Методическое пособие Праздники в США

HOLIDAYS IN THE USA

CALENDAR 2014

Выполнила: преподаватель английского языка

Протасова Ф.Б.

American Holidays

The population in the USA is made up of people of different nationalities. Centuries ago they brought with them their native celebrations. Some holidays, which are marked in the United States, were originated in America.

January 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

New Year's Day

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

Martin Luther King Jr Day

(on the third Monday)

28

29

30

31

New Year's Day

New Year's Day is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year. Many Americans make New Year's resolutions.

On New Year's Day people see the old year off-and the New Year in. Most people stay up all night, even children. At midnight many people go outside and shout 'Happy New Year!' Some people set oft- fireworks and blow automobile horns which are heard everywhere. Everybody exchanges presents and good wishes. Offices, factories, banks and stores do not work on this day. In New York, a lot of people gather in Times Square, and watch the 'Big Apple' fall. It is a moving picture of an apple on the side of the big building in Times Square. Every New Year's Eve during the last few seconds before the midnight it starts to 'fall down' the building, and when it gets to the bottom it's the start of the New Year.

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is celebrated on the third Monday in January. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African-American clergyman who is recognized for his tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means.

He was a minister wire fought against racial discrimination. He said that a person's character is more important than the color of his skin. He is very important to me, because his hometown is Atlanta too. To remember Martin Luther King, many Americans go to church or participate in public ceremonies.

February 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

National Freedom Day

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Lincoln's Birthday

13

14

St Valentine's Day

15

16

17

Washington's Birthday

(the third Monday)

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Washington'sBirthday

Washington's Birthday is observed the third Monday of February in honor George Washington, the first President of the United States. This date is commonly called Presidents' Day and many groups honor the legacy of past presidents on this date.

George Washington led the American Army to victory in the War for Independence. Later he was elected President of the United States and was in office for 8 years (1789-1797). The national capital of the USA, a state and several towns are named after George Washington.

Lincoln's Birthday is celebrated every year on February 12th. Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War (1861- 1865). He led the fight to keep the nation together and to free the slaves. His life ended tragically. He was killed in the theatre during the performance soon after the victory of the North. In honour of this great man a beautiful memorial has been built in Washington, DC.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14. The day was named after an early Christian martyr, and on Valentine's Day, Americans give presents like candy or flowers to the ones they love. The first mass-produced valentine cards were sold in the 1840s.Valentine's Day (Valentine's Day) In America, Valentine's Day are celebrated later than in Europe, 1777.

At the beginning of last century, Americans on Valentine's Day began to send their marzipan brides. But marzipan contains sugar, which then cost is very expensive. Truly scale, this tradition has acquired after in 1800 began to make extensive use of sugar beet.

The Americans quickly established on the continent, the production of caramel and began to scratch out candy holiday of the relevant words. Candy made of red and white. Red means passion, and white - the purity of love. In 50-ies.sweets were stacked in cardboard boxes in the shape of a heart.

National Freedom Day

National Freedom Day (National Freedom Day) celebrated in the United States each year on February 1. On this day in 1865, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln) has signed a congressional resolution to amend the U.S. Constitution 13th Amendment abolishing slavery.

Resolution of Congress on making the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to abolish slavery, was: "Neither the United States nor in any other place that is subject to their authority, there should be no slavery or forced labor, except penalty for crimes for which the offender shall be duly convicted. "

Day (National Freedom Day) celebrated in the United States each year on February 1. On this day in 1865, U.S

March 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

St. Patrick's Day

18

19

20

21

22

23/30

24/31

25

26

27

28

29

St. Patrick's Day

On March 17, Americans celebrate an Irish religious holiday, St. Patrick's Day. This is an important holiday. On St. Patrick's Day American people decorate their houses, schools, and streets with green shamrocks. And all wear something green. Americans say that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Kiss me. I'm Irish!

April 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

All Fools` Day

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Easter

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day, also called All Fools' Day, is celebrated every April 1st in the United States. While it is not officially recognized as a holiday, many celebrate by prancing, or pulling practical jokes on, their colleagues or by organizing larger-scale hoaxes.

Easter

Easter is a major religious festival of Christians that is celebrated in a grand manner with a big party time celebration. Every nation has its own way of celebrating a particular festivity. Every country has some peculiar traditions and customs. For example it is the tradition of America to conduct special Easter parades, where men and women flaunt their special costumes and colorful bonnets. The person who leads the parade can be spotted holding Easter candle or cross in his/her hand. It is interesting to explore facts about Easter traditions in USA.

May 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Mother's Day

(the second Sunday)

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

Memorial Day

(the last Monday)

27

28

29

30

31

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is observed the last Monday of May. It originally honored the people killed in the American Civil War, but has become a day on which the American dead of all wars are remembered.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is the second Sunday of May. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation in 1914 that started the holiday. He asked Americans to give a public expression of reverence to mothers on this day. Carnations have come to represent Mother's Day, following President William McKinley's habit of always wearing a white carnation, his mother's favorite flower.

