美国传统节日与文化

December 25th is Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus. The name Christmas is short for “Christ‟s Mass”．A Mass is a kind of Church service．Christmas is a religious festival. It is the day we celebrate as the birthday of Jesus. Exchanging gifts and sending Christmas cards are the traditional ways of celebrating the Christmas In the world． Christmas Eve（Silent Night）, December 24, the night before Christmas celebrates on December 25 The biggest festival in the Christian countries
The last Monday in May is Memorial Day. Since 1868, this federal holiday people honor the Union Civil War soldiers who died.
Flag Day on June 14th is the anniversary of the American flath of the year has something special to celebrate in the U.S. Throughout the years, the U.S.Congress has passed laws declaring special days as official observances known as federal holidays. Each federal holiday represents a day when federal employees and many other workers have a paid day off from their jobs. There are some holidays Americans celebrate that are not federal holidays but they are very popular.
jack-o-lantern
Thanksgiving Day is the 4th Thursday in November and a federal holiday. It is a unique American festival, which started in 1621. In1863, President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as a national holiday of Thanksgiving. Finally in 1941, congress declared that the holiday would be celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in November.
Labor Day It honors all working people in the U.S. and Canada. It began with a New York City parade in 1882. Now it is celebrated on the first Monday in September.
Abraham · Lincoln is the US Civil War„s leader. He kept our country together during the Civil War when the Southern states wanted to form a separate country. Lincoln freed the slaves with the Emancipation Proclamation. His birthday date, Feb 12th is the Federal holiday in 24 states except the south 26 states. Saint Valentine's Day, also called Valentine‟s day. We Chinese know about it very well. But it started in EU firstly. Americans call George Washington "the father of United State of America“, because he was the American General in the Revolutionary War who led the Americans to victory against England. After this he was elected as the first president.
American Holidays
Jan. 1st New Year's Day 3rd Mon in Jan Martin Luther King Day (马丁路德金纪念日) Feb. 12th Lincoln's Birthday(林肯纪念日) Feb.14th St. Valentine's Day Feb 18th Washington's Birthday(华盛顿诞辰日) Mar. 17th St. Patrick's Day(圣帕特里克节) Apr.1st All Fool's Day/ April Fool's Easter (复活节，日期由Nicaea尼西亚宗教会议决定，每年都不同， 3月底到4月头） The 2nd Friday in May Arbor Day（植树节,各州不一） The 2nd Sunday in May Mother's Day
On July 4, 1776, John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, well-known patriots, declared the independence of the thirteen American colonies from Great Britain. This holiday is considered the `birthday of the United States of America.' It is the greatest non-religious holiday in U.S. Americans celebrate with fireworks and parades.
It is not a federal holiday. People display flags outside their homes and in their communities.
The Fourth of July is a very important holiday in the U.S, “American National Day”.
American Holidays
Last Mon in May Memorial Day（阵亡将士纪念日） June 14th Flag Day(国旗日) The 3rd Sunday in June Father's Day July 4th Independence Day The 1st Monday in Sept Labor Day Oct 12th Columbus Day（哥伦布日） The 4th Monday in Oct. Veteran‘s Day（退伍军人日） Oct 31st Halloween Last Thursday in Nov Thanksgiving Day Dec.25th Christmas
October 31st is Halloween. Children in costumes go from house to house saying "trick or treat." The treat is candies and tricks are rarely done. A common symbol of Halloween is the jack-o-lantern, which is carved out of a pumpkin.
On the third Monday in January, Americans celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday as a federal holiday. Martin Luther King, Jr. worked to change laws so that all people in the U.S. would be treated fairly. He worked for change in the 1950s and 60s when many states had laws separating black and white people. He taught people to use peaceful demonstrations to change laws, instead of violence. Many laws were changed because of his work. And many people worked with him in the hope that the U.S. could be a fair country for all people.
The 2nd Monday of October is Columbus Day, celebrating the historic trip of Christopher Columbus found Americas in 1492. Because Columbus was Italian, this federal holiday is especially important to Italian-Americans.
Lincoln Memorial Hall
Washington Monument
March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. This holiday comes from Ireland. People wear 3-leaf shamrocks because St. Patrick used them to preach the Christian Trinity. He was killed by the heathens because of this. Many people celebrate this holiday by wearing shamrocks or green clothing in honor of St. Patrick.
Easter is a Christian holiday which is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the U.S., people attend religious services and family gatherings like picnics. Children hit colored eggs.