Inauguration Day is just days away and with it, the usual pomp and circumstance of inaugural ceremonies.

President-elect Donald Trump has already selected most of his Cabinet nominees , who were going through confirmation hearings before the Senate this week. Though some – such as Matt Gaetz, who was originally tapped for attorney general before dropping out over controversy surrounding past investigations into alleged sexual misconduct – haven't worked out, while others have made big promises on issues like immigration and national security.

Trump has also pledged several plans for early in his term, including hitting Mexico, Canada and China with import tariffs and pardoning Jan. 6 rioters.

Before any of that can happen, however, the traditions of a presidential inauguration must commence. The day is steeped in ritual, ceremony and custom dating all the way back to the first-ever Inauguration Day in 1789. Wondering where everything came from? Here's a review of the purpose and origins of Inauguration Day.

When is Inauguration Day?

Trump's inauguration is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 , in Washington, D.C. This also happens to fall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year.

What is a presidential inauguration?

The primary purpose of the presidential inauguration is to swear in the next president and vice president of the U.S.

As outlined by the National Archives, the U.S. Constitution has specific guidelines for electing and appointing a new president.

"The Constitution requires that ... the president-elect, before taking charge of the office, swear an oath of office to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,'" details the archives.

Other events and practices were added over time by individual presidents. While festivities like attending church before ceremonies, giving a national address and partaking in parades and balls are not written in the Constitution, they have become traditions over the years after subsequent presidents followed the examples of prior ones.

What is the presidential oath of office?

When taking the presidential oath of office, the president-elect places their hand on their religious book of choosing, historically a bible, and is sworn in, typically by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God."

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

What is the history of Inauguration Day?

The first U.S. presidential inauguration took place in 1789 when George Washington was sworn in as the first-ever president of the U.S.

According to the National Archives, the Confederation Congress originally set Inauguration Day for the first Wednesday in March. However, unseasonably cold weather prevented many members of the First Federal Congress from arriving in New York City in time, and the ceremonies were pushed until April 6, 1789, when enough members were in New York to tally the electoral ballots and confirm Washington's win.

In an early prototype of our modern presidential parade, Washington and Congress then proceeded down Broadway to St. Paul's Church, a route lined with people eager to watch the historic event. A service was done at the church and social gatherings, akin to the modern balls, receptions and luncheons of today, followed.

Inauguration Day took place on March 4 or 5 (if the 4th fell on a weekend) of each year until the 20th Amendment was passed in 1937, changing it to Jan. 20.

According to the White House Historical Association , the 20th Amendment is also sometimes called the “lame duck" amendment, as its author, Nebraska Sen. George Norris, sought to tackle the issue of the "lame duck" period that occurred in the time between a president winning or losing an election and actually taking power. With the March inauguration date, a president who lost the election could continue to govern for months without having much responsibility to voters.

Norris also argued in the legislation, originally written in 1922, that the progress of technology allowed for communication and travel to be much quicker and more efficient, meaning members of Congress no longer needed the long lead time to arrive in town for ceremonies.

Norris had to introduce the legislation five times before it was finally accepted on the sixth try in 1932 and ratified in January 1933.

What happens on Inauguration Day?