george washington birthday

George Washington’s birthday is celebrated on February 22, 1732, although he was originally born on February 11, 1731, under the old Julian calendar. In the United States, his birthday is also marked by a federal holiday observed on the third Monday in February, officially called “Washington’s Birthday.”

When Was George Washington Actually Born?

• Washington was born at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia.

• At the time of his birth, Britain and its colonies used the Julian calendar and a different way of counting the new year, so his birth was recorded as February 11, 1731.

• In 1752, Britain switched to the Gregorian calendar and moved the start of the year to January 1, which shifted Washington’s birthdate to February 22, 1732.

• Today, history books and official references use February 22, 1732, as his birthday.

Why Two Dates for His Birthday?

• Under the Julian calendar (“Old Style”), Washington would have said he was born on February 11, 1731.

• The calendar reform in 1752 dropped 11 days from the calendar and adjusted the year count, effectively moving his birthday forward by 11 days and one calendar year.

• That is why you’ll sometimes see his birth written as “February 22, 1732 [O.S. February 11, 1731].”

Federal Holiday: Washington’s Birthday / “Presidents Day”

• “Washington’s Birthday” is one of the eleven permanent U.S. federal holidays and is observed on the third Monday in February.

• Although many people call it “Presidents Day” and often link it to both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, the official federal name remains Washington’s Birthday.

• The holiday falls between Lincoln’s February 12 birthday and Washington’s February 22 birthday, which helped the broader “Presidents Day” idea take hold in popular usage and advertising.

How People Celebrate Washington’s Birthday Today

• Historic sites and parks connected to Washington, such as Washington Crossing Historic Park and various National Park Service locations, hold special birthday events, talks, and reenactments around February 22.

• Local and educational celebrations may include classroom activities, math and history projects, and short presentations on Washington’s life and achievements.

• Many Americans now mainly experience the day as a long weekend of sales and school closures, but museums, libraries, and civic groups still use it to highlight Washington’s role as the first president and a central figure in the founding of the United States.

TL;DR:
George Washington was born on February 11, 1731 (Julian calendar), which became February 22, 1732, after the British Empire adopted the Gregorian calendar, and the U.S. now celebrates his birthday on that later date, both historically and through the federal holiday officially named “Washington’s Birthday.”