Lincoln Birthday - February 12, a US state holiday honouring Abraham Lincoln, observed in a handful of states

Lincoln Birthday on February 12 is a US state holiday honouring Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US President. Observed in a handful of states including Illinois, where Lincoln lived for many years. Not a federal public holiday - the federal mid-February observance is Presidents Day, which honours the office of the Presidency more broadly.

The one-line summary

US state holiday on February 12, honouring Abraham Lincoln. Observed in IL, CT, IN, KY, MO, NY, OH and a handful of other states. Not a federal holiday. Distinguished from Presidents Day (third Monday of February), which is the federal mid-February observance.

Origin

Lincoln Birthday has been observed informally since Lincoln assassination on April 14, 1865. Illinois made Lincoln Birthday a state holiday in 1894 - the first state to do so, and the state where Lincoln lived for 31 years (1810-1861) and where he is buried. Several other states followed in the early 20th century, particularly states where Lincoln had spent significant time or where his legacy was strongly felt.

The federal government has never formally recognised Lincoln Birthday as a federal holiday. The federal mid-February holiday - originally Washington Birthday, established in 1879 - was renamed to Presidents Day in 1971 when it was moved to the third Monday of February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

State observance

Lincoln Birthday is observed as a state public holiday in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, and Ohio. A handful of other states observe Lincoln Birthday in some form without giving state employees the day off. The exact observance date varies - some states celebrate on February 12 directly, while others observe it on the Monday or Friday closest to February 12 to give a three-day weekend.

Federal employees in these states do not receive Lincoln Birthday as a paid holiday because it is not a federal observance. Federal offices follow the federal holiday calendar, which includes Presidents Day in February but not Lincoln Birthday. Private employers in observing states typically follow state law for paid holidays.

Presidents Day distinction

Presidents Day (third Monday of February) is the federal mid-February holiday. Presidents Day honours the office of the US Presidency and is associated with both George Washington (born February 22, 1732) and Abraham Lincoln (born February 12, 1809). The 1971 Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the holiday from a fixed February 22 date to a third-Monday-of-February date, broadening the practical scope of the observance.

Lincoln Birthday is a separate state-level observance in some states. The two holidays are not formally linked. Some states have considered consolidating the two; as of 2026 they remain separate observances.

How it is observed

Lincoln Birthday is observed with wreath-laying ceremonies at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, the Lincoln Tomb in Springfield, Illinois, and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Hodgenville, Kentucky. Schools in observing states run Lincoln-themed curricula. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield runs annual programming.

Lincoln Birthday is also marked by historical reenactments, the annual Lincoln Day dinner held by state Republican parties (dating to the late 19th century), and speeches by politicians. The observance has both civic and political dimensions.

Legal status

Lincoln Birthday is a state public holiday in CT, IL, IN, KY, MO, NY, and OH. It is not a federal public holiday. State employees in observing states receive the day off with pay. Federal employees do not receive Lincoln Birthday as a paid holiday.

Where it is contested

Lincoln Birthday is broadly uncontested as a state-level civic observance. The most frequent critique is that the patchwork of state-level Lincoln Birthday observances creates confusion for multi-state employers; the federal government has not moved to harmonise the calendar. Some critics have argued for the consolidation of Lincoln Birthday and Presidents Day, while others note that the two observances serve distinct commemorative purposes.

Lincoln's Birthday by the numbers

Sources

• Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum: presidentlincoln.illinois.gov
• National Park Service Lincoln Birthplace: nps.gov/abli
• Uniform Monday Holiday Act: govinfo.gov

A short history of Lincoln's Birthday

Lincoln's Birthday on February 12 commemorates the birth of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, in 1808. The day is observed as a public holiday in some US states, notably Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. It is not a federal public holiday but is recognised by many state and local governments.

Lincoln and the Civil War

Abraham Lincoln served as President from March 4, 1861, until his assassination on April 14, 1865. He led the United States through the Civil War, signed the Emancipation Proclamation (effective January 1, 1863), and delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. He was the first Republican president and led the Union to victory in the war.

Lincoln's Birthday FAQs

• When is Lincoln's Birthday? February 12, fixed Gregorian date.
• Is it a federal holiday? No, it is observed by some US states.
• How is it observed? Schools host educational programmes; some state offices close.
• Where is it observed? Illinois, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Lincoln's legacy

Lincoln is widely regarded as one of the greatest US presidents. His leadership during the Civil War, his signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and his articulation of democratic ideals in the Gettysburg Address have shaped American political culture. Lincoln's birthday observance overlaps with Presidents' Day (third Monday of February), which honours all US presidents. In some states, Lincoln's Birthday is combined with Presidents' Day into a single holiday.

The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, completed in 1922, features a 19-foot marble statue of Lincoln by sculptor Daniel Chester French. The memorial is one of the most visited sites in the US capital and hosts annual Lincoln's Birthday and Presidents' Day wreath-laying ceremonies.

Lincoln and the Gilded Age

Lincoln's Birthday observance emerged in the late 19th century as part of broader efforts to commemorate the Civil War president. The day has been recognised by some states since the 1890s. In modern times, observance varies widely: some states have moved toward combining Lincoln's Birthday with Washington's Birthday into Presidents' Day on the third Monday of February.

Several commemorative events are associated with Lincoln's Birthday, including the annual Lincoln Birthday Wreath-Laying Ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, and the Abraham Lincoln Birthday Commemorative Celebration in Springfield, Illinois.