Holidays in the USA

New Year’s Day. Americans usually blow horns and whistles at midnight to announce the beginning of a new year.

The birthday of Martin Luther King is celebrated on the 15^th of January. Martin Luther King was a minister who fought against racial discrimination.

St. Valentine’s Day is also celebrated on the 14^th of February as in many other countries.

On the third Monday in February Americans celebrate Presidents Day. They honour two greatest presidents George Washington (the 1^st president) and Abraham Lincoln (the 16^th president) for their deals and contributions into the development of the country.

On March, 17 the Americans celebrate an Irish religious holiday St. Patrick’s Day. On this day Irish immigrants and other Americans decorate their houses, schools and streets with green shamrocks and wear something green.

“Take your daughter to work today” is in April. No school! The daughters go to work with their moms.

Easter is celebrated on Sunday in April or May. Americans colour eggs as well as people in Russia.

On the second Sunday in May Americans honour their mothers. This day is called Mother’s Day.

On the third Sunday in June Father’s Day is celebrated.

July, 4 is Independence Day. On July, 4, in 1776 American Founding Fathers declared that the USA would be free and independent from England.

October, 12 is called Columbus Day. In 1492 on this day Columbus discovered America.

Halloween is celebrated on October, 31. Children wear colourful costumes of ghosts and witches. They walk door to door in the neighbourhood and shout: “Trick or treat!” They make jack-o-lanterns out of pumpkins and put a candle inside.

Another native American holiday is Thanksgiving Day which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. All the Americans try to be at home and eat a big turkey dinner. The pilgrims (the first settlers) celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day in the autumn of 1621 when they gathered a fine harvest. It was decided to make a holiday dinner. Some Indians came to New Plymouth and brought wild turkeys as a present. The harvest holiday was called “Thanksgiving Day”. Since that time Thanksgiving Day has been a national holiday in the United States of America.

Christmas is a religious holiday. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is also the day when Santa Claus brings presents and Christmas trees are decorated.