22 June 2005
Holidays of the United States
Many celebrations uniquely American
People in every culture celebrate holidays. Although the word "holiday" literally means "holy day," most U.S. holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin. Because the nation is blessed with a rich ethnic heritage, it is possible to trace some American holidays to diverse cultural sources and traditions, but all U.S. holidays have taken on a distinctively American flavor. In the United States, the word "holiday" is synonymous with "celebration!"
In the strict sense, there are no national holidays in the United States. Each of the 50 states has jurisdiction over its holidays. In practice, however, most states observe the federal ("legal or public") holidays, even though the president and Congress legally can designate holidays only for federal government employees.
There are a number of uniquely American holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving. Of these, two stand out above the others as occasions to cherish our national origins: the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving.
Martin Luther King Day: The Reverend 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, the third Monday of January was declared a federal holiday to commemorate his birth.
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 federal 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 those who have died in service to their country. 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.
The Fourth of July or Independence Day, honors the nation's birth -- 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 and other holidays) is widespread. On July 4, 1976, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was marked by grand festivals across the nation.
Labor Day: Celebrated on 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, commemorations take 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, across the Potomac River from Washington.
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on 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 might travel long distances to visit family and friends. The holiday dates back to 1621, the year after a group of Puritans, a Protestant religious sect from England, arrived in Massachusetts determined to practice their dissenting religion without interference.
After a rough winter, in which about half of them died, the Puritans, or Pilgrims, turned for help to neighboring Indians, who taught them how to plant corn and other crops. The next fall's bountiful harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give thanks by holding a feast. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition -- not only because so many other Americans have found prosperity but also because the Pilgrims' sacrifices for their freedom still captivate the imagination. To this day, Thanksgiving dinner almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes and pumpkin pie. Before the meal begins, families or friends usually pause to give thanks for their blessings, including the joy of being united for the occasion.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
