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Americans like to celebrate, and holidays are the perfect opportunity to spend time with
friends and family. They are times to remember the rich heritage of the nation, and to look forward
to what lies ahead. Some of these holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and New Years are observed around
the world, others like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July are very unique to the USA.
Ten National Holidays
The US Government proclaims 10 national holidays each year. On these days all government
offices and services are closed, as well as many schools and businesses. These holidays are:
- New Years Day - 1 January
- Martin Luther King Day - Third Monday in January
- Presidents' Day - Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
- Independence Day - 4 July
- Labor Day - First Monday in September
- Colombus Day - Second Monday in October
- Veterans Day - Second Monday in November
- Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day - 25 December
Many of these are distinctly American. Martin Luther King Day is a time to reflect on
the civil rights movement and focus on equality for all people. Independence Day is
a celebration of America's independence in 1776. Thanksgiving Day is a time to remember
the early settlers receiving help to make it through the winter from the native Americans.
and to celebrate all of the blessings that Americans enjoy. For a full description of each of these holidays
including their origin, meaning, and celebration traditions, follow the links to the right.
Religious Holidays
The largest holiday in the USA is Christmas, celebrated on 25 December each year.
This Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ has special meaning
to Christians, and is marked by many activities in churches. Many Non-Christians also
gather on this day to spend the time with family and friends and exchange gifts. As
as result, the weeks leading up to Christmas are the busiest shopping time of the year
for Americans. Similarly, Easter weekend is a time when Christians remember the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. Families spend time together and give gifts to their children. As with
Christmas, many non-Christians enjoy Easter celebrations including Easter Egg hunts.
Other Celebrations
While not official government holidays or religious celebrations, Americans have found many
other days on which they celebrate. Mother's Day in May and Father's Day in June are Sundays
when children honor their parents. Valentine's Day on 14 February is the "holiday of love"
and is a time when Americans show their love for special people in their lives. Giving
flowers and candy is very common among couples, and children exchange cards and candy at school.
In addition, many individuals celebrate Halloween on 31 October. This is a time when
children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for candy.
Learn More About These Days
You can learn much about American culture by reading more about the practices of
Americans during these holidays. Follow the links to the right for a greater
understanding of these celebrations in the USA!
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Overview of American Holidays
This site provides a short description of each American holiday.
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Celebrate! Holidays in the USA
This is a free, 58 page, online booklet produced by the US government.
It explains in depth each American holiday.
You will need Adobe's free Reader
to open this file. Get it now:
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