June 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Flag Day

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

Father's Day

(every third Sunday)

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Flag Day

Flag Day, celebrated June 14, has been a presidentially proclaimed observance since 1916. Although Flag Day is not a federal holiday, Americans are encouraged to display the flag outside their homes and businesses on this day to honor the history and heritage the American flag represents.

Father's Day

Father's Day celebrates fathers every third Sunday of June. The idea of creating a holiday for children who want to express our gratitude to our fathers came from Spoukeyna, Washington (Spokane, Washington).

A woman named Sonora Smart, in marriage Dodd (Sonora Smart Dodd) in 1909 in a church during a service, dedicated to Mother's Day, I thought that after the death of her mother and five children brought up by his father, William Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted her father knew what he Peculiarities of people to her, how she loved him and appreciated. After her father sacrificed everything to fulfill all of their parental responsibilities and was in the eyes of his daughter's most courageous, unselfish and loving person. Sonora approached local authorities to establish a new party, supported it and were going to arrange a celebration June 5 - the birthday of William Smart, but time on their training was not enough, and the celebration was postponed to June 19. Soon, the holiday became popular in other cities in the state.

July 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

Independence Day

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

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29

30

31

Independence Day

Independence Day is July 4. This holiday honors the nation's birthday - the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It proclaimed independence of the thirteen British colonies from Great Britain. In the past this day was marked with big parades and fireworks, but now it is celebrated more quietly. Cities and towns are decorated with flags on that day, there are parades in some places, but most people just go on picnics to the countryside.

August 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24/31

25

26

27

28

29

30

September 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

Labour Day

( the first Monday)

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Patriot Day

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Labor Day

Labor Day is the first Monday of September. This holiday honors the nation's working people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer vacation season and the start of the school year.

On this day workers make a public show with marches, meetings, etc.

Patriot Day

September 11, 2001, was a defining moment in American history. On that day, terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners to strike targets in the United States. Nearly 3,000 people died as a consequence of the attacks. Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance is observed on September 11 in honor of the victims of these attacks.

October 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

Columbus Day

The second Monday

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Halloween

Columbus Day

Columbus Day is a celebrated on the second Monday in October. The day commemorates October 12, 1492, when Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. The holiday was first proclaimed in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Halloween

Halloween is celebrated on October 31.

Halloween is one of the best holidays for children. American children celebrate Halloween on October 31.

Children wear masks and colorful costumes. The most popular costumes are ghosts, witches, and skeletons. The children walk door to door in the neighborhood and shout «trick or treat!»The neighbors are expected to respond by giving them small gifts of candy or money. They also decorate their houses and schools in the traditional Halloween colors: orange and black. Popular decorations are witches, ghosts, skeletons, black cats and Jack-o-lanterns. Jack-o-lanterns are pumpkins they carve to look like faces. Every- one tries to look scary on Halloween! Trick or Treat?

November 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Veterans' Day

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday)

29

30

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11. This holiday was originally called Armistice Day and established to honor Americans who had served in World War I. It now honors veterans of all wars in which the U.S. has fought. Veterans' organizations hold parades, and the president places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. In the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Many regard this event as the nation's first Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition and almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie.

^{Thanksgiving Day Poems}

T is for the trust the pilgrims had so many years ago

H is for the harvest the settlers learnt to grow

A is for America, the land in which we live

N is for nature and beauty which she gives

K is for kindness, gentle words, thoughtful deeds

S is for smiles, the sunshine everyone needs

G is for gratitude... our blessings big and small

I is for ideas, letting wisdom grow tall

V is for voices, singing, laughing, always caring

I is for Indians, who taught them about sharing

N is for neighbors, across the street, over the sea

G is for giving of myself to make a better me

byJudith.A. Lindberg

December 2014

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

Christmas Eve

25

ChristmasDay

26

27

28

29

30

31

Christmas Day

Christmas Day is a celebrated on December 25.

Christmas is a religious holiday, which symbolizes the birth of Jesus Christ. By this day people decorate fir-trees with toys. Children wait for Santa Claus who comes to every house and brings them presents. Before going to bed, children leave their shoes to find in them what they want most of all the next morning. Some people, especially young people, like to celebrate it in restaurants and pubs, but most people prefer to stay at home with their family on this day.

Date

Holiday

January 1

NewYear's Day

The third Monday of January

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and
Inauguration Day

February, 1

National Freedom Day

The third Monday of February

Washington's Birthday

February, 12

Lincoln's Birthday

February, 14

St Valentine's Day

March, 17

St. Patrick's Day

April, 1

All Fools` Day

April, 20

Easter

The second Sunday of May

Mother's Day

The last Monday of May

Memorial Day

June, 14

FlagDay

Every third Sunday of June

Father's Day

July, 4

Independence Day

The first Monday of September

Labor Day

September, 11

Patriot Day

The second Monday of October

Columbus Day

October, 31

Halloween

November, 11

Veterans Day

the fourth Thursday of November

Thanksgiving Day

December 25

Christmas Day