Presidents — they’re powerful. They can even give you a day off to make a three-day weekend.

In this Virtually Rick:  Presidents Day.

It’s time to fact you up, so let’s get virtual! 

And how long have we had a day solely devoted to the presidents? Well, if you want to be really technical we don't actually have a 'Presidents Day' at all. The official federal holiday title is known as “Washington’s Birthday.” 

MORE VIRTUALLY RICK:

• How Do Jumbo Jets Stay in the Air?
• Is America's Love Affair With Vaping Over?
• Why Is the Sky Blue?

What? Great Rick! Next you’ll be telling me the Earth is flat, turtleneck sweaters are made from real turtles and Han Solo didn't shoot first! 

No, listen, I wouldn’t waste your time with such lies. 

Ready for a 'fact-a-lanche?'

In 1879 the U.S. Congress made President Washington’s birthday a holiday. A bit late because he was dead, but that’s the point. To celebrate the life of the greatest American ever. 

So, February 22 became a holiday, but only in DC. It wasn’t until 1885 when it was made a federal holiday. 

Then everything was cool until 1968 when congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill so we workers could have a few long weekends during the year. It was subsequently moved to the third Monday of each February. 

But hey, isn’t Lincoln’s birthday also in February? Yes hombre! It’s February 12 to be exact.

So it was also proposed to change the name to 'President's Day' to honor them both. Buuutttt no!

There were...objections.

The Commonwealth of Virginia wasn’t amused on behalf of its most famous son. So, it didn’t get changed but people started calling it that anyway - sort of like when your mom calls you by your sister's name by mistake at the dinner table.

It’s wrong but you knew she what she meant and you pass the vegetables to her anyway. 

And that’s how we’ve been doing it since 1971! The holiday, not the vegetables.

So President's — I mean Washington’s Birthday day — oh you know what I mean….