The standard holidays including New Year, Valentine Day, Easter, Veteran's Day (previously Armistace Day), and Christmas are important in America. Destinctly American holidays include Dr. King's birthday, President's day, St. Patrick's Day, the 4th of July, Columbus day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Both St. Patrick's Day and Coloumbus Day honor the contribution of ethnic minorities and their role in building America. St. Patrick's Day is of course a traditional Irish celebration, but it in fact was a minor event in Ireland until popularized by nostalgic immigrants in the large American cities like Boston and New York. The most American of holiday is the 4th of July and all the fireworks, parades, and associated hoopla. This major U.S. holiday is about fire works and the rockets red glare. Some one may dress up as Uncle Sam or the Revolutionary war soldiers with fide, drum, and
and bugle scene. The Cubs and Scouts particuate in parades. And of course before the fireworks are picnics and cookouts. Halloween is a major American holiday that has begun to spread to other countries. Thanksgiving is another uniquely Americam holiday. Thanksgiving is an American holiday, giving thanks for the bounty of the land. Children dress up in Pilgrim and Native American costumes at school to celebrate the holiday. At home the centerpice is a huge turkey dinner. Often the entire family gathers at their parents or grandparents house for the event. Unlike some other
holiday, however, the children do not generally dressup, even for the turkey dinner. Contrary to widely held views, America is a deeply religious country. Probably more Americans attend Church than the the citizens of any European country. Thus
the religious nature of Amristmas is important in many American families. Undeniably, however, Santa Claus now plays a central role in an American child's
Christmas. American children diligently take their Christmas lists to Santa Clause. Some now even have computerized lists. Some American children in fact see Santa and his raindeer as a much more important figure than Jesus. Given the media blitz, parents have to work hard to maintain traditions beyound tye commercial extravanganza.
Dr. King's birthday is today a natiional holiday. Thus the vkids are not in school on his asctual birthday. There are many events held aroundf the country to honor Dr. King,butv foirthevmost part they do not involve children as would be the case if they were in school. We susopect that more black children are involved un these events than other ethivcities, but even so the totals are a small fraction of the numbers that would have been involved had they been at school. Rather, January has become Black History Month. And of course Dr. King plays an important role in any account of African-American history.
Valetine's Day is more of an adult holiday with men buying gifts for wives and sweethearts. Grade school kids are not all that interested in each other. This does not begin to occur until the teen years. I don't recall Valentine Day parties as a boy un the 1940s and 50s. I have a vague recollection in grade school some sort of celebration. And the teacher decorating the walls with some Valentuine Day items. I seem to recall there was some candy.Teachers liked making the class room look special with seasonal and special day celebrations--items like hearts and arrows. I recall exchanging Valentinr Day cards in class. I don't think that is very common any more. When we exchanged cards the popular kids got a lot and the kids ho were not very popular only got a few. I think that the feeling today is avoid anything which causes hurt feeling like this.
The United States used to celebrate Washington and Lincoln's borthday separately. (Lincoln's birthday was not celebrated in the South.) Now we celebrate President's Day.
Both St. Patrick's Day and Coloumbus Day honor the contribution of ethnic minorities and their role in building America. St. Patrick's Day is of course a traditional Irish celebration, but it in fact was a minor event in Ireland until popularized by nostalgic immigrants in the large American cities like Boston and New York.
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Religious celebrations vary widely in American, depending on the family's national and religious background. Palm fronds are blessed in some churches. Americans traditionally have an Easter "parade." Prople in towns and cities used to walk to church in their newest clothes. It became traditional to buy new spring clothes, including a new suit. Of course no parade was more famous than the parade down 5th Avenue in New York. New York was and continues to be the fashion hub of the United States. Men used to dress formally and women and girls traditionally had a brand new Easter bonnet. An example of a family all dressed up for Easter is a Pennsylvania family in 1966. Brightly colored eggs are important part of the celebration for the children. In some areas they are given out on Easter morning. Many families have a good time decorating the eggs. Commonly the eggs are then hidden--but not very well so they can easily bevfound. The children have an enjoyable time hunting for them. Egg-rolling is another Easter pastime. Beginning with the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes, an egg-rollilng contest has been held each year on the White House lawn in Washington. Today pastic eggs are making inroads against real eggs. There are also loads of candy for easter, the two favorites are chocolate eggs and bunnies.
