Officially known as Washington’s Birthday (even though it isn’t actually on Washington’s birthday!), Presidents Day is an American federal holiday that takes place on the third Monday in February.

According to Britannica, the origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States —was first celebrated as a federal holiday.

In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays.

The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year. It was been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate.

During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12). Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, but it was never an official federal holiday.

After much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. When the bill went into effect in 1971, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name. Since then, retailers’ use that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday.

Presidents’ Day is marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D. C., and throughout the country.

Sales for President’s Day last through February.