Introduction
Christmas is one of the most popular and beloved American national holidays. Originally Christmas was intended to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, but nowadays, it turned into a family holiday for everyone. Every year on December 25, millions of Americans meet with their friends and relatives to share special Christmas dinners, which include roast turkey, ham, pies, and other tasty foods. People give holiday gifts, decorate their houses with lights, and put up customary Christmas trees.
The Christmas celebrations help create a festive mood for New Year. On December 31, New Year’s Eve, Americans gather again to share delicious meals and have fun. People make wishes and prepare for a fresh, happy start to the New Year full of exciting hopes and dreams.
Columbus Day
American history could have been much different if the famous explorer Christopher Columbus had not discovered our continent. However, he and his followers risked undertaking a dangerous journey and eventually found American shores. Their bravery gave a start to the history of our country, as the first European settlers followed Columbus quite soon and established their colonies on American soil.
Columbus Day is especially honored by Italian and Catholic American communities proud of the explorer’s birthplace and faith. Columbus Day is observed every year on the second Monday of October. All government offices are closed that day, and many Americans can enjoy a day off from work.
Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, giving birth to the independent United States and the American nation. Soon celebrations on the Fourth of July had become a patriotic tradition that honored the bravery of the first American Revolutionaries. With time, Independence Day turned into a popular family holiday.
Every year many Americans get together with their friends and families, set off fireworks that remind them of rockets used by Revolutionaries, and enjoy outdoor barbecues and fine summer weather. People listen to patriotic anthems and wave star-spangled flags. The Fourth of July has become a symbol of unity and pride for being American and living in this country.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is another example of an American holiday that has become a fine family tradition. Originally, Thanksgiving was celebrated by individual American colonies and states as a symbol of cooperation and trust between the settlers and Native American peoples.
Abraham Lincoln was the first U.S. President who made Thanksgiving a national holiday observed each November. Since then, Americans have celebrated Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November. People cook delicious meals and share them with their friends and family members. Americans also engage in volunteering and helping each other, following an example set by Native Americans who helped the struggling settlers.
Turkey has become a symbol of Thanksgiving, and many Americans think Thanksgiving turkey is the most important part of the holiday meal.
Labor Day
Labor Day, observed on the first Monday of September, has become one of the most respected holidays in our country. Just over a century ago, many Americans had to work 12-hour shifts and 7-day working weeks. Little children also had to work in factories, mines, and other unsafe places instead of going to school and playing with friends.
However, people stood against the unfair system and began to protect their human dignity and rights by organizing rallies and strikes. On several occasions, workers took unpaid time off and held parades of protest. Eventually, the government had to intervene and satisfy workers’ demands for decent labor conditions.
The modern Labor Day commemorates the bravery of American workers who won their rights. On the first Monday of each September, Americans remember their determination with fireworks, parades, and public rallies.
Washington’s Birthday (President’s Day)
George Washington was a hero of the American Revolution and the first President of the United States. After Washington’s death, individual U.S. states and cities began to commemorate his memory. By the end of the 19th century, February 22, Washington’s birthday, had become a national holiday.
However, several national holidays were later moved from their original dates to specific Mondays. This act was convenient for many Americans, who got more three-day weekends throughout the working year. The observance of Washington’s birthday was moved to the third Monday of February, becoming a national day for celebrating all past and present U.S. presidents.
Martin Luther King Day
Dr. Martin Luther King is the second man in American history honored with a national holiday. George Washington forged the independent United States in the flame of Revolution to deserve this honor. Martin Luther King dedicated his life to the struggle for equal rights and justice for all U.S. citizens. Despite his tragic death, the memory of the heroic civil rights activist lives in the hearts and minds of many Americans.
After decades of legal struggle, every U.S. state agreed to observe Martin Luther King Day on the third Monday of each January. King’s nonviolent, peaceful resistance to injustice and inequality eventually received well-deserved recognition and commemoration. The holiday in honor of Dr. King affects public and private institutions across the whole country.
Memorial Day
On Memorial Day, the American nation honors all men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting war memorials and cemeteries, participating in parades, and holding family meetings. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of each May, marking the beginning of summer.
Memorial Day emerged soon after American Civil War when U.S. citizens started to gather and commemorate fallen soldiers on both sides. A century later, the tradition grew into a national holiday in honor of all fallen American servicemen and servicewomen. Americans of all ages come to war memorials and cemeteries to decorate graves with national flags and flowers. On Memorial Day, the American nation remembers the bravery and sacrifice of people who fought and died for our country.
Teacher’s Page
The eBook composed as a part of this assignment allows a social studies teacher to provide kindergarten students with knowledge and skills defined by the State of Texas (2017) in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Kindergarten (TEKS) standard.
According to Section b) of Paragraph 113.11, Part A, a kindergarten student is expected to understand that holidays are celebrations of special events and be able to explain the reasons for patriotic holidays.
Additionally, a student must be able to identify the customs associated with particular national and patriotic holidays (State of Texas, 2017). This eBook acknowledges kindergarten students with several patriotic and customary holidays celebrated in the United States. As a result, students develop the competence of distinguishing between various holidays, which acts as an important part of the American cultural code.
Resources
State of Texas. (2017). Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for kindergarten.