Arbor Day ('arbor' is the Latin word for tree) is a holiday in which individuals and groups plant and care for trees. The first arnor day was organized by a Spnish priest (1805). The event is now celebrted in countries ll over the world, usually in the Spring because tht is the best time to plant trees. In America, Julius Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Nebraska founded the first American Arbor Day (1872). And Nebraska was a state that needed trees. Iy was one of the Great Planes state that was flat and sorely lacking in trees. (This would become a factor in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s). The event became popular and by the 1920s, every state had passed public laws that stipulated a certain day to be Arbor Day or Arbor and Bird Day observance. It was only a public hiloday only in Nebrasl, but here were important events all over the country. The dates vary. National Arbor Day is celebrated every year on the last Friday in April. The central event is tree planting. Often there are orations. On the first Arbor Day in Nebraska, some 1 million trees were planted. Arbor Day is no longer quite the event it once was, perhaps sidelined to an extent by Earth Day.
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May Day is a holiday inheritrd from Europe amf cekevrated on May 1. . It is an ancient festival of spring and an important spring holiday,. Unlike Easter, another Spring festival, there is no religious comoponent festival. May Day is cekevrated by dances, singing, traaats and of course the May Poll. This was probabky the actibuity mist assoiciated with the holliday. May Day changed forever when Socialist Second International chose May 1 to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair in Chicago. This never caight on in Amerrica. but around the worlkd May Day is an intenatiional Labir Day, but it has nothing to do with the traditional cekebration of May Day. May Day celevration negan vy eaely European settlers during the colonial poeriod. An early aspect was to make May baskets whivh were filled with flowers or treats and left anonamously at someone's door. Modern May Day ceremonies vary. May Day celebrations were especially popular at women's colleges (late-19th and early-20th century). We note school May Day celebrations.
President Truman proclaimed Armed Forcds Day to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard). This followed the consolidation of the military services in the Department of Defense. It was intended to replace the separate Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Days, although this has not entirely taken place. It is celebrated at the end of Armed Forces Week, which begins on the second Saturday of May and ends on the third Sunday of May. There are other days to celebrate military service. The most important in America is Memorial Day. There is also Veteran's Day. Armed Forces Day is a little different. While Veteran's Day is more of a day for reflection, Veteran's Day is a more active day. It is celebrated on Saturday so it is not a day off work. It is celebrated by parades, open houses, receptions and special events. Probably the most popular are air shows. President Kennedy established Armed Forces Day as an official holiday (1962).
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day, meaning the day that Americans decorted the graves of veterns with flowers. They were soldiers lost in war--specifically the Civil War. Until Decoration Day there was no national hoiday to remember veterans. As far as we know, the same situation prevailed in Europe as well. And this did not change until World War I. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) founded Decoration Day , moved by the many informal events in locl communities around the country. The GAR was the organization for Union Army Civil War veterans. The Confederate organization was the United Confederate Veterans (UCV). Gen. Logan only 3 years after the end of the Civil War proclaimed Decoration Day on May 30 to honor those who died 'in defense of their country during the late rebellion' (1868). After the War informal celebrations were held around the country to honor veterans, in the North on Decoration Day. It should be understood that the Civil War was a catacclysmic event. Some 0.7 million lot their lives during the Civil War, comparable to the combined World War I and II war dead and America was a much smaller country at the time. Celebrating May 30 was initially a northern event. Gen. James Garfield, a future president, gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, on the first Decoration Day. Then 5,000 participants proceeded to decorate the graves of the more than 20,000, mostly Union Union veterans buried in the cemetery. It is not clear why May 30 was chosen. Some say because no imortant battle occurred on thst day. Other becaus the flowers were most available in late May. Gradually local communities began organizing Memorial Day observations. At first Southern states began observing Confederate Memorial Day on different days. After World War I (1914-18), Americans began to honor the dead of all of America's wars. This only increased the acceptance of Decoration Day as a national holiday with observation becoming more common in the South as it was no longer seen as just honoring Union veterans. In Europe Armistice Day, a kind of decoration day was observed on November 11, the say of the World War I Armistice. It was not until 1971 that Congress made it an official nationl holiday, changing the name to Menorial Day nd the date to last Monday in May. Ober time the holiday came to be celebrated by plaving a small American flag on each grave. The president or vice president gives a speech at Arlingtion Cemetary and lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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The Fourth of July or Independence Day is the quinicensial American holiday. American began celebrating the 4th soon after independence from Britain. It is based on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Revolutionary War had already begun, but was largely restricted the Boson area-the hot bed of revolution. The Continentl Congress dispsrched George Washington to lead the Continental army. The Continental Congress with rpresentatives of the thirteem colonies in Philadelphi began considering a resolution to formally declare independence from Britain. The vote for independence was taken (July 2). Two days later Cogress adopted the Declaration of Independence, largely drafted by Thomas Jefferson (July 4). Thus from that day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of the American nation. Soon after the Revolution Americans became celebrating the 4th informlly. As time went by the celebrations became more and more involved. Even so it only bevame a Federal holiday in 1941, just before World War II. Fireworks were a mjor part of the celebrations. This included both public fireworks in prks and backyard fireworks. Today the festivities include fireworks, parades and concerts, picnics, and barbecues. Since the late-20th century, backyard fireworks have been deemphasuzed, even banned because so many childen were getting hurt. Set near the beginning of the summer, it is one of the holiday that boys freed of school have traditinally looked forward to. The big attraction were parades, picnics, and of course fire works. It was also an occasion that boys did not have to dress up for, unless of course, they were in the parade.
