Each February, Americans celebrate Presidents' Day with those two national pastimes: a day off work if they can get it, and sales on consumer goods. Originally established to commemorate George Washington's birthday, in 1971 Congress switched the holiday to the third Monday in February so as to include Abraham Lincoln's birthday as well.
On the federal level, the holiday is still known as Washington's Birthday, but in the popular imagination, it honors not only Washington and Lincoln but the history of the presidency itself, as well as all who have served. But this is exactly the wrong way to think about any government position, much less one imbued with as much power as the presidency.
