Why do we celebrate Presidents' Day? President's Day is a federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally called Washington's Birthday, it was a day set aside in 1885 by President Chester Arthur as a day to honor the "father of our country." In the 1960s, reformers sought to include the name change to President's Day in order to include honoring President Abraham Lincoln. The resolution was defeated and, contrary to popular belief, the name of the federal holiday has never been officially changed although popular usage has made President's Day appear on advertising, calendars and in the media. Even the White House refers to the holiday as President's Day.