New Year's Day
New Year's Day is a major holiday celebrated unanimously in all states across the United States. Americans celebrate New Year's Day with the most excitement on the night before New Year's Day. Late at night, people gather in churches, streets, or squares to sing, pray, bless, confess, and join in welcoming that moment of renewal. At 12:00 midnight, church bells across the country ring out and bands play the famous nostalgic song "Safe Journey". Amidst the music, excited people embraced, ushering in the new year together with the sadness of farewell and the desire for a new life***.
New Year's in the United States is not the most lively holiday, but there are still a lot of grand celebrations, the California Rose Society is the largest New Year's Eve pageant in the United States, when the flowers, especially roses tied into the colorful car stretches for miles, the car full of flowers to do a variety of models, not only to attract the men and women of California, young and old people flocked to the streets, and also attracted millions of television viewers. In Philadelphia, there is a tradition of a costume parade in which people, some dressed as clowns, some dressed as women (in accordance with ancient customs, this parade does not allow women to participate), singing and dancing along with the colorful car, lively and extraordinary.
Americans also have an interesting habit of making New Year's resolutions, which they call "New Year's Resolutions". These resolutions are usually not grandiose, but rather simple and practical intentions, such as "I will quit smoking", "I will treat my neighbors well" and so on. They always speak frankly to everyone in order to be monitored and encouraged.
It is said that American Indians also have a unique New Year's custom. On New Year's Eve, they hold a characteristic bonfire party, where families gather around the bonfire and sing and dance. When the morning dew, they will put the old clothes to the torch, as a symbol of the old and welcome the new.
February 18 Washington's Birthday
George Washington is forever remembered by the American people as a founding father and the first president of the United States, and February 22, the date of his birth, is an official holiday in all states of the United States.
Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Virginia. In his early years, he served in the British colonial army, and was promoted to colonel in the 1756-63 Franco-British Seven Years' War for meritorious service. 1775-81, during the War of Independence, he was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, and led the colonial people in a bloody battle, forcing Britain to formally recognize the independence of the U.S.A. In 1789, Washington was elected as the first President of the United States, and was elected to serve for two consecutive terms. During his term of office, he made great contributions to the consolidation of the newborn nation. The U.S. Supreme Court, the State Department, the Treasury Department, and other important government agencies were established during Washington's administration. 1797, Washington retired from office, and played a decisive role in the establishment of a presidential cabinet system for the U.S., and the abolition of the hereditary system. 1799 December 14th, Washington died of illness.
Before American independence, people celebrated the birth of the British king every year. After independence was declared, the American people turned to celebrating General Washington's birthday. The custom began in 1778. Washington was leading an army to hold Fort Vallee at the time, and an artillery band serenaded him on his birthday. Washington's Birthday has become a legal holiday in all states of the Union, when it is common for all states to hold solemn public ceremonies, grand banquets and other celebrations. Americans on this day also like to eat cherry pie, play paper axe, this custom comes from Washington's axe when he was a child to cut down the cherry tree to his father after the story of honesty.
May *** Day Memorial Day (Memorial Day) (the last Monday in May)
Memorial Day is the United States most of the states to commemorate the holiday, the time of the original May 30, after 1971, in order to ensure that federal employees are able to enjoy this day of rest, many states will be changed to the last Monday in May.
The U.S. Civil War saw countless soldiers killed in action. At the end of the war, many families in the South began to honor the fallen soldiers of the war. They did not distinguish between North and South, in the spring to the graves of the dead on both sides of the flowers, northerners were y moved by this, the action as a symbol of national unity. 1868, May 30 this day was officially approved as a day to honor the soldiers who died in defense of the motherland and the heroic flowers.
After World War I, people began to pay tribute to all war dead on Memorial Day, which later evolved into a general family memorial service for departed loved ones. Today it has become a common day of mourning, very similar to the Qingming Festival in China.
Every Memorial Day, U.S. active-duty military personnel and veterans will form a long line to the cemetery, firing a gun to the fallen soldiers, blowing the lights out in the military so that the dead soldiers rest in peace.
Independence Day, the U.S. national holiday, is celebrated on July 4 to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the July 4, 1776 Continental Congress.
