What are the Major U.S. Holidays?
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What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

February 20, 2018
What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

One of the most exciting things about living in another country is experiencing its holidays. What are The major U.S. holidays? Do you know how to celebrate them? Keep reading to find out!

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Major U.S. Holidays

Here are the major U.S. holidays. In some cases, businesses, government offices, and schools will be closed.

  • New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day
  • MLK Jr. Day
  • President’s Day
  • Valentine’s Day
  • St. Patrick’s Day
  • Easter/Spring Break
  • Mother’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Father’s Day
  • 4th of July
  • Labor Day
  • Halloween
  • Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Eve
  • Christmas Day

 

Major U.S. Holidays

What is the significance of each of these holidays? And how do you celebrate them? Read on to find out!

New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: December 31 and January 1

Importance: The beginning of the new year according to the Western (Gregorian) calendar.  

How the holiday is celebrated: On New Year’s Eve (December 31st), many people drink champagne or sparkling wine.

Many people watch the New Year’s show in Times Square in New York. It’s common to decorate with black, silver, and gold: some people also wear hats or glasses with the new year printed on them.

At midnight, people count down from 10 to 1 and then celebrate. Couples kiss at midnight and friends hug and say “Happy New Year.”

On January 1, many stores are closed. Most people relax and have a big meal with their friends and family.

 

MLK Jr. Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: The third Monday of January

Importance: This holiday celebrates the January 15th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., who is

known for activism during the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. (The Civil Rights Movement was the protest of U.S. laws that were racially discriminatory.) Sadly, Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.

How the holiday is celebrated: The holiday usually includes inspirational speeches and parades. For many, it is a time to think about public service and about improving our communities and societies: during this week, schools teach children about the life and achievements of this inspirational person.

Presidents’ Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: The third Monday of February

Importance: Presidents’ Day was originally to celebrate the birthday of the first President of the United States, George Washington. Today, the holiday celebrates all U.S. Presidents.

How the holiday is celebrated: Presidents’ Day is a time for patriotic celebration: many places will be decorated with red, white, and blue. In school, students learn about some of the most influential U.S. Presidents during this week. Because the Monday is a holiday, many businesses have three-day-weekend sales.

Valentine’s Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: February 14

Importance: A traditional holiday of love.

How the holiday is celebrated: Valentine’s Day is common in many parts of the world. In the U.S., the holiday is celebrated with chocolate, red roses, and sparkling wine. Many restaurants have a special menu on this day, and many couples give each other gifts. In school, children give each other “valentines,” which are cards. Stores sell “conversation hearts,” which are heart-shaped candies with words written on them.

St. Patrick’s Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: March 17

Importance: St. Patrick’s Day is originally an Irish holiday, but Americans decided to make this an official holiday as well!

How the holiday is celebrated: On this day, everyone wears green: if you do not wear green, then someone can pinch you! For some adults, St. Patrick’s Day is a very big “party holiday:” people drink green beer and wear silly hats or costumes when they go to a bar. Many eat corned beef and cabbage, which is a traditional Irish dish.

Easter/Spring Break

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: Changes each year (usually late March or early April)

Importance: Originally a Christian holiday, this is now a common time for schools to take a one-week break during the spring season.

How the holiday is celebrated: To many, Easter is the beginning of the spring season. People begin wearing brighter colors after wearing dark clothes during winter (some buy a special outfit for Easter, and it is usually in pastel colors).

Easter is on a Sunday. Before Easter, many people dye eggs: they use special food coloring to make white eggs into bright colors. On Easter, parents hide the eggs and children have an Easter egg hunt. After the Easter egg hunt, most people eat a large lunch (often with lamb, ham, peas, and carrots).

Americans also have the myth of the Easter Bunny, which is a large rabbit that brings gifts to children on Easter. (Most of the gifts are chocolates and candies.) Christians celebrate Easter by attending a special church service.

Mother’s Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: Second Monday of May

Importance: Celebrating motherhood!

How the holiday is celebrated: Mother’s Day is typically celebrated by a brunch. Children make or buy gifts for their mothers.

Memorial Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: Last Monday of May

Importance: Memorial Day is to remember all of the people who died while serving in the U.S. armed forces (Navy, Army, etc.). It also is the unofficial beginning of summer for many.

How the holiday is celebrated: Since Memorial Day began as a patriotic holiday, there are always decorations in red, white, and blue. Many stores have sales.

Many celebrate the long weekend outdoors by having a barbecue, going camping, or going to the beach or a lake.

Father’s Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: Third Sunday of June

Importance: Celebrating fatherhood!

How the holiday is celebrated: Father’s Day is typically celebrated with a barbecue for dad. Children buy or make gifts.

4th of July

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: July 4th

Importance: The 4th of July celebrates the “birth” of the USA

How the holiday is celebrated: Fireworks and barbecue! On the 4th of July, people wear red, white, and blue and typically eat hamburgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, chips, fruit salad, and beans.

After the sun goes down, many go to a local park or beach to watch a fireworks show.

Labor Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: First Monday of September

Importance: Labor Day celebrates the workers of the U.S. and gives them a well-deserved day of rest.

How the holiday is celebrated: Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer, so many people celebrate with activities related to water or the outdoors, including a barbecue. As with all three-day weekends, there are of course sales in the stores.

Halloween

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: October 31

Importance: Celebrating the old pagan tradition of remember those who died; in modern times, Halloween in the U.S. is more about dressing in costume and eating candy.

How the holiday is celebrated: Halloween is celebrated by adults and children. People dress in costumes, go to a haunted house, and have Halloween parties. Many go to a pumpkin patch and carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns: they leave their decorations next to their front door. Children go “trick or treating,” where they go to the houses in their neighborhood and collect candy.

Thanksgiving

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: Fourth Thursday of November

Importance: This holiday celebrates the harvest and a story of the settlers from Europe having a large meal with the Native Americans. It is now a day to give thanks for all of the wonderful things we have in our lives.

How the holiday is celebrated: Thanksgiving dinner is a large meal with some special foods that many people do not eat the rest of the year. Most people roast a whole turkey and serve it with mashed potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, green beans, and stuffing (flavored bread that is cooked inside the turkey). For dessert, many have apple, pumpkin, and pecan pie.

 

Christmas Eve

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: December 24

Importance: The night before Christmas!

How the holiday is celebrated: Some families open presents on Christmas Eve. Many choose to have a large dinner and give the children new pajamas (which they will wear on Christmas Day, when they open presents in the morning).

It is tradition for small children to make cookies and leave them for Santa, who will bring the children gifts during the night.

Christmas Day

What Are The Major U.S. Holidays?

Date: December 25

Importance: A day of giving gifts. For Christians, this day celebrates the birth of Jesus.

How the holiday is celebrated: Christmas is a time to be with friends and family. The day begins by opening gifts (including the stockings, which are large “socks” filled with gifts).

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