Why We Celebrate Presidents Day

What exactly are we celebrating today?

Presidents Day? Presidents' Day? President's Day? Wandering Apostrophe Day?

And whom exactly does it honor?

Is it just one president (Washington)? Or two (Washington and Lincoln)? Or the whole lot (including Warren G. Harding)? The apostrophe's placement, assuming an apostrophe is used, depends on whether we're celebrating more than one president today, right?

Perhaps the officials in charge of education would be well informed? The calendar of the San Juan Unified School District lists "Presidents' Days & Break," apparently intent on honoring at least two presidents.

Perhaps higher authorities in Sacramento, government of the nation's largest state, have a consistent approach? The California Senate observes "President's Day," while the state Employment Development Department celebrates "Presidents' Day." And the state Board of Equalization? You guessed it: "Presidents Day."

So, what do they say at the top of U.S. officialdom – the federal government? In the eyes of Uncle Sam, the answer is — none of the above.

Today's federal holiday is officially called "Washington's Birthday."

It was signed into law in 1879, to be observed annually on Feb. 22, Washington's birthday. In 1968, with the passage of Public Law 90-363, Congress moved it to the third Monday of February but retained the name "Washington's Birthday."

"This holiday is designated as 'Washington's Birthday' in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees," intones the "Federal Holidays" Web page of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, official keeper of federal employee holiday entitlements. "Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law."