The Declaration of Independence was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and signed into law on July 4, 1776 by John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. The Declaration of Independence sets forth that all men are created equal and have the natural right to pursue happiness and liberty, and that government derives its power from the people; counts the crimes of the British colonization of the 13 states of North America; and concludes with a solemn declaration of the independence of the United States of America from Great Britain. Since then, the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence has become a holiday forever commemorated by the American people.
Early Independence Day celebrations were dominated by parades and speeches, and later by outdoor activities, sports competitions, and other events. The lighting of firecrackers and fireworks was once very popular, but was canceled after the 20th century to prevent fires and other dangers.
Today, Independence Day is a rather lively festival in the United States. On this day, church bells of all sizes ring out across the country, with the Philadelphia Liberty Bell ringing first. Residents everywhere hold spontaneous celebratory parades, with all kinds of colorful cars, small bands and joyful crowds lining up in vast processions, a spectacular sight.
September *** Labor Day (the first Monday in September)
Labor Day is a national holiday in the United States, the first Monday in September, a day off to show respect for labor.
In 1882, Peter McGuire, president of the Brotherhood of Carpenters of America, first proposed a Labor Day. In the same year, the Knights of Labor adopted the same decision and held a celebratory parade in New York City. 1884, the Knights of Labor further decided to hold a parade and other celebratory activities on Labor Day every year.
In February 1887, Oregon was the first state to pass legislation establishing Labor Day as a legal holiday, followed by the Carolinas, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, all of which passed the same legislation, all of which set the date of Labor Day as the first Monday in September. 1894, the U.S. Congress formally declared Labor Day a national holiday.
OCTOBER 12 COLUMBUS DAY
Columbus Day is observed on October 12 or the second Monday in October to commemorate the first landing of Christopher Columbus on the American continent in 1492.
Christopher Columbus was an Italian navigator born in Genoa who moved to Portugal in 1476. He believed in the geocircle theory, that from the Atlantic coast of Europe, westward, can reach the East. 1492 October, Columbus led three ships, sailors 87 people, across the Atlantic Ocean, arrived in the Bahamas in the island of San Salvador, became the first person in the West to discover the American new continent. 1493, 1498, 1502, he sailed to the American continent coast three times to carry out field research. But until his death, he mistakenly thought that the American continent he reached was India, so he called the local residents "Indians".
Columbus Day was first observed in the United States in 1792. It was the 300th anniversary of Columbus' arrival in the Americas, and the Tammany Society of New York City initiated the commemorative activities. 1893, Chicago organized the Columbus Exhibition, and again held a grand commemorative activities. Since then, most states in the U.S. have held annual parades, church services and school programs to commemorate this historic day.
October *** Veterans Day (fourth Monday in October)
The fourth Monday in October is Veterans Day. It is a national holiday in the United States to honor veterans of all wars.
Veterans Day evolved from Armistice Day of World War I, which was originally celebrated on Nov. 11. After World War I ended in 1919, Americans celebrated it every year as usual. But things have changed, to 1953, people's enthusiasm to celebrate has been significantly reduced. 1954 June 1, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an act of Congress, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day, the significance of the commemoration of the expansion of the significance of the honor to all veterans. Every day since then, the President of the United States and the governors of all states have proclaimed a day to honor all U.S. veterans and to remember their service during the war. On this day, flags waved everywhere and veterans rallied to march. In Washington's Arlington National Cemetery in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, people also held a variety of commemorative activities, in the eyes of Americans, the Unknown Soldier symbolizes all the soldiers who died in defense of the country.
In 1968, the U.S. Congress passed the Sunday Holiday Act, which moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October so that people could spend the three-day weekend. The legislation went into effect in 1971, and most U.S. states have adopted this date for Veterans Day.
November *** Thanksgiving Day (last Thursday in November)
The fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving Day is an ancient holiday created by the American people, and it is also a holiday for Americans to get together with their families, so Americans always feel more affectionate when they mention Thanksgiving Day.
The origin of Thanksgiving Day goes all the way back to the beginning of American history. 1620, the famous "Mayflower" ship full of 102 people who couldn't stand the religious persecution of the Puritans in England arrived in America. 1620 and the winter of 1621, they encountered unimaginable difficulties in the middle of hunger and cold. By the end of the winter, only 50 or so of the settlers had survived. At this time, the kind-hearted Indians sent the necessities of life to the immigrants, and specially sent people to teach them how to hunt, fish and plant corn and pumpkins. With the help of the Indians, the immigrants finally got a good harvest, and on the day of celebrating the harvest, in accordance with traditional religious customs, the immigrants set a day to thank God and decided to invite the Indians to celebrate the holiday together in order to thank them for their sincere help.
