Holy days usa: Federal Holidays in USA in 2022

U.S. Holidays & Celebrations – U.S. Embassy in Argentina

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the U.S. Capitol building and the Washington Monument during Fourth of July celebrations, on July 4, 2014, in Washington. (AP Photo)

The United States, like other nations, sets aside a number of days each year to commemorate events, people or public occasions. These holidays typically are marked by a general suspension of work and business activity, and by public and/or religious ceremonies.

Technically, the United States does not celebrate national holidays, but Congress has designated 10 “legal public holidays,” during which most federal institutions are closed and most federal employees are excused from work. Although the individual states and private businesses are not required to observe these, in practice all states, and nearly all employers, observe the majority of them.

Since 1971, a number of these have been fixed on Mondays rather than on a particular calendar date so as to afford workers a long holiday weekend.

New Year’s Day (January 1)

Americans celebrate the beginning of a new year at home, with friends, and in gatherings from the Tournament of Roses Parade in California to the giant gathering in New York’s Times Square. Full Text (pdf)

Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. (third Monday in January)

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation establishing a legal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. (born January 15), the 1964 Nobel Peace laureate and the individual most associated with the triumphs of the Civil Rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. By 1999, all 50 states observed the holiday… Full Text

African American History Month

Each February, National African American History Month honors the struggles and triumphs of millions of American citizens over the most devastating obstacles — slavery, prejudice, poverty — as well as their contributions to the nation’s cultural and political life… Full Text

Washington’s Birthday (third Monday in February)

The February 22 birthday of George Washington, military leader of the American Revolution and first president of the United States, has been a legal holiday since 1885. As a number of states also celebrated the February 12 birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president, some legislators advocated combining the two events into a single holiday. The final legislation retained the Washington’s Birthday holiday, but many Americans now call the holiday “Presidents’ Day.” Full Text (pdf)

National Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month – As recently as the 1970’s, women’s history was virtually an unknown topic in the K-12 curriculum or in general public consciousness. To address this situation, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women initiated a “Women’s History Week” celebration for 1978… Full Text

Memorial Day Holiday (last Monday in May)

Beginning after the 1861–65 Civil War, many states observed a May 30 holiday (known as “Decoration Day”) honoring the lives lost in that conflict, often by decorating their graves with flowers. After the First World War, these ceremonies were expanded to include the nation’s war dead in every conflict. All 50 states observe the holiday in honor of those who died defending their nation… Full Text

Independence Day (July 4)

The Independence Day holiday commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The holiday was already widely observed throughout the nation when Congress declared it a federal legal holiday in 1870. Full Text (pdf)

Labor Day (first Monday in September)

First observed in New York City in September 1882, the Labor Day holiday commemorates the contributions of working men and women. In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation establishing the federal holiday. Labor union participation in annual parades remains common, while for many Americans the holiday remarks the unofficial end of summer and beginning of the school year… Full Text

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15)

Hispanic Heritage Month honors the diverse people of Spanish-speaking backgrounds in the United States. From September 15 to October 15, a multitude of special programs, events, exhibits and Web sites celebrate the heritage, culture, spirit and extraordinary contributions of Hispanic Americans… Full Text

Columbus Day (second Monday in October)

This holiday commemorates Christopher Columbus’s first landing in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Beginning in the late 19th century, Italian-Americans began to honor the day as a celebration of their heritage, as Columbus is widely believed to be of Italian origin. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the federal holiday… Full Text

National Native American Heritage Month

What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose… Full Text

Veterans Day (November 11)

The Veterans Day holiday is derived from Armistice Day, commemorating the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918. Congress proclaimed a federal holiday in 1938, and in 1954 changed the holiday’s name to Veterans Day in recognition of those who served during the Second World War and the Korean conflict. Today it recognizes all members of the armed forces, living and dead, who served during times of peace or war. (Memorial Day, by contrast, honors those who gave their lives.) While Veterans Day was among the holidays moved to Mondays beginning in 1971, Congress in 1978 restored the holiday to its original November 11 date. Among the annual ceremonies is one at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington… Full Text

Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November)

A variant of the harvest festivals celebrated in many parts of the world, Thanksgiving is traced to a 1621 feast enjoyed by the English Pilgrims who founded the Plymouth Colony (located in present day Massachusetts) and members of the Wampanoag Indian tribe. In 1863, during the long and bloody civil war, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise. ” Congress made Thanksgiving a legal federal holiday in 1941 and moved the holiday from the last Thursday in November to the fourth Thursday, in hopes of stimulating the economy by lengthening (in some years) the Christmas shopping season. The holiday is the occasion for a large and festive meal, and for expressing thanks for that bounty. Full Text

World AIDS Day (December 1)

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, with an estimated 38.6 million people living with HIV, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history… Full Text

Human Rights Day (December 10)

Human Rights Day marks the U.N. General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948. Full Text

Christmas Day (December 25)

Most Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth on December 25. Before the 19th century, many Americans worked on Christmas, but in the industrial era the holiday also began to honor universal values such as home, children and family life, and to incorporate secular customs like exchanging gifts and cards, and the decoration of evergreen trees. Congress proclaimed Christmas a federal holiday in 1870. In 1999, a federal court acknowledged the secular aspects of Christmas in rejecting a claim that the holiday impermissible endorsed and furthered a particular religious belief… Full Text

USA Public & Private Holidays in 2022 (Full List)

As the fourth largest country in the world, the United States of America’s land area adds up to 9.834 million km², while the population is estimated at 329.45 million.

The environment in the USA varies from subtropical to the Arctic, from moist rainforests to arid deserts, making this the major characteristic of the country.

When are public holidays in the USA?

Date	Weekday	Holiday Name
Jan 1	Sat	New Year’s Day
Jan 7	Fri	Orthodox Christmas Day
Jan 13	Thu	Stephen Foster Memorial Day
Jan 14	Fri	Orthodox New Year
Jan 17	Mon	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 1	Tue	National Freedom Day
Feb 12	Sat	Lincoln’s Birthday
Feb 14	Mon	Valentine’s Day
Feb 21	Mon	Presidents’ Day
Mar 17	Thu	St. Patrick’s Day
Mar 20	Sun	March equinox
Apr 12	Tue	National Library Workers’ Day
Apr 17	Sun	Easter Sunday
Apr 18	Mon	Easter Monday
Apr 18	Mon	Patriot’s Day
Apr 21	Thu	San Jacinto Day
Apr 29	Fri	Arbor Day
May 1	Sun	Law Day
May 1	Sun	Loyalty Day
May 8	Sun	Truman Day
May 8	Sun	Mother’s Day
May 10	Tue	Confederate Memorial Day
May 20	Fri	National Defense Transportation Day
May 21	Sat	Armed Forces Day
May 22	Sun	National Maritime Day
May 30	Mon	Memorial Day
Jun 19	Sun	Father’s Day
Jun 20	Mon	American Eagle Day
Jul 4	Mon	Independence Day
Aug 26	Fri	Women’s Equality Day
Aug 27	Sat	Lyndon Baines Johnson Day
Sep 5	Mon	Labor Day
Sep 22	Thu	September equinox
Oct 10	Mon	Columbus Day
Oct 28	Fri	Nevada Day
Oct 31	Mon	Halloween
Nov 11	Fri	Veterans Day
Nov 24	Thu	Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25	Sun	Christmas Day
Dec 31	Sat	New Year’s Eve

What are the public holidays in the USA?

New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day celebrates the start of the New Year according to the Gregorian Calendar.

Orthodox Christmas
Orthodox Christmas is celebrated on January 7th as the Orthodox Church believes that this was the day Jesus was born. This date is based on the Julian calendar, rather than the Gregorian calendar.

