Holidays.

There are eight national holidays in the USA.

New Year.Many people don’t sleep most of the New Year night on the 31^st of December, seeing the New year in. some people go to the parties at friends’ houses or at night clubs. Others just walk about in the streets making merry. It is a tradition for many people to make New Year resolutions (to eat less, to work more, to do sport regularly, etc.). Though few people keep their New Year resolutions.

Martin Luther King’s Day.Martin Luther King was a famous fighter for civil rights. In the 1950s and 1960s he organized the civil rights movement – the struggle for equal rights for black Americans. In 1968 he was assassinated. Martin Luther King’s Day is celebrated in January (he was born in this month).

Presidents’ Day.Presidents’ Day is celebrated in February. It is the day on which two great Americans are honored: George Washington, the country’s first President, and Abraham Lincoln, the President who headed the country during the Civil War and put an end to slavery. Both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were born in February.

Memorial Day.On Memorial Day Americans honor the soldiers killed in war. There are always parades on this day. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May, and that’s why it marks the beginning of the summer season. Many people spend this day on the beach.

Independence Day.The Fourth of July, or Independence Day, is, of course, the most important American holiday. It was on July 4, 1776, that the American colonies declared their independence from Britain. The Fourth of July is a traditional day for family picnics and, at night, fireworks.

Labor Day.On the first Monday in September, Americans celebrate Labor Day, which honors the American worker. While Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer, Labor day marks the end of it. The school year starts the day after Labor Day.

Columbus Day.Columbus Day marks the coming of Columbus ship to America in 1492. many Italian-Americans and Hispanic-Americans are especially enthusiastic on Columbus Day. Columbus was an Italian working for Spain, so they feel that this great seaman is closer to their hearts than to the hearts of other Americans.

Halloween.Halloween, which is celebrated on the 31^st of October, the evening before All-Saints Day, is not an official holiday, but, doubtless, it is a very special day. Children enjoy it. They dress in fancy costumes as witches, ghosts, or other monsters, pirates, or characters from TV programs, and so on. Some children paint their faces to look like monsters. The windows of many houses are brightly decorated on Halloween with jack-o’-lanterns – pumpkins with cut faces and candles inside. In the evening groups of children go from house to house, knock at the doors and say, “Trick or treat! Money or eat!”. (Which means “if you don’t treat us to something tasty, we shall play a trick on you.”) Of course, the people give them something nice. Some children think of other people on Halloween. They carry boxes for UNICEF (The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund). They ask for money to help poor children all around the world.

Election Day.Election Day is observed every four years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. On this day American people elect their President.

Thanksgiving.In 1620 the Mayflower brought a group of Pilgrims to America. The Pilgrims founded a settlement in Massachusetts. They arrived late in November, and it was too late to plant crops. It was very difficult for the Pilgrims to survive the first winter, but they were greatly helped by the Indians who lived nearby. The Indians showed the Pilgrims where to fish, and in spring helped them to plant crops. The next November, when the Pilgrims had gathered the crops, they invited the Indians to a great feast. It was the first Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the last Thursday in November. Families make a big feast, which traditionally includes roast turkey, a sweet sauce made of cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

Christmas.On Christmas many families get together. There is a tradition to give presents on Christmas. People often start buying gifts right after Thanksgiving. On Christmas many families like to have a decorated Christmas tree in their houses. They also bake special Christmas cakes.

Children believe that their gifts come from Santa Claus, who lives in the North Pole, and on the night before Christmas he comes in a sledge pulled by reindeer. He goes down the chimneys of houses and leaves gifts for the children who have been good.
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