Labor Day is celebrated in America on the first Monday in September. The United States is the only country that does not celebrate Labor Day on May 1. American workers like workers in other countries lobbied for a holiday celebrating the labor movement and the labor ofArmerican workers. It was dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. And it is an annual tribute to the contribution Anerican workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of the United States. The effort to create a holiday began at the local level with the adoption of municipal ordinances passed during the 1880s. The first Labor Day was celebrated (1882). Its origins stem from the desire of the Central Labor Union to create a holiday for workers. Then idea proved popular and spread rapidly. Efforts were launched in various states to obtain state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature. The first state to adopt a labor day celebration was Oregon (1887). Morethan half the states has enacted labor day legisltion (by 1894). At this point the idea had bcome so popular that Congress acted making the first Monday in September of each year a legal Federal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.
The originl idea was to hold parades to allow the public to honor the work of the trade and labor organizations. After the parades, festival was to be held that workers and their families could enjoy. Prominent men and women would give speeches. It was aood time to appeal for the union vote, especially during elction years. The celebration date appears to hve nothing to do with the labor movement and avoided th May 1 date trade unions in Europe were promoting. The September choice seems to have been to add a holiday in the long gap between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. (Colunbus Day was not yet a national holiday.) The idea of a picnic or now backyard barbecues are popular. The weather is still warm in early September, but begins ti get cooler soon after. For years schools would begin after Labor Day, but now most schools begin bfore the holiday.
Columbus Day is an American national holiday and celebrated in much of Latin America and of course Spain. The celebrtion varies quite a bit from country to country. It celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' discovery of the Americas (October 12, 1492). The event is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States. There are different names in other countries. In much of Latin Ameica it is celebrated as D�a de la Raza (Day of the Race). Columbus' landing has been celebrated unofficially on a small way as a historical event leading to the founding of the United States (since the late-18th century). It had nothing to do with ethnicity. There were at the time first few Spainards, Italians and Catholics in the United States. This did not change until after the Civil War when large numbers of Italians began immigrating to the United States. Now Columbus sailed under the flag of the Spanish monarchy (Ferdinand and Isabella), but he was Italian. And as Italiand emigration swelled, the Italian communities wanted a holiday like the Irish St. Patrick's Day to celebrate. And Columbus Day became of the famed explorer's ethnicity that holiday. Columbus day became a kind of national extravaganza. Celebrating the historical event. Italian ethnicity, and the American nation. Patriotism was from the beginning an important element. As part of both Columbus Day and St. Patrick's Day is the opportunities America afforded Irish and Italian immigrants. (Notice that this element is generally lacking in Cinco de Mayo celebrations.) Official celebration began at the local and state level. Finally President Roosevelt, ever the master politician, helped move the idea of a national holiday though Congress (1937) In recent years there has been areassement of Columbus Day. Native American and Left Wing groups have pointed out how Columbus and the Spanish Conquistadores brutally treated Native Americans. And of course this continued with the foundation of the United States. Left wing treatment of history is generally dishonest, but here there is considerable truth in their narative, although as can be expected by left-wing authors decidely one sided. They ignore the fact that Native americans long before Columbus waged war, practiced human sacrifice, and were terribly brutal toward each other. Nor do left-wing authors offer many real alternatives, especially in their underlying effort to demonize the United States. Not many Americans would be all that happy with heards of bufalo stampeding through the front yard.