Stephen Foster Memorial Day
Stephen Foster Memorial Day commemorates the day that Foster died. He was known as the “father of American music”, with over 200 compositions that remain popular even today.

Orthodox New Year’s Day
Similar to Orthodox Christmas, the Orthodox New Year is based on the Julian Calendar.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This day is an American federal holiday that honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. He was an advocate in the Civil Rights Movement that took the USA by storm and is a notable figure in American history.

National Freedom Day
The National Freedom Day holiday commemorates the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Lincoln’s Birthday
This day in the USA celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, the country’s 16th president who led the country through the American Civil War.

Presidents’ Day
In the USA, Presidents’ Day was first established to honor the country’s first president George Washington, but now celebrates all past presidents, as well as the current.

St. Patrick’s Day
Observed by the Catholic Church, St. Patrick’s Day commemorates Saint Patrick as well as the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.

Easter
Easter Sunday & Monday commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is celebrated by Christians all over the world.

San Jacinto Day
San Jacinto Day celebrates the Battle of San Jacinto, the final battle of the Texas Revolution in which the state won its independence from Mexico.

Patriots’ Day
Patriots’ Day commemorates the first two battles of the American Revolutionary War; the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Menotomy.

National Library Workers’ Day
This day celebrates Library workers all across the United States.

Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals are encouraged to plant trees and was founded in 1872 in Nebraska.

Truman Day
This state holiday in Missouri honors the legacy of Harry S. Truman, the former US President who was the only elected president from the state.

Confederate Memorial Day
This holiday honors the Confederate soldiers who died or were wounded during the American Civil War.

Armed Forces Day
The Armed Forces Day honors the men and women who served in the American Military.

Independence Day
The American Independence Day commemorates the country’s declaration of independence on this day in 1776.

Lyndon B. Johnson Day
This Texan state holiday honors Lyndon B. Johnson, the former US president who succeeded John F. Kennedy.

Labor Day
Labor Day in the USA is a public holiday that honors the American labor movement.

Columbus Day
Columbus Day in the USA honors Christopher Columbus and commemorates the day Columbus set foot in the Americas.

Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a federal holiday that honors all military veterans who served the country.

Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is dedicated to giving thanks for the autumn harvest.

Christmas Day
Christmas Day commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, differing from Orthodox Christmas that follows the Julian calendar.

New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is celebrated on the 31st of December, marking the end of the year in the Gregorian calendar.

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2021-12-23T15:30:18+04:00

Holidays and traditions: Holidays in the USA

Holiday every day

Wherever we are, no matter what language we consider native, our soul always wants a holiday. And there’s nothing you can do about it – you have to celebrate!

After all, it is so easy to arrange a holiday for yourself, especially since there are plenty of reasons for this. About what the inhabitants of the United States of America celebrate and will be discussed in our article.

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US public holidays

US residents “share” with other countries and peoples three national holidays: Easter, Christmas and New Year.

Easter

It is celebrated on one of the Sundays of spring. Its exact date is established from the ratio of the solar and lunar calendars. This Christian holiday embodies faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

For Christians, Easter is a day of religious worship and family unity. Many Americans follow old traditions: they dye hard-boiled eggs and give baskets of sweets to children. The next day, Easter Monday, the President of the United States hosts a traditional Easter egg hunt for children on the White House lawn.

Christmas (Xmas)

The Christian holiday of Christmas is celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of the Christ Child. Homes and streets are decorated with holiday lights, Christmas trees are planted, presents are given, greeting cards are sent out, and it has become a tradition for many non-Christian Americans.

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day, of course, is celebrated on the first of January. The celebration of this event begins on the evening of December 31st, , when Americans come together to wish each other happiness and success in the coming year.

US “own” holidays

The following eight holidays are exclusively American (although some of them have analogues in other countries).

Two of them are of particular importance to most US residents, as they are an occasion to pay tribute to the national roots of Americans. These are Thanksgiving and Independence Day, the Fourth of July.

