Washington's Birthday (2026)
The third Monday in February is here, and with it comes a flood of advertisements for a holiday that does not exist. While the public at large has been conditioned to use a generic, catch-all name for this day, a look at the federal calendar or the United States Code reveals the truth. Under section 6103(a) of title 5, the holiday is, and always has been, Washington's Birthday.
The irony is that on the day we are supposed to remember George Washington -- the very first person whose birthday was set aside as a national holiday -- everyone seems to be forgetting him. We have allowed the specific legacy of the "Father of His Country" to be obscured. While the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the date of the observation in 1971, it did not change the name. The Office of Personnel Management and the National Archives both confirm the legal title remains unchanged.
The respect due to George Washington should be singular. He was the indispensable man, yet today, finding a way to truly study his life through modern media is becoming increasingly difficult. Options to watch a definitive biography of Washington have dwindled. The classic 1984 miniseries starring Barry Bostwick, once considered the gold standard, has vanished from services. To own it on DVD, a collector must navigate scalper prices starting at $129 and climbing. It is a shame that such a quality piece of historical storytelling is essentially being held for ransom.
In the current landscape, only one major production remains widely accessible to help us remember the man behind the holiday.
Washington (2020)
This three-part miniseries uses a blend of cinematic dramatization and expert commentary to move past the myths. Starring Nicholas Rowe and narrated by Jeff Daniels, it highlights a young soldier learning through failure and a leader burdened by the weight of a new nation.
- Subscription: Prime Video and Frndly TV (via The History Channel on-demand library)
- Purchase: Prime Video
As the holiday arrives, there is a choice to be made between following the crowd or standing by the facts. Respecting the history of this nation begins with calling the day by its rightful name: Washington's Birthday.
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