Conversational topic: Holidays in the United States of America

American holidays are quite different in origin and have surprising similarities in the manner of their celebration. Each state has the right to decide which holiday to observe.

There are eight main holidays of the USA: New Year´s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labour Day, Veterans´ Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas.

July 4^th, Independence Day, is the most important American holiday. It is the birthday of the United States of America. On July 4, 1776, the colonists declared their independence from Britain. Led by Thomas Jefferson, the representatives of all thirteen colonies met in Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. A large part of it was written by Jefferson himself. The document stated that the colonies were now “free and independent states” and officially named them the United States of America. It also said that all men had a natural right to “life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness.” Today, the country´s birthday is widely celebrated with parades, public meetings, patriotic music and speech-making. There are picnics and barbecues, and in the evening there are big fireworks shows. Wherever Americans are around the globe, they get together for a traditional 4^th of July celebration.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25. It is a one-day official holiday, but it is preceded and followed by festive parties, and marked by special church services, gift-giving and feasting. Christmas is a family holiday. Schools and colleges close between Christmas and New-Year Day. People stay at home and spend the time with their families. They send cards or Christmas greetings to family and friends away from home. Every family tries to have a Christmas tree, which is beautifully decorated. It is customary for relatives and close friends to give presents at Christmas time, the presents are placed under the tree. Little children believe that Santa Claus comes from the North Pole in his sleigh, dressed in red cap and jacket, entering the house from chimney.

New Year´s Eve is a time for merriment. Many parties are given on the night on December 31^st. Theartres, night clubs, restaurants are crowded. When midnight comes, people greet the New Year: they go into the streets of big cities, ring bells, blow whistles and automobile horns, some shoot off guns and firecrackers. One of the noisiest and most crowded of New Year´s Eve celebrations takes place in New York City in Times Square. Thousands of New Yorkers gather there, and millions of Americans across the country join them via TV. Following a long and merry New Year´s Eve, Americans spend a quiet, leisurely New Year´s Day. In most households, everyone sleeps late, often enjoys brunch (late breakfast) and TV with the family and friends.

Easter is a religious holiday. It comes on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Just before Easter, the schools and colleges usually close and the students have a week or ten days of spring vacation. Easter marks the beginning of spring. People buy new clothes to wear on Easter Sunday. The colourful procession of people dressed in bright new spring clothes is called the “Easter Parade”. There is a popular belief that wearing three new things on Easter will bring good luck throughout the year.

Memorial Day comes on May 30. It is a national holiday. Schools, offices, and banks close for the day. On that day, Americans honour the servicemen who gave their lives in past wars. They hold memorial services in churches, halls, parks, and cemeteries. They hang up American flags on the main streets of the towns.

The first Monday in September is Labor Day, a holiday of recreation. It is the last real holiday of summer. It marks the beginning of autumn. People go to the beach or on picnics and outing to enjoy the fine weather at the end of summer. Vacation time is over.

Veteran´s Day is celebrated on November 11. On this day, the radio and television broadcast services held at the National Cemetery in Arlington. High officials come from Washington to attend these services. They place a wreath of flowers at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. All stand in silence for a minute at eleven o´clock to honour the memory of the servicemen killed in the two World Wars. During the day there are usually parades in which bands and some organizations such as the Boy Scouts and the American Legion´s march. The people pay tribute to those who gave their lives for their country.

Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November) is the holiday commemorating the first harvest in New England in 1621. The first national Thanksgiving Day was proclaimed by G. Washington in 1789. On this day it is customary for all members of the family to gather at the home of their parents. They eat a large traditional dinner, usually with turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. People give the God thanks for all the good things in their lives.

Americans celebrate a variety of different holidays throughout the year. American holidays can be secular, religious, international, or uniquely American.

Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday in January. The Martin Luther King was an African-American clergyman who is recognized for his tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means.

Columbus Day is a federal holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October. The day commemorates October 12, 1492, when Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. The holiday was first proclaimed in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Valentine´s Day is celebrated on February 14. The day was named after an early Christian martyr, and on Valentine's Day, Americans give presents like candy, flowers or special valentine cards to the ones they love. It is widely celebrated among people of all ages.

Mother´s day celebrates mothers every second Sunday of May. President Woodrow Wilson, who issued a proclamation in 1914, asked Americans to give a public expression of reverence to mothers on this day. Carnations have come to represent Mother's Day, following President William McKinley's habit of always wearing a white carnation, his mother's favorite flower.

Halloween is celebrated on October 31, before All Saints´ Day. Halloween customs date back to a time when people believed in devils, witches and ghosts. On Halloween, American children dress up in funny or scary costumes and go "trick or treating" by knocking on doors in their neighborhood. The neighbors are expected to respond by giving them small gifts of candy or money.