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New Year's Day: Celebrations begin with parties on New
Year's Eve culminating with the countdown to midnight, a kiss for your
sweetheart and fireworks. New Year's is a time of renewal and resolutions
for the future.
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Marin Luther King's Birthday celebrates the birth of an
important civil rights leader active in the 1960's, receiving the Nobel
Peace Prize in 1964. He was assassinated 4/4/68.
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National Freedom Day: signing of
the 13th Amendment (2/1)
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Inauguration Day: Every 4 years the President
of the U.S. who was elected the prior November is sworn into office.
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Groundhog Day (2/2): A tradition brought by German
immigrants farmers which predicts that if the groundhog sees his shadow on
this day, they would return to their dens which indicates another 6 weeks of
winter; if not, spring was coming.
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Valentine's Day (2/14): a tradition that goes back to the
middle ages, this a day for true romantics to send Valentine cards and
romantic gifts.
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President's Day is the combined observance of
Washington's birthday (leader of the Continental Army and first President of
the U.S.) with Abraham Lincoln's birthday (President during the war between
the states and author of the Emancipation Declaration). Read more about
Presidents of the U.S. and the
Civil War.
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Saint Patrick's Day (3/17): celebrates the patron saint
of the Irish. Notable parades in New York City, New Orleans, Atlanta and
Savannah.
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April Fool's Day 4/1
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Mother's Day: Officially established by congress in
1914. A time to recognize mothers with cards,
gifts and special pampering.
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Easter is the Christian holiday commemorating the
resurrection of Christ often with sunrise services. There are additional
traditions which incorporate the festival of spring such as the Easter lily,
Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny.
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Memorial Day was established after the Civil War to
remember the dead soldiers. It has been expanded to include remembering all
fallen soldiers and family dead. It is observed with parades and flowers
taken to the grave.
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"Juneteenth" is believed to be the oldest celebration of
the end of slavery in the U.S. On 6/19/1865 Union soldiers arrived in
Galveston, TX, announcing that the war had ended and the slaves were now
free. Celebrations began in 1866, and are now centered on racial
understanding.
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Father's Day was officially established in 1972 to
honor fathers and is usually recognized with cards and
gifts.
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United States of America Independence Day was first observed on 7/4/1777, the
first anniversary of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas
Jefferson, approved by the Continental Congress and eventually signed by all
delegates. It is now celebrated with parades, picnics and fireworks. See
also American Revolution.
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Labor Day recognizes the contributions of American
workers. There is no significance to the date which was selected to provide
a break between 7/4 and Thanksgiving. It signals the end of summer,
vacations and the beginning of fall and the new school year.
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Columbus Day commemorates the arrival of Christopher
Columbus in the New World in 1492. First celebrated in 1792 in NYC, it was
declared a national holiday in 1937.
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Halloween (10/31) is a time for costumes and "trick or
treat" with children going from door to door for candy.
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Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 in
Massachusetts by the settlers from the Mayflower and the native American
Indians who shared their knowledge of agriculture, hunting and building. It
became a national holiday in 1863.
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Christmas is celebrated with traditions brought from many
parts of the world including carols, gifts, Santa Claus, and
decorations including wreathes and
Christmas trees with ornaments and lights. In
most cities the season begins with the lighting of the tree on the Friday
after Thanksgiving.
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Kwanzaa which comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda
ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" is celebrated from 12/26 to 1/1. Each
day focuses on a different principle: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determiniation),
Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics),
Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity), Imani (faith).
