratified in 1951.  This limits the number of terms one can be elected to two terms (Presidential Precedents by Mary Stockwell, Ph.D, mountvernon.org).

[Historical Sources: Presidents’ Day 2024, history.com; What is Presidents Day? How One President’s Day Became Presidents’ Day by Remy Tumin, February 22, 2023, nytimes.com; George Washington’s Birthday, mountvernon.org; Holidays, commerce.gov; Presidential Precedents, mountvernon.org].

Christians should be good, obedient citizens.  Consider: (1) “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1); (2) “I exhort… that supplications, prayers, intercession, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for Kings and all who are in authority, that we may led a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Timothy 2:1); (3) “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak  evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle showing all humility to all men” (Titus 3:1-2).  (4) “Therefore submit yourself to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to King as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do good.  For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:13-15).  So long as government is not standing in the way of our serving God, we are to live submissively (cf. Acts 4:19-20; 5:28-29; Daniel 3; Daniel 6).