It's the Brian Lairn on WNYC. Good morning, everyone, and happy President's Day.

You know, there wasn't always such a holiday. The national holiday, some of you know this,

especially if you're a certain age or just know history, the national holiday used to be

George Washington's birthday, right? On his actual birthday, February 22nd, no matter what day of the

week it was on. And some states, including New York, also observed Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12th.

But then Congress passed the law called the Uniform Monday Holiday Act that moved Washington's

birthday to the third Monday in February.

That began in 1971.

And then it became generally known as President's Day as Lincoln's birthday got swept in.

Why the Uniform Monday Holiday Act? Well, as History.com tells it, the change was seen by many as a

novel way to create more three-day weekends, obviously, for the nation's workers. And it was

believed that ensuring holidays always fell on the same weekday would reduce employee

absenteeism.

It continues while some argued that shifting holidays from their original dates would cheapen

their meaning, the bill also had widespread support from both the private sector and labor unions

and was seen as a sure fireway to bolster retail sales. How many of you are taking

advantage of President's Day sales right now? So here we are, 55 years later, President's Day

sales obviously abound. Kids in New York only get one day off from school for Lincoln and Washington, not two like they

used to in past generations. But I will note that Lincoln's birthday is still commemorated in the

city in a very New York way. Alternate side of the street parking regulations are suspended every

February 12th in addition to President's Day today.

One other thing about Lincoln's birthday, it's also one of the reasons that Black History

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