Partly it derives from a bill that would have combined the celebration of the Lincoln and Washington birthdays. That bill, however, failed. Then there are a couple of dozen states in the land that have done their own thing, figuring that, if they want to call the holiday Presidents Day, they will, by golly, call it that. For many Americans, it makes little difference. They are too busy enjoying themselves and taking advantage of the various Presidents Day sales.
Some historians are upset, though.
Several are campaigning to have a day that celebrates Washington, Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. But throwing in Roosevelt's name is not so great an idea, seeing as how his administration is close enough to us in time to arouse all sorts of partisan arguments about whether he belongs in that pantheon. The real shame is that George Washington gets so little attention on the day officially set aside to recognize his contributions to this land. Despite their most assiduous efforts, the revisionists have yet to tarnish him. His courage, steadfastness, honor and dignity helped win the war that established our independence, helped direct a convention that wrote our Constitution and helped establish precedents in the presidency that have played a role in keeping us free.