Thanksgiving Day

Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. However, many Americans take the following Friday off as well so that the celebration lasts four days in a row. During these four days they can visit distant relatives and friends.

The holiday began to be celebrated in 1621, a year after the first Puritans landed in the new land (today Massachusetts) in the hope of freely practicing their religion, persecuted in the Old World.

Independence Day, the Fourth of July

Fourth of July is the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the country’s birthday. On this day, it is customary to hold picnics and patriotic parades, and in the evening – concerts and fireworks. On the 4th of July, the American flag is hoisted (as on Memorial Day). The bicentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, held on July 4, 1976, was marked by grand celebrations throughout the country.

In addition to Thanksgiving and Independence Day, there are six typical American holidays in the United States.

Martin Luther King Day

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was an African American minister. He is considered a great son of the American people thanks to the efforts that he made in the field of peaceful struggle for the rights of all people on earth. After the tragic assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, a memorial service was held on January 15 of each year, on his birthday. At 19In 86, this ceremony was moved to the third Monday of January, which was declared a national holiday.

Presidents’ Day

Until the mid-70s of the XX century, the birthday of George Washington, the hero of the Revolutionary War and the first president of the United States, February 22, was a national holiday. In addition, February 12, the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (US President during the Civil War), was also a public holiday in most states. These two days were combined and the holiday was extended to the people could pay tribute to all the presidents of the past. It is celebrated on the third Monday of February.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day; is celebrated on the fourth Monday in May. Despite the fact that the tradition of celebrating Memorial Day arose after the civil war, it is customary to commemorate the dead in all wars, as well as all the dead, on this day; memorial services are held in cemeteries, churches and other public places on this day in memory of those who are no longer there.

Labor Day

The holiday is celebrated on the first Monday in September. On this day, the working people are glorified, solemn parades are held. For most Americans, Labor Day marks the end of the holiday season; for students, it marks the beginning of the school year.

Columbus Day

On October 12, 1492, the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed on the shores of the New World. And although most countries in North and South America celebrate this event on October 12, in the USA this holiday is held on the second Monday of October.

Veterans Day

Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to honor Americans who served in the First World War.

It is celebrated on November 11, the day the war ended in 1918. But now on this day honors veterans of every war the United States has fought in.

Veterans organizations hold parades and the President traditionally lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

Unofficial holidays

Not being official holidays, two more days are celebrated everywhere in the USA.

Every year on February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day (early Christian martyr) Saint Valentine’s Day , Americans give gifts to their loved ones – usually flowers or candy.

On October 31st, Halloween – Halloween (the evening before All Saints’ Day), American children dress up in funny and scary costumes and go begging for sweets from their neighbors. In response to the question “Trick or treat?” (“Trick or Treat?”, “Trick or Treat?”) Neighbors should reward children with sweets or small coins.

Ethnic minority holidays

Various ethnic groups in the United States celebrate their own holidays. Although not official, these holidays are of great importance for ethnic minorities.

For example, Jewish Americans celebrate the Jewish New Year for several days in September. Most employers are sympathetic to this tradition, allowing their employees, who have Jewish roots, not to go to work during the holiday.

St. Patrick’s Day in the USA

Americans of Irish ancestry celebrate Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick, on March 17th. This day is marked by universal enthusiasm: many Americans wear green clothes in honor of the “Emerald Isle”.

The Mardi Gras celebration – the day before Lent, which begins at the end of winter – takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is quite a high-profile event, with grandiose parades and wild festivities. As the French name for this festival suggests, (and Mardi Gras in French means “Fat Tuesday”, the last day when you can eat plenty before a long penitential fast), the tradition of holding it dates back to the first settlements of the French colonists.

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

There are many such ethnic holidays in the USA, and New York is especially rich in them.

US National Holidays – 2015

US Holiday Story in English:

Americans share three national holidays with many countries: Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Easter , which falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, depending on the solar and the lunar calendars, celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions of coloring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candy. On the next day, Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn for young children.