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Halloween has become one of the most important and widely celebrated festivals on the contemporary American calendar, and it is not even officially a holiday. No day off is given for Halloween, no federal decree is proclaimed establishing it as a national holiday. People simply do it. Halloween has a number of mostly European influences, none more important than the Irish who began emigrating to America in large numbers with their Celtic Halloween tradituons. In recent years, American Halloween has begun to spread to other countries. The Halloween that the Irish brought to America was a raukus, largely adult festival. Americands significantly transforned it. And it became a largely children's holiday by the turn of the 20th century. Kids of course loved dressing up and raking in candy for trick or treat. What more could a kid ask for than a fun day and coming home with a huge bag full of candy. In recent years Halloween has become increasingly popular with adults.
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Veteran's Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the World War I Armistace on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month November 11, 1918). It was until after World war II called Armistice Day. Wotld War I destroyed a generation of European youth. The impact on the United States was substantial, but not as severe. It was called the Great War and for ahile it was assumed that it was the last great war. The first celebration of Armistice Day was on November 11, 1919. The veterans who fought the War marched in parades throughout America. They were hometown heroes. The men were not back in American for a year when many Amerucans began to think that it had all been a terrible mistake getting involved. And that feeling only grew throughout the 1920s. Congress did not make Armistice Fay an official mational holiday until much later (1938). Ironically this was just as it was becoming clear that there would be another European War. Many Americans were determined to stay out of World War II, but the Japanese carrier attack on Pearl Hsrbor changed this. Wotld War II was ecen a greater effort than World War I. Over 16.5 million Americans served in World War II and 407,000 died or were killed in combat. Veteransontinued tbe honored on Novenber 11, but the term Veterans Day began to become more commom as Armitice Day seem to refer to only World War I. And the Korean War convinced more people that the name needed to be chsnged. Congress passed a bill remaming the occassiin to Veterans Day and President Eisenhower signed it into law (1954).
Congress passedc another law cjanging the date to the fourth Monday in October (1968), but as a result of protests, voted again to return to November 11 (1978). Thus every yeat on November 11th, Americans give thanks for peace and remember those who fought and died for the country. Many European countries (especially Britain and France) also celebrate the Wotld war I Armistice on this date. There are celebrations all around the country. The most important is held at Arlington Cemetary in a memorial next to the tomb of the Unlnown Soldiers. The serving president usually attends this ceremony.
Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July are the two major American national celebrations not shared with the rest of the world. Unlike the independence days which many countries just celebrate on a national basis, Thanksgiving is a destinctly American celebration. It is a holiday that has threaded together the Pilgrims, President Washington, and President Liincoln a;ong with his son Tad. Like Independence Day. Thanksgiving is a holiday that combines all Americans together with little controversy. This was not at first the case. The Thankgiving proclsaimed by President Washington became seen by the Democratic-Republicans as a politically motivated Federalist holiday. And when President Lincoln proclaimed aThanksgiving during the Civil War, the celebration was tarnished in the South for a generation. While an quinsentially American holiday, there is one other country which celebrates Thangiving. Canada which wasanother North American English colony, also celebrates Thanksgiving.
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Contrary to widely held views, America is a deeply religious country. Probably more Americans attend Church than the the citizens of any European country. Thus the religious nature of Christmas is important in many American families. Undeniably, however, Santa Claus now plays a central role in an American child's Christmas. American children diligently take their Christmas lists to Santa Clause. Some now even have computerized lists. Some American children in fact see Santa and his raindeer as a much more important figure than Jesus. Given the media blitz of commrcialism, parents have to work hard to maintain traditions beyond the commercial extravanganza. The Christmas tree of course has European origns, both Celtic and German. It is not entirely clear how the Christmas tree became such an important American tradition, but the combination of the English Victorian influence and the large number of German-Americans must have been key factors. American children diligently take their Christmas lists to Santa Clause. Some now even have computerized lists. Some American children in fact see Santa and his raindeer as a much more important figure than Jesus. Given the media blitz, parents have to work hard to maintain traditions beyound tye commercial extravanganza.
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