The origins of Presidents Day lie in salutes to George Washington's Feb. 22 birthday, some highly ceremonial and others strikingly unusual.

Neither Congress nor the president have ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington's Birthday be changed to Presidents' Day, according to the National Archives.

George Washington was uneasy about the idea of publicly celebrating his life. And yet the nation is once again commemorating the first U.S. president on Monday.

The federal holiday known as Washington's birthday will be celebrated Monday, Feb. 17. Neither Congress nor the president have ever stipulated that the name of the holiday observed as Washington ...