On the first Thanksgiving Day, the Indians and the settlers gathered together, fired a salute at dawn, marched in procession into a house used as a church, expressed their thanks to God in reverence, and then lit a bonfire and held a great feast. On the second and third days there were wrestling, races, singing and dancing. The first Thanksgiving was a great success. Many of these celebrations have been passed down for more than 300 years and remain to this day.
In the beginning there was no set date for Thanksgiving, it was decided on an ad hoc basis by the states, and it was not until after the independence of the United States that Thanksgiving became a national holiday.
Every Thanksgiving Day, the United States up and down the country is very lively, people in accordance with the custom to go to church to do thanksgiving prayers, urban and rural cities and towns everywhere in costume parades, theater performances or sports competitions. The family will also return from all over the world to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving turkey.
Thanksgiving food is rich in tradition. The turkey is the traditional main dish of Thanksgiving, usually stuffed with various seasonings and mixed foods, then roasted whole and cut into thin slices by the host with a knife and distributed to everyone. In addition, traditional Thanksgiving foods include sweet yams, corn, pumpkin pie, and cranberry moss seed jam.
After the Thanksgiving feast, people sometimes do some traditional games, such as the Pumpkin Race, in which the contestant pushes the pumpkin with a small spoon; the rule is that you can't touch the pumpkin with your hands, and the one who reaches the finish line first wins. The smaller the spoon, the more fun the game.
For many years, the custom of celebrating Thanksgiving has been passed down from generation to generation, whether on the rocky West Coast or in scenic Hawaii, people celebrate Thanksgiving in almost the same way, and Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday celebrated by Americans regardless of faith or ethnicity.
December 25 Christmas
December 25 Christmas is the biggest and most festive holiday in the United States. It can be said that since Thanksgiving, Americans have been busy for Christmas.
Many of the customs of Christmas come from Biblical legends. According to the saying that Jesus was born at night, Christmas celebrations begin on the night of Dec. 24 and culminate at midnight, which is known as Christmas Eve. Americans usually hold celebrations or all night long. Some of them gathered in taverns, dance halls, clubs to have fun; some family **** into a sumptuous dinner, and then sit around the fireplace to enjoy the joy of heaven; there are those devout believers in the brightly lit church, to participate in the midnight service to commemorate the birth of Jesus.
The most interesting event on Christmas Eve is the "Annunciation," which symbolizes the angels reporting the birth of Christ to the shepherds on the outskirts of Bethlehem. As the night wore on, the church choir went from house to house, singing carols in front of the congregation's homes. The family then came out to join the chorus. After the singing, the host invited everyone into the house and served them with refreshments. After a few laughs, the choir then goes to other people's homes to sing, and the host's family often accompanies them, and the "good news" procession grows larger and larger as they sing from house to house, increasing the joyful atmosphere, often lasting until dawn.
The most typical decoration at Christmas is the Christmas tree, which is decorated with gifts and lights on a small fir or pine tree, topped by a large star. These decorations are symbolic, with the colored lights on the tree symbolizing Jesus bringing light to the world, and the large star at the top of the tree representing the star that led the three Eastern Magi to Bethlehem after Jesus' birth. In addition to Christmas trees, holly and salvia are also common decorations at Christmas. Americans often make wreaths of holly boughs to hang on their front doors or place a few sprigs of holly on the dining room table as a holiday decoration. Other families hang bunches of salvia on doorframes or ceilings, and according to tradition, anyone can kiss a woman who stands under the salvia at Christmas. Naughty boys often deliberately lure a girl under the salvia and give her a justified kiss.
Christmas is so highly regarded in the United States that people find it hard to imagine that their ancestors once banned it. The English Puritans, persecuted by the British state religion, came all the way to the New World, and they were so disgusted with its perversions that they opposed everything it practiced, and therefore banned the celebration of Christmas. They imposed a fine on any immigrant who dared to celebrate Christmas. This prohibition was not lifted until the 19th century when large numbers of German and Irish immigrants moved to the United States. Today, Christmas has become one of the most popular holidays in the United States, and this story has become a historical anecdote.