Christmas Day , December 25, is another Christian holiday; it marks the birth of the Christ Child. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become traditions even for many non-Christian Americans.

New Year’s Day , of course, is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year.

UNIQUELY AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

Eight other holidays are uniquely American (although some of them have counterparts in other nations). For most Americans, two of these stand out above the others as occasions to cherish national origins: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.

Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, but many Americans take a day of vacation on the following Friday to make a four-day weekend, during which they may travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after the Puritans arrived in Massachusetts, determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference.

The Fourth of July , or Independence Day , honors the nation’s birthday — the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks. The flying of the American flag (which also occurs on Memorial Day) is widespread. On July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was marked by grand festivals across the nation.

Besides Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July, there are six other uniquely American holidays.

Martin Luther King Day : The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American clergyman, is considered a great American because of his tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means. Since his assassination in 1968, memorial services have marked his birthday on January 15. In 1986, that day was replaced by the third Monday of January, which was declared a national holiday.

Presidents’ Day : Until the mid-1970s, the February 22 birthday of George Washington, hero of the Revolutionary War and first president of the United States, was a national holiday. In addition, the February 12 birthday of Abraham Lincoln, the president during the Civil War, was a holiday in most states. The two days have been joined, and the holiday has been expanded to embrace all past presidents. It is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

Memorial Day : Celebrated on the fourth Monday of May, this holiday honors the dead. Although it originated in the aftermath of the Civil War, it has become a day on which the dead of all wars, and the dead generally, are remembered in special programs held in cemeteries, churches, and other public meeting places.

Labor Day : The first Monday of September, this holiday honors the nation’s working people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer vacation season, and for many students the opening of the school year.

Columbus Day : On October 12, 1492, Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. Although most other nations of the Americas observe this holiday on October 12, in the United States it takes place on the second Monday in October.

Veterans Day : Originally called Armistice Day, this holiday was established to honor Americans who had served in World War I. It falls on November 11, the day when that war ended in 1918, but it now honors veterans of all wars in which the United States has fought. Veterans’ organizations hold parades, and the president customarily places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

OTHER CELEBRATIONS

While not holidays, two other days of the year inspire colorful celebrations in the United States. On February 14, Saint Valentine’s Day, (named after an early Christian martyr), Americans give presents, usually candy or flowers, to the ones they love. On October 31, Halloween (the evening before All Saints or All Hallows Day), American children dress up in funny or scary costumes and go “trick or treating”: knocking on doors in their neighborhood. The neighbors are expected to respond by giving them small gifts of candy or money. Adults may also dress in costume for Halloween parties.

Various ethnic groups in the United States celebrate days with special meaning to them even though these are not national holidays.

Jews, for example, observe their high holy days in September, and most employers show consideration by allowing them to take these days off.

Irish Americans celebrate the old country’s patron saint, St. Patrick, on March 17; this is a high-spirited day on which many Americans wear green clothing in honor of the “Emerald Isle.”

The celebration of Mardi Gras — the day before the Christian season of Lent begins in late winter – is a big occasion in New Orleans, Louisiana, where huge parades and wild revels take place. As its French name implies (Mardi Gras means “Fat Tuesday,” the last day of hearty eating before the penitential season of Lent), the tradition goes back to the city’s settlement by French immigrants.

There are many other such ethnic celebrations in the United Sates, and New York City is particularly rich in them.

Strange and merry holidays

In addition to major and important holidays, the United States celebrates both less important and much less serious ones. We will talk about twelve of them later in the article.

Fruitcake Toss Day

Celebrated on January 3rd. This is your chance to finally throw away your old New Year’s Eve fruit cake!

National Hugging Day

Celebrated on January 21st. What a wonderful day! Hug your neighbor and he will hug you back. Everyone should be hugged: acquaintances, strangers, loved ones and not so much. And people will come to you!

