What is Presidents Day?

EXTERNAL IMAGE

Officially known as Washington's Birthday, the federal holiday was originally meant to honor the country's first president, George Washington.

Washington was born in Virginia on Feb. 11, 1731, according to the then-used Julian calendar. In 1752, however, Britain and all its colonies adopted the Gregorian calendar which moved his birthday a year and 11 days to Feb. 22, 1732.