| It is always worth seeing a country during a national festival or holiday. In this situation you get the whole feeling of atmosphere that country can offer. The United States are no exception. The country is worth visiting but it’s even more spectacular during certain celebrations. There are several types of holidays in the country: - Federal holidays
- Ethnic and religious holidays
- Other celebrations and observances.
Federal holidays are celebrated in every corner of the USA. The employees don’t work at these days, as well as all post offices are closed. Nation’s favourite holidays include the New Year’s Day, Christmas, Presidents’ Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving. Perhaps, the most pompous celebrations can be seen during Christmas and New Year celebrations, which start on the 24th of December and continue till the 1st of January. At these days families unite and wish each other prosperous and happy coming year. Christmas is the main Christian holiday of the year, when houses and yards are richly decorated, and presents are lovingly put under the Christmas tree. Next comes the Presidents’ Day. It is celebrated every third Monday of February in honor of the first US president’s birthday. George Washington was born on the 22nd of February, 1732. He is known as the Founding Father of the USA. One of the most favourite and cheerfully celebrated holidays in the country is the Independence Day, which is on the 4th of July. On this day in 1776, the Declaration of Independence, which announced the separation of the USA from Great Britain, was signed. Labor Day is another federal holiday. It is celebrated on every first Monday of September and for most American it means the start of the academic year. In fact, it honors the nations’ working people. Columbus Day is celebrated in October in honor of the well-known Italian navigator who has discovered America or the New World in 1492. Finally, Thanksgiving Day is regarded as a federal holiday too. It is celebrated on last Thursday of November to commemorate the food feast held by Pilgrims in 1621. Traditional dishes of this day are pumpkin pie and roast turkey. Ethnic and religious holidays in the USA include Easter (Christian holiday, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ), Ramadan (a Muslim holiday of a month fasting), Rosh Hashanah (a Jewish New Year in September), Kwanzaa(ethnical African holiday). Other celebrations and observances include Groundhog Day, St Valentines’ Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Flag’s Day, Halloween and even Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. |