Groundhog’s Day

Celebrated on February 2nd. According to an old legend, on this day in the middle of winter, the groundhog wakes up after a long winter sleep, crawls out of its mink and looks at its own shadow. If the morning is sunny, the groundhog sees her and goes back to sleep in her hole – and then the winter will last another six weeks. If there are clouds in the sky and the groundhog cannot see his shadow on the ground (he does not immediately return to the mink, but plays in front of it for some time), spring is just around the corner.

The event has been celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania since 1887.

Groundhog’s Day in the USA

Employee Appreciation Day

Celebrated on the first Friday in March. Heads of firms and all kinds of organizations should treat their employees and give them small gifts. But don’t expect a break! Although what the hell is not joking …

April Fool’s Day

It is celebrated … right, April 1st. Do not miss the opportunity to play your neighbor! The more strange and unexpected the joke is, the higher the karma bonuses. But it’s better not to play your boss, otherwise you definitely won’t wait for the Day of Honoring the Hired Employee.

Star Wars Day

This holiday is celebrated on the 4th of May. And it appeared as a result of a translator’s error.

As you know, the slogan of this fantastic blockbuster is “May the Force be with you!” (“May the Force be with you!”).

An error occurred in 2005 on the live broadcast of one of the German TV channels when translating this proverb into German. The translator mistook the phrase May the Force… (“May the Force be”) for May the fourth … (“fourth of May”), and translated the slogan as “We will be with you on May 4th!”. This is what the fans of the epic took advantage of as an occasion for the establishment of a new holiday in early May.

Holidays celebrated in the USA

Hug Your Cat Day

Celebrated on June 4th. Don’t be shy – give your cat a good hug!

For lovers of cats and cats, this is “. .. just some kind of holiday”! And for those who love dogs more, it is recommended to get a kitten as soon as possible. And hug him all day!

Compliment Your Mirror Day

Celebrated on July 3rd. All you have to do is… Stand in front of a mirror with your eyes closed. smile. And open your eyes! Isn’t what you see in the mirror perfection itself? So praise your mirror for such a beautiful reflection!

Lazy Day

Celebrated on August 10th. They say: “There are no lazy days … there are lazy people” … But someone did not agree and established the “Lazy Saint’s Day”!

As the name implies, you should never work on this day. Spend this day of the outgoing summer at your favorite dacha, in a hammock… Or on the beach, in a sun lounger… The main thing is not at work, in a wheelchair.

Be Late For Something Day

Celebrated on September 5th. A wonderful day for those who like to endure and postpone everything. And also those who do everything at the last minute and do not consider it expedient to arrive on time (after all, rather than waiting for a latecomer, it is better to be late yourself!). This is your day!

For the punctual half (third? quarter?) of humanity, this day is a great excuse to relax, “let off steam” and be late for something. Look and you’ll like it.

Boss’s Day

Celebrated on October 16th. On boss day, you can tell your boss what you think of him. If you dare. Or get back at him for Employee Day. If he never gave you the day off.

The boss does not yell, he tactfully points out flaws

National Egg Nog Day

Celebrated on December 24 – the eve of Christmas! This is the day of the most traditional winter drink in the USA. In what is called the “spirit of Christmas” there is also a cinnamon-rum note of eggnog. Prepare it for yourself and your family! And Happy New Year!

We hope we managed to list all the most famous holidays in the USA.

What American holidays and interesting traditions do you know? Share with us in the comments!

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Read also:

Traturation in the USA and Canada

Feasts in the UK

Such interesting English traditions and customs

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Independence Day

• When is celebrated: July 4th.

This is one of the most important days of the year, a peculiar birth of the USA as a free state. And it happened in 1776, when the Second Continental Congress declared its independence from the British crown.

Traditional independence parades take place in every town in America. Photo: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock

Today, the Fourth of July, as they call it in the US, is a celebration of everything American: from hot dogs and country music to freedom of choice and self-expression.

