US holidays: list, dates, traditions and history

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Since 1870, many proposals have been made to Congress to create permanent federal holidays in the United States. How many of them have become official? 11 only. Although often referred to as National, they are legally only applicable to federal employees and the District of Columbia.

Neither Congress nor the president has the authority to declare a "national holiday" in the US that would be obligatory for all 50 states, since each of them decides this issue independently. However, the work of federal employees affects the entire country, including delivering mail and doing business with federal agencies.

Official holidays in the US were established for various reasons. In some cases, Congress has instituted a holiday after a significant number of states have done so. In others, he took the initiative. In addition, each holiday was designed to highlight a particular aspect of American heritage or to mark an event in the history of the United States.

Federallegislation

In 1870, when Congress passed the first holiday law, the US government employed about 5,300 employees in the District of Columbia and about 50,600 more throughout the country. The distinction between civil servants working in the capital and elsewhere proved to be important. The U. S. Major Holidays Act, passed June 28, 1870, originally applied exclusively to federal employees of the District of Columbia. In other parts of the country, they did not enjoy such advantages until at least 1885

The law appears to have been drafted in response to a memorandum drafted by local "bankers and businessmen". New Year's Day (January 1), US Independence Day (July 4), Christmas Day (December 25), and any day designated or recommended as Thanksgiving by the President of the United States within the District of Columbia were provided for holidays. This legislation was designed to be consistent with similar laws in nearby states.

New Year is dedicated to the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. The holiday begins the day before, December 31, with a countdown to midnight, and is accompanied by fireworks and parties. The descent of the New Year's ball in Times Square in New York has become traditional. Many people watch an American football game in Pasadena on this day. New Year holidays in the USA bring the Christmas season to a close.

July 4, Americans celebrate the date of the formation of their state. US Independence Day is accompanied by parades and festivefireworks. Some communities organize picnics with hamburgers, hot dogs and grilled food, as well as other celebrations for guests and locals.

Christmas in the USA is the most popular Christian holiday dedicated to the birthday of Jesus Christ, which is celebrated by representatives of different religions. It is accompanied by the opening of gifts that are placed under the Christmas tree the day before. According to legend, Santa Claus does it. Many families in the US prepare for Christmas by decorating their homes with garlands both inside and out. The main symbols of this day are decorated Christmas trees and Christmas music.

There are many ways to answer the question of how long the Christmas holidays are in the US. Although the official holiday is only December 25th. The season kicks off with Black Friday, which follows Thanksgiving, and runs through early January, including New Year's Day, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.

Washington's Birthday

In January 1879, Congress added to the list of significant dates celebrated in the District of Columbia, the birthday of George Washington. The main purpose of the law was to make February 22 a bank holiday.

After the entry into force in 1968 of the law on the transfer of certain US holidays from the established dates to Mondays, Washington's birthday was moved from February 22 to the third Monday of the same month. Contrary to popular belief, neither this nor any other act of Congress or the President provided that the name of a holiday observed by federal employees should bechanged to Presidents Day.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day became a public holiday for federal employees in the District of Columbia in 1888. It was established, probably because a significant number of federal employees were also members of the Grand Republican Army, an organization of Civil War veterans who wished to participate in Memorial Day ceremonies killed in this conflict. Their absence from work meant the loss of a day's wages. Some members of Congress felt that federal employees should be allowed to commemorate the day in such a way that they do not lose money by paying tribute to the memory of those who died in the service of their country.

With the adoption of the "Uniform Law on Monday Holidays" in 1968, the celebration of Memorial Day was moved from May 30 to the last Monday of the same month.

Labor Day

Federally established in 1894. Designed to honor the working people of the country, it was different from other federal holidays in the United States, traditional (such as Christmas and New Year), patriotic, or honoring individuals.

In his report on the law, a spokesman for the House Labor Committee stated that the meaning of national holidays is to highlight some great event or principle in people's minds by giving them a day of rest, a day of joy to commemorate it.. Honoring labor, the nation affirms its nobility. As long as the worker can feel that he occupies an honorable and useful place inpolitical body, he will remain a loyal and faithful citizen for a long time.

Over time, according to the committee, the celebration of Labor Day at the federal level on the 1st Monday in September will naturally lead to imitation among different professions, beneficial to them and to the general public. It will also increase the sense of brotherhood among those of all trades and vocations, and at the same time, it will evoke the honorable desire of each of the trades to excel the others. A reasonable amount of rest makes the worker "a more useful craftsman." The Committee's position was reinforced by the fact that 23 states have already legislated Labor Day.

Armistice Day or Veterans Day

Armistice Day was declared a federal holiday in 1938, and November 11, the date for the cessation of hostilities, was chosen to mark the end of the First World War. During the debate in the House leading up to the passing of the legislation, one representative suggested that Armistice Day should not be about celebrating the outcome of the war, but rather highlighting the blessings associated with the peaceful activities of mankind.

The proposal to make Armistice Day a "national holiday of peace" received enthusiastic approval from all societies representing World War I veterans. In 1938 Armistice Day was already celebrated in 48 states. Although it was recognized that Congress did not have the power to establish national holidays in different states, the passage of the law was in line with the mood in the United States. States.

However, by 1954, the US was involved in two other military battles: World War II and the Korean War. Instead of creating additional federal holidays to commemorate every event, Congress has found it best to honor all American veterans on the same day.

June 1, 1954, Armistice Day was officially renamed Veterans Day. The law did not create a new holiday. He expanded the meaning of the existing one so that a grateful nation on a day dedicated to the cause of world peace could pay tribute to all its veterans.

