Presidents’ Day 2016

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(Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS/MCT)

Myah Pitter, Staffer

Presidents’ Day is on Monday, Feb. 15 and is celebrated on the third Monday in Feb., every year. The day honors the presidents of the United States, including George Washington, the United States first president.

Presidents’ Day is a day “to honor all the presidents who impacted our country,” sophomore Anushka Thummalapenta said.

According to history.com, “Presidents’ Day was originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the Federal Government.”

Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.

While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present, according to history.com.

“We should honor the people who have to run our country into different ideas and decisions,” sophomore Oluwabunmi Arije said.

Presidents’ Day is a state and federal holiday; many offices, schools and other facilities will be closed, but there are a wide range of Presidents’ Day sales that will be taking place throughout the day.

Many states are having a Presidents’ Day Grand Parade downtown, which will include parade floats, bands and music.