Americans spend the day with family and friends, enjoying parades and outdoor activities. Weather permitting, people have barbecues in backyards and picnics in parks, and in the evening everyone watches fireworks. American flags are flying everywhere, and shops sell products in national colors.

New York Hot Dog Eating Championship

Every year on July 4th, Nathan’s Famous hosts a Speed ​​Hot Dog Eating Championship. In 10 minutes, participants must eat as many American sausages in the dough as possible. Spectators stand in close proximity to the eaters and actively get sick. Since 2007, winners have received cash prizes and championship belts.

Halloween

• Celebration time: October 31st.

Although Halloween is not a national holiday in the US, it is very popular throughout the country. It was brought here by Irish settlers celebrating the night before All Saints Day. This Catholic holiday is dedicated to the souls that have not reached heaven, and the transience of life. Perhaps that is why the skull became its main symbol, and later other “attributes of death.”

Most Halloween decorations look adorable, but there are some really creepy ones. Photo: Masterpics / Shutterstock

These days, the focus of Halloween celebrations is on scary costumes and themed parties. And the pumpkin is considered the main modern symbol of the holiday. Carved pumpkins, the so-called lanterns, adorn thresholds, window sills, lawns and porches.

Americans take Halloween decor seriously: they spend a lot of time thinking up creative costumes and decor. Even shop windows during the celebration are overgrown with cobwebs and sparkle with skeletons.

Since the beginning of October, all shops and restaurants have turned into a den of witches, bats and other evil spirits. Photo: PeterPhoto123 / Shutterstock

The house’s decorated doorstep means that dressed-up children can knock on the door and demand the traditional treat of candy. Therefore, adult Americans prepare a bowl of sweets in advance and distribute them during the evening or simply leave them on the porch so that younger guests can scoop up a handful.

Thanksgiving Day

• When is the holiday: the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving is originally a holiday based on the tradition of thanking God for a good harvest. According to legend, it originated in 1621, when the first settlers from England and the natives of America got together to celebrate the first harvest.

Today, the holiday has become a civil holiday: on this day, Americans thank their relatives and friends for all the good things. For this, families and friends gather under one roof and prepare a traditional dinner.

Includes roast turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie and other seasonal items. It is also customary to put fruit plates and vases with autumn leaves and flowers on the table as a symbol of diversity and abundance. Before the meal, Americans thank the year for all the good things that have happened.

Macy’s parade balloon in the form of a traditional turkey. Photo: gary718 / Shutterstock

The eve of Thanksgiving is usually celebrated with festive food and TV: some people prefer the football game, and some prefer the themed parade organized annually by the Macy’s supermarket chain in New York. The main attraction of the parade are inflatable toys that are carried from Central Park to the entrance to the department store across from Herald Square.

Christmas

• When they celebrate: December 25th.

Although Christmas is celebrated in many Christian countries around the world, Americans have come up with their own original traditions. Houses are decorated with mistletoe, garlands, Christmas trees and Christmas wreaths. In the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans are actively buying gifts and doing charity work.

More religious citizens go to midnight mass on the eve of the holiday. At the same time, there is still a tradition to hang socks over the mantel for Santa Claus to put gifts there. Most children believe that Santa will come down the chimney, so they leave milk and cookies nearby for him and carrots for the fairy tale reindeer.

Church somewhere in the suburbs of America.

On Christmas morning, adults and children unwrap presents and spend the day with the family, such as watching American classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and A Charlie Brown Christmas, or walking around the neighborhood. Roast turkey or ham is served for a festive dinner, but in general the menu varies by state.

This is what Christmas looks like in Florida.

Since representatives of different faiths live in the USA, at the end of the year they also celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, an African-American festival that lasts from December 26 to January 1 and includes various celebrations.

New Year

• When is celebrated: December 31 and January 1.

New Year in the USA is in second place after Christmas, and they celebrate it differently. Christmas is a family holiday, and New Year is a public holiday. On New Year’s Eve, it is customary to go to parties, meet friends and have fun in the crowd.

