February may be familiar as a month of romance, but it's also a time to honor our nation's history and its presidents. Both Abraham Lincoln and George Washington celebrated February birthdays, and this year Presidents' Day falls on Monday, February 16.

The actual national holiday is still known as Washington's Birthday, although the date was standardized to be a Monday between the two presidents' birth dates back in 1971. Washington was born on February 22, Lincoln on February 12.

Washington is one of many states that officially observe the day as Presidents' Day rather than Washington's Birthday, but some states offer interesting variations. In Massachusetts, celebrations of the day honor the state's presidential sons: John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Calvin Coolidge and JFK. In Washington's home state of Virginia, the day is known as George Washington's Birthday, and is accompanied by a month-long tribute.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois residents observe the third Monday in February as Washington's Birthday, but they also recognize a holiday on Lincoln's February 12 birthday, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.

California, which tends to go its own way, also maintains the two presidents' birthdays as separate holidays, but juggles the calendar to move Washington's Birthday to the Friday or Monday closest to Lincoln's birthday on February 12. This often gives Californians a 4-day weekend.

While most banks, federal offices and local schools will be closed on February 16, retailers will be open for business, and happy to see the faces of America's presidents filling their cash registers.

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