by Yvonne Liu
Moving to a new country such as the U.S. means a host of things—
new language, new foods, new people, and of course, new
traditions. Here we bring you American holidays from January
through August. Some you may have heard about, as celebrations
run worldwide. Others are just a day of observance. Still, each
holiday is filled with its own history and traditions. If you see people
drinking green beer in March or get ready for an all-day barbecue in
July, don't hold back. Take part, and have some good old American
fun.
January 1-New Year
By the end of December and the first few weeks of January, you'll
probably hear the greeting "Happy New Year" quite a few times.
But New Year's Day as celebrated by modern Americans was not
always January 1. In ancient Babylon approximately 4,000 years
ago, the first day of spring was considered the start of the new
year. However, Roman emperor Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.
established the Julian Calendar, and the New Year was designated
January 1. One major tradition is celebrating the night before (New
Year's Eve) with friends and family, giving each other kisses at the
stroke of midnight and toasting with champagne to the tune of "Auld
Lang Syne" (literally translated as "the good old days."). Other
traditions include making New Year's resolutions, such as losing
weight or quitting a smoking habit, and The Tournament of Roses
Parade in Pasadena, California. It began in 1886 as a celebration
of the ripening orange crop. In 1902 the football game played
became the sports centerpiece of the festival, known as the Rose
Bowl.
Martin Luther King Day
Each year on the third Monday of January, schools, federal offices,
post offices, and banks across America close as we celebrate the
birth, the life, and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was
assassinated in 1968. It is a time to reflect upon the history and
struggles that Dr. King fought for the freedom, equality, and dignity
of all races and peoples—together, as one nation. For all of his life,
Dr. King fought for a vision of a colorblind society, where blacks
and whites lived together, worked together, and recognized no
differences based on color. In 1964 Dr. King was nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize as someone who "had contributed the most to
the furtherance of peace among men." President Lyndon Johnson
also signed the Civil Rights Act into law, which guaranteed that "No
person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or
national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination."
February 14-Valentine's Day
On February 14, candy, flowers, cards, and even gifts are
exchanged between lovers, friends, and family in celebration of
Valentine's Day. According to one legend, the Valentine holiday
has its origins in the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. Romans
called on the god Lupercus to keep the wolves away, and a festival
was held and celebrated on February 15. The holiday became
Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine, who was a priest in
Rome at the time Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor at
that time, Claudius II, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or
become engaged. Claudius believed that single men made better
soldiers than those with wives and families because as married
men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather
than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and
secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested,
imprisoned, and put to death. Valentine was beheaded on February
14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his death,
Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian,
the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to
the 14th—Valentine's Day—which honored Saint Valentine instead
of Lupercus. Today, red is symbolized as the holiday's color,
chocolates and red roses are bought and presented to sweethearts,
and restaurants overflow with people celebrating.
President's Day
George Washington, John Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Richard
Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush—all American presidents
past and present. To celebrate our nation's leaders, each year on
the third Monday of February we observe President's Day. While
some presidents did more in their terms than others, each was a
respected leader in his day. Some will be long remembered for
good works, while others will live in infamy, their terms rocked by
scandals such was Watergate, Bay of Pigs, or Monica Lewinsky.
So how will you remember our presidents?
March 17-St. Patrick's Day
On March 17, you will see lots of people wearing green. Don't be
alarmed—join in on the festivities! While St. Patrick's Day was
originally a religious feast day and observance for St. Patrick, it
became a day of pride for Irish Americans, who were a much-
despised group of immigrants in the mid-1800s. Soon, the Irish
immigrants organized themselves and realized the strength of their
voices and common heritage. Since then, traditions include
parades, wearing green or else you will be pinched, eating corned
beef and cabbage, and having a good time at the pubs.
April 1-April Fool's Day
No one is certain how April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, came
about, but some believe the closest point in time that can be
identified was in 1582 in France. Prior to that year, the new year
was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. However,
under Charles IX New Year's Day was moved back to January 1.
With communications not as sophisticated as they are today, word
was slow to travel around the country. Many people did not receive
the news for years, and still others refused to accept the new
calendar, continuing to celebrate the new year as April 1. These
folks were labeled as "fools" and made the butt of practical jokes.
Harassment as evolved into pranks, and the tradition was
introduced to the American colonies by the French and English.
April Fool's Day is a fun observance that allows people to play little
jokes on each other. The prankster usually ends it by yelling to his
victim, "April Fool!"
Easter
When you start seeing colored eggs, pastel bunnies, candies, and
more on the store shelves, you know it's almost time for Easter.
While Christian countries celebrate Easter as a religious holiday
commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Easter is a time of
spring festivals. Many Easter traditions did not evolve from religion
but are rather pagan in origin. The name "Easter" is thought to
come from Scandinavian and Teutonic origins, signifying spring and
fertility. A festival was celebrated each year, where the Easter
rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and colored Easter eggs, originally
painted with bright colors to represent spring, were among the
traditions that have survived to this day. Easter varies from year to
year, sometimes celebrated in March, other times in April.
Mother's Day
Once a year on the second Sunday of May we celebrate and
recognize our mothers for all their love and support. We may
shower them with gifts or cards, take them out to dinner, or just
spend the day marveling at the strength and wisdom of the women
who gave us life. Mother's Day in the U.S. was not official until
1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed it to be a
national holiday. While it shouldn't only be once a year when we
give our mothers our thanks, make sure you do remember to call or
send her a little something to let her know she's in your thoughts on
this special day.
Memorial Day
Officially observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day is the
day in which we remember our honored dead—the men and
women who sacrificed their lives in our nation's service. American
flags and flowers may be placed at the grave sites of our fallen war
heroes. Many Americans also visit war memorials and fly their own
flags at half-staff until noon. As an observed holiday, schools,
businesses, banks, and post offices are usually closed.
Father's Day
In 1909 Mrs. John B. Dodd of Washington first proposed the idea of
a "father's day." She wanted a special day to honor her father,
William Smart, who was widowed when his wife died in childbirth
with their sixth child. He was left to raise the newborn and his other
five children, and it was later when Mrs. Dodd became an adult that
she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in
raising his children as a single parent. Celebrations of a father's
day began in 1910, but it wasn't until 1966 when President Lyndon
Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the third
Sunday of June as Father's Day. The day has become one to not
only honor your father but all men who act as a father figure, such
as stepfathers, uncles, and grandfathers.
July 4-Independence Day
The Fourth of July is also known as Independence Day in the
United States of America. The day commemorates the signing of
the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on
July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, marking the intention of
independence of the American colonies from British rule. So get
ready to feast on barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs, spend the
day at the beach, attend parades, and end the evening with a
spectacular fireworks extravaganza. Many large city orchestras
also put on concerts that may play American tunes and of course,
our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Don't forget,
department stores and other specialty shops often hold sales
during the Fourth of July weekend, so it's a great time for shoppers
to bargain hunt!
