Presidents' Day (Third Monday in February)
We celebrate Presidents' Day to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
George Washington was the first president of the United States. He is also called the "Father of Our Country". President Washington was born on February 22.
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States. He led the United States during the Civil War. President Lincoln was born on February 12.
We celebrate Presidents' Day on the third Monday in February because it is between President Washington's birthday and President Lincoln's birthday.
Memorial Day honors men and women who died in service to the United States. Memorial Day is the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, from decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags. People in the United States started to observe Memorial Day more widely soon after the Civil War. The Civil War was one war the U.S. fought in the 1800s.
Today, Memorial Day is a national holiday. It is commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. We also fly the American flag at half-staff to honor those who died in service to the United States.
Arlington National Cemetery
CHAPTER 12: AMERICAN SYMBOLS AND HOLIDAYS
"George Washington at Princeton," by Charles Willson Peale. Courtesy of the U.S. Senate.
Abraham Lincoln. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.
U.S. Holidays
• New Year's Day (January 1).
• Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January).
• Washington's Birthday or Presidents' Day (Third Monday in February).
• Memorial Day (Last Monday in May).
⚫ Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19).
• Independence Day (July 4).
• Labor Day (First Monday in September).
• Columbus Day (Second Monday in October).
• Veterans Day (November 11).
⚫ Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November). • Christmas Day (December 25).
A member of the U.S. Army honor guard walks past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services