In 1968, Veterans Day became one of the 5 holidays to be observed on Mondays, and its date was changed from November 11 to the 4th Monday in October. However, in 1975, Congress reversed the decision after it became clear that "veterans organizations opposed the change, and 46 states either did not change the original date or returned the official celebration to November 11."

If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, the non-working Friday is the day before. If November 11 is a Sunday, then Monday becomes a day off.

Thanksgiving

The formation of the date of Thanksgiving in the United States took place differently than other holidays. On Thursday, November 26, 1789, George Washington issued a proclamation calling for "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer." Six years later, the president called for a second time on Thursday, February 19, 1795. But it was not until 1863 that the nation began to celebrate this holiday annually.

Then Abraham Lincoln gave a speech of thanksgiving in which he invited his fellow citizens from all parts of the United States, as well as those who are at sea and living in foreign countries, to celebrate the last Thursday of November as a Day of Thanksgiving and praise to the beneficent Father, being in heaven.

For the next 3/4 century, each president set his own date. Since 1869, the tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving on the last Thursday of November or the first Thursday of December has been generally observed in the United States.

In 1939, Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed a holiday on the 3rd Thursday of November. By shifting the day off by a week, Roosevelt hoped to help the retail business. Thus a longer Christmas season was established. While the decision was enthusiastically received by the business community, others, including a significant portion of the public and a large number of government officials, protested the change in the long-standing American tradition of celebrating this popular US holiday on the 4th Thursday of November. Despite criticism, Roosevelt repeated his actions in 1940. However, by May 1941, the administration concluded that the date-shifting experiment had not worked.

On December 26, 1941, President Roosevelt signed a joint resolution to resolve the dispute and permanently established Thanksgiving as a federal holiday on the 4th Thursday of November. This was done for the purpose of establishing a date to avoid future confusion. After the resolution was signed, Roosevelt announced that the reasons for the change did not justify continueddate change.

Inauguration Day

Inauguration Day became a permanent federal holiday in Washington on January 11, 1957. A law signed by President Dwight Eisenhower established it with the stipulation that whenever Inauguration Day fell on a Sunday, the next day would also be considered a holiday. This was done so that federal employees could conduct historic and important events associated with the inauguration of the president. The passage of the law eliminated the need to make appropriate decisions for each inauguration.

Columbus Day

Columbus Day became a US federal holiday in 1968. One of the main reasons for this was that Columbus's arrival in the New World had already been celebrated in 45 states. According to Congress, the holiday was supposed to be a tribute to the nation's courage and determination, which allowed many generations of immigrants from many countries to find freedom and new opportunities in America.

Columbus Day, according to the Senate report, is designed to provide an annual confirmation by the American people of their faith in the future, their readiness to face the challenges of tomorrow with confidence.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday

In November 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed into law a federal holiday to honor the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. This event ended a 15-year discussion about honoring the leader of the civil rights movement. In speeches at the signing ceremony, Reagan saluted the assassinated King as the man who touched the Americanpeople to the core.

The motion to commemorate the civil rights activist on his January 15th birthday as a federal holiday was first introduced after his assassination in 1968. The House of Representatives came close to passing one of the related bills in November 1979, when it voted 252 votes against 133. Only 4 votes were not enough to reach the required majority of 2/3 of the votes. As a result of a public campaign, on August 2, 1983, the House reconsidered the issue and passed a law according to which the 3rd Monday of January, starting in 1986, became a federal holiday. After lengthy debate, the Senate passed the bill on 19 October. Two weeks later, President Reagan signed it.

Other US Traditions

In addition to federal holidays, many unofficial ones are also celebrated. The most popular ones are listed below.

Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2, when the groundhog leaves his burrow to decide if spring has arrived. If he is afraid of his own shadow, he will return to the hole, and the winter will continue for another 6 weeks.

Super Bowl Sunday is the first Sunday in February. On this day, Americans gather to watch the finals of the American Football Championship. Many watch the game just for the ads as the companies hosting it compete in wits.

Valentine's Day February 14 is accompanied by the giving of flowers and chocolate. It is considered the holiday of all lovers. Many children in schools make or buy friendvalentines for a friend. The symbol of Valentine's Day is the heart.

On St. Patrick's Day (considered the patron saint of Ireland) on March 17, Americans hold solemn parades, dress in all green or wear shamrocks and pinch those who do not. Then they go to Irish pubs to drink beer. Traditionally in Chicago, the local river is painted green.

On Easter, Americans go to church to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The holiday is accompanied by dyeing eggs, hunting for Easter eggs and honoring the Easter Bunny, who hides baskets of sweets for children.

Mother's Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of May. On this holiday, children give their mothers flowers, chocolates, jewelry, bring breakfast in bed or invite them to dinner.

Father's Day is the 3rd Sunday in June. Usually celebrated with BBQ lunch and sports games.

On October 31st, Halloween is celebrated in the United States. How does this happen? Children dress up as fairy tale characters and go from door to door begging for candy. In recent years, many communities have set aside areas for children to pick up sweets, bypassing shops, churches and other businesses.

Americans visit hay bale mazes, haunted houses or other events. Families often organize Halloween parties at their homes. Common decorations on this day are faux spider webs, fake tombstones, and gourd lanterns with cut eye holes,nose and mouth.

December 26-31 is Kwanzaa, a week dedicated to the culture of African Americans and their ancestors. It ends with a feast and an exchange of gifts between friends and family members.