Made by Ildikó Olasz

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA PART II.

CULTURE

• American culture encompasses the customs and traditions of the United States, including language, religion, food and the arts.

• Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants, most notably the English who colonized the country beginning in the early 1600s. U.S. culture has also been shaped by the cultures of Native Americans, Latin Americans, Africans and Asians.

IMMIGRANT INFLUENCES • Important influences came from other parts of

Europe, such as Ireland, Germany, Poland and Italy; Africa, from which came the ancestors of most African Americans, originally brought over as slaves in the American South

• As a nation of immigrants, the United States has been influenced by many cultures.

• There are 2 kinds of holidays in the USA: the national holiday and the public or federal holidays. National holiday is a holiday set by law and is usually a non-working day during the year.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

• also known as the Fourth of July, is a holiday in the celebrating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches and ceremonies and various other public and private events

PIONEER DAY

Pioneer Day is a state holiday in Utah in the United States. It is celebrated on July 24 each year to commemorate the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Salt Lake Valley in 1847. This day celebrates the bravery of the original settlers and their strength of character and physical endurance.

Pioneer Day is also celebrated

in many parts of Idaho,

where it is commonly known

as Celebration Day. 

PARENTS' DAY• It help on the fourth Sunday of every July.

• figures in the United States receive the recognition for the role they play in their children’s lives on Parents’ Day. The day aims to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It celebrates the special bonds of love between parental figures and their children.

• It supports the role of parents in bringing up their children.

• It is a national observance but it is not a public holiday in the United States.

COLORADO DAY• Some museums offer free admissions to the

public and a number of businesses in Colorado offer special deals

• Colorado Day is a state observance on August 1. It is not a public holiday in the U.S., so most businesses, public offices, schools and colleges are open except for if the date falls on a non-working day.

VICTORY DAY• It is held on Aug 11.

• It is the anniversary the Allies’ victory over Japan during World War II.

• It followed the dropping of the devastating atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.

• Victory Day is a state holiday in Rhode Island

ASSUMPTION OF MARY• Catholic churches in the United States celebrate

the feast of the Assumption to honor the Virgin Mary’s death and her rise into heaven on August 15 each year.

• Assumption Day is considered a Holy Day of Obligation, but if it falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, it is not obligatory by the church to attend mass.  This was amended in the church calendar by US (United States) bishops in 1991.

LABOR DAY• Labor Day is annually held on the first Monday of

September.

• It was originally organized to celebrate various labor associations' strengths of and contributions to the United States economy.

• It is largely a day of rest in modern times.

• Many people mark Labor Day as the end of the summer season and a last chance to make trips or hold outdoor events.

PATRIOT DAY• Patriot Day is an annual observance on September 11

to remember those who were injured or died during the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001.

• Many Americans refer Patriot Day as September 11.

• The most potent symbol of the events that happened on September 11, 2001 are pictures and videos of planes flying into buildings, of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center

NATIVE AMERICAN DAY OR COLUMBUS DAY

• The second Monday of October annually marks Columbus Day in many parts the United States but not all states or region follow this observance. In South Dakota people celebrate Native Americans' Day through learning from educational resources that focus on the traditions, culture and background of Native Americans. It is a day to celebrate the heritage of Native Americans.

• The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City.

HALLOWEEN• Many Americans celebrate Halloween on October

31. Celebrations include costume parties and trick-or-treating.

• Many children dress up in fancy costumes and visit other homes in the neighborhood. At each house, they demand sweets, snacks or a small gift. If they do not get this, they threaten to do some harm to the inhabitants of the house. 

• Halloween originated as a pagan festival in parts of Northern Europe.

• There are various symbols associated with Halloween. These include the spooks, ghosts and walking skeletons that represent the contact between the spiritual and physical world and between the living and the dead. 

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EucFzLgB80

ALL SAINTS' DAY• Many churches in the United States celebrate All

Saints' Day to honor all the saints, particularly those who do not have their own special feast day, on November 1.

• All Saints' Day is celebrated in many areas of the United States, including where there are large Roman Catholic populations. 

• According to some sources, the idea for All Saints' Day goes back to the fourth century when the Greek Christians kept a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost (in late May or early June) in honor of all martyrs and saints.

ELECTION DAY• Election Day in the United States of America is

the Tuesday following the first Monday in November.

• It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials.

• These include national, state and local government representatives at all levels up to the president.

• Employees in some states have the legal right to have time off work to vote, and in some cases, without losing any pay.

VETERANS DAY• In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on

November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day.

• Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI3dgEGNlGk

THANKSGIVING DAY• The Pilgrims had much to celebrate, they had

built homes in the wilderness, they had raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

• Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November.

• Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. The meal often includes a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie, and vegetables. Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have.

• Thanksgiving Day parades are held in some cities and towns on or around Thanksgiving Day. Some parades or festivities also mark the opening of the Christmas shopping season. Some people have a four-day weekend so it is a popular time for trips and to visit family and friends.

LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY(PRESIDENTS’ DAY)

• Lincoln’s Birthday celebrates the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most popular presidents in United States history. It is a state holiday in some states on or around February 12 each year.

• The day is also known as Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday, Abraham Lincoln Day or Lincoln Day. Some states observe the day as part of Presidents’ Day, which is officially known as Washington’s Birthday.

• Various activities such as concerts and birthday parties are often organized for the day. 

BLACK FRIDAY • Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in

the USA and falls on the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November. It is a busy shopping day and is a holiday in some states.

• Many people have a day off work or choose to take a day from their quota of annual leave on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation. Others use it to start shopping for the Christmas season.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT• The Advent season marks the beginning of the

Christian year across many western churches in the United States. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.

• Many Christians in the United States attend a church service on the first Sunday of Advent and may engage in activities such as special prayers and contributing to ideas on enhancing peace. Many Advent traditions are observed in the United States in the prelude to Christmas Day.

• Advent is originally a time to reflect and prepare for Christmas similarly to how Lent is in preparation for Easter. 

• Purple is historically the main color used for Advent because it reflects penitence, fasting, and the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the king (Jesus Christ).

ST NICHOLAS' DAY• St Nicholas' Day is an observance of European

origin that is celebrated in some American communities on December 6.

• Children in families who celebrate St Nicholas' Day receive treats - including candy, cookies, small toys, or fruit - in stockings, socks, shoes or bags on December 6. 

PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

• National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which is annually on December 7, commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, during World War II.

• Many American service men and women lost their lives or were injured on December 7, 1941. 

• On the direction of the President, the flag of the United States of America should be displayed on the homes of Americans, the White House and all United States government buildings. The flag should be flown at half-mast to honor those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

CHRISTMAS EVE• Christmas Eve in the United States, which is

annually on December 24, is the day before Christmas Day. It falls within the Christmas season, which is a time for people to buy presents and visit friends or relatives.

• Since Christmas Eve is not an official federal holiday, most people have to work. However, it is a partial day off or a full day off in some states. Many workplaces hold Christmas parties or celebrations.

• Christmas observance is a conglomeration of several other festivals.  To early Christians, it commemorates the birth of the Jesus Christ.

• In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more.

• Children often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives (Santa Claus).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI2mOFrIwhs

NEW YEAR'S EVE• New Year's Eve, which is on December 31, is the

last day of the year in the United States. It is a major social observance and many parties are held, particularly in the evening.

• Many people hold parties at home or attend special celebrations to celebrate the upcoming New Year. In many cities, large scale public events are held. These often attract thousands of people.

Thank you for your attention

♥