New Delhi, Feb. 17 -- Presidents Day, also known as Washington's Birthday, was initially established to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States. The holiday was first celebrated in 1885 on February 22, Washington's actual birthday. It was a day for the nation to recognize Washington's leadership during the American Revolution and his pivotal role in the founding of the United States.

The shift toward celebrating all US presidents occurred when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed in 1968. This law aimed to provide more three-day weekends for the nation's workers by moving the celebration of Washington's Birthday to the third Monday in February. The move to a Monday holiday, rather than sticking to the fixed...