In February, many Americans experience a long weekend in honor of Presidents Day. But how many of us stop to consider what the holiday actually represents?

Is it a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents?

A tribute to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln?

Or, as many fear and think, simply an excuse for mattress sales?

The history of Presidents Day is a long and complicated one, and during the past 146 years its origins have become cloudy.

The holiday began originally as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. In 1879, Congress officially declared Feb. 22 a federal holiday, recognizing the first president’s role in our nation’s founding.

In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Washington’s Birthday to the third Monday in February to provide workers with more three-day weekends. At about this time, many states began using the holiday to recognize not just Washington, but Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday falls on Feb, 12: Lincoln was already celebrated in several states, particularly in the north. Throughout the ensuing years, advertisers and our culture began to muddy the holiday’s meaning, leading to the more generic Presidents Day of today.

Contrary to popular belief, no official federal legislation ever changed the name to Presidents Day, and legally it is still Washington’s Birthday. Today’s holiday has become a blurred celebration, interpreted differently across states and institutions. Some see it as a tribute to all presidents, from Washington to Biden and Trump. Others focus on Washington and Lincoln. Many of us simply are thankful for a day off.

Should Presidents Day be redefined? While all presidents have shaped the nation’s course, not all legacies are the same. Maybe a more focused recognition of Washington and Lincoln as leaders whose contributions were truly transformative would bring back the holiday’s original importance.

In an era where even the credibility of our history comes under attack through debate and distortion, now is a time to reconsider the origins of our national holidays.

Presidents Day should be more than an opportunity for department store sales. It should be, for better or worse, a moment to reflect about the national governance that has made America what it is today.