Some American New Year traditions are similar to Russian ones. For example, watch fireworks, drink champagne, exchange kisses, hugs and gifts.

New York’s main New Year tree stands at Rockefeller Center and the whole city comes to watch its official “ignition”. Photo: Diego Mariottini / Shutterstock

A unique American New Year’s tradition is the ball drop ceremony. This event takes place in New York in Times Square. The Waterford Crystal is lowered from the One Times Square skyscraper. With the last stroke of the clock, the ball touches the ground. This ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a new year.

The same ceremonial ball at the top of the skyscraper. Photo: Pit Stock / Shutterstock

In the southern states, “Jumping John” is considered the main New Year’s dish. It is an appetizer of black-eyed peas, rice, chopped onion and bacon seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. “Jumping John” is eaten on January 1st so that the coming year will bring good luck and wealth.

The leftovers from this dish are called Jumping Jenny. They symbolize the diligence of the owners. Eating a piece of Jumping Jenny is a doubly successful year.

Groundhog Day

• When is the holiday: February 2nd.

Groundhog Day is well known to film lovers thanks to the eponymous comedy melodrama with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. It is believed that the tradition of determining the upcoming weather by the behavior of the animal originated in ancient Rome. But in those days, the meteorological forecast was based on the behavior of the hedgehog.

This custom was brought to the USA by immigrants from Germany, but since there were no hedgehogs in North America, the marmot began to perform the functions of a meteorologist.

All over America you can find these funny statues dedicated to the little weather forecaster. Photo: Mark Van Scyoc / Shutterstock

The essence of the holiday is to watch the groundhog leave its hole. On a cloudy day, the groundhog does not see his shadow and appears on the surface. This means the imminent arrival of spring. On a sunny day, the groundhog is frightened by the shadow and hides in a hole. This means that there are still six weeks of winter ahead.

Groundhog Day festivals are held in several US cities, tourists come to see the “weather forecast” with their own eyes.

Valentine’s Day

• When is the holiday: February 14th.

Valentine’s Day in the USA is primarily a big event at school. In primary school, children exchange valentines, and it is important to prepare a postcard for each child, and not just for an object of sympathy, as is customary in Russia. Children even make special boxes where classmates can put their valentines.

American students congratulate their teachers on this day. It is customary to give chocolate, flowers and small gifts. Adult people give cards, sweets and other sweets not only to their halves, but also to friends or parents. On holiday cards, they leave short pleasant messages, like “You are the best mom.”

Do you remember when we made postcards for mothers on March 8 during labor lessons at school? It’s almost the same here, only on February 14th.

Traditional holiday sweets – sweethearts or conservation hearts. Although chocolates are no less popular on this day.

There are no compulsory activities for adults on Valentine’s Day. It’s common to go to a restaurant with your loved one, but you can also just eat pizza at your favorite pizzeria. The main thing is to do what you love. But where to go on Valentine’s Day, you can read in the blog.

National Donut Day

This holiday is celebrated on the first Friday of June. It is believed to have originated in 1938 when members of the Salvation Army handed out donuts to soldiers during World War I. The female volunteers who carried out this tasty mission were nicknamed Donut Dollies (“Donut Dolls”). These days, Dunkin’ Donuts treats everyone to free donuts.

President’s Day

• When is celebrated: the third Monday in February.

President’s Day is a national holiday in the United States. Its history is connected with the first popularly elected president, George Washington. Therefore, the holiday is called Washington’s birthday in a different way.

Part of the dome of the Capitol in Washington.

On the holiday, all schools have a special history lesson where they talk about two significant US presidents – George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

There are many holidays in the USA, from national to local ones. It is interesting that Americans adhere to their own traditions when celebrating international events. And it’s cool that, in addition to public holidays, they don’t pass by National Donut Day or Groundhog Day.

Fly, celebrate, relax

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