The history of Presidents Day

Many of you will be celebrating a three-day weekend. Schools, banks and government offices will be closed Monday to celebrate Presidents Day.

Well, most of you know it as Presidents Day, a day to celebrate all presidents. But officially, according to federal law the holiday is the celebration of George Washington's birth.

Presidents Day began, according to a report from USA Today, in 1800 as an unofficial holiday on Washington's Birthday, Feb. 22. It became a federal holiday in 1879, and a national bank holiday six years later. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed, to create more three-day weekends for workers, which moved the observance to the third Monday in February.

Though lawmakers discussed combining Washington and Lincoln's birthdays, officially the act never happened. So officially speaking from a federal standpoint, Presidents Day is still on the books as celebrating Washington's Birthday. Lincoln's Birthday is Feb. 12. Ronald Reagan and William Henry Harrison also have February birthdays.

Of course the official federal designation doesn't stop anyone from celebrating any president they choose on this holiday.

Here's to the individuals who have led our country in good times and bad -- and a prayer for our current one. Happy Presidents Day to all, and if you're one of the lucky ones who gets the day off, we hope you make the most of it. The weather is calling for Memorial Day temperatures. Enjoy!