Official Holidays

The following table lists all the "official" American holidays. These holidays are discussed in more detail below the table. Note that the "Date of Celebration" is the actual day these holidays are observed now for scheduling purposes of government operations, which often is different than the actual, or historical, day of the holiday.

New Years Day is to celebrate the beginning of a new year and to wish friends and family a very happy and prosperous year. The actual celebration begins the night before, December 31, as many people have parties and count the time down to 12-midnight. At the stroke of 12-midnight everyone will cheer and give all a wish for a very good year. Often many people will celebrate by shooting off fireworks. On January 1 many people gather with their family for a big dinner. In America it is often traditional to eat a vegetable called “black-eyed peas” during the dinner to give everyone good luck for the coming year.

Martin Luther King Day celebrates the birthday and life of Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American clergyman, who fought for civil rights for all people using non-violent means. He was assassinated in 1968 by someone opposed to his work. Many cities in America have one street named after him. Most celebrations on this day involve government officials and leaders of the minority community holding ceremonies honoring his work.

Presidents' Day is to celebrate the birthdays of who many consider to be the greatest Presidents in American history – George Washington the great hero of the American Revolution who made the birth of America possible later to become the first American president and Abraham Lincoln who was president during the Civil War. Originally their birthdays were celebrated separately but joined in the 1970s when the holiday expanded to celebrate all the president’s birthdays.

Memorial Day is used for honoring all American war veterans who died fighting during all the wars throughout American history. This day involves official ceremonies given in cemeteries, churches, or other public places and is often a somber occasion. Memorial Day is also considered by most Americans to be the beginning of the summer vacation season. It is also tradition for the president of the U.S. to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Independence Day is to celebrate the birthday of America, which is July 4, 1776, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed giving America independence from England. Many American like fly the American flag and have picnics or barbeque in their back yard this day. At night many government entities or private organizations will have a very large fireworks display attracting large crowds of spectators. Some cities will have an outdoor concert where patriotic music is played.

Labor Day honors the working people. It also unofficially marks the end of the summer vacation season.

Columbus Day is to celebrate the day the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World, October 12, 1492.

Veterans Day is for honoring all the living American war veterans. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, the day World War I ended, November 11, 1918. Armistice Day was first used to honor all the American veterans who fought in World War I but later expanded to include all American veterans of all wars. In 1954 Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day. Many cities and towns have parades on this day. It is also tradition for the president of the U.S. to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Thanksgiving Day started in 1621 by the first English settlers to the New World in what is now the state of Massachusetts. These settlers were very religious people who called themselves Puritans. They came to the New World to create a new society based upon a more fundamental understanding of the Bible. The settlers had arrived the year before in 1620 and half of them died during the very difficult first winter. In the spring they turned to the Indians nearby for help. The Indians taught them how to grow corn and other crops.  By the fall of 1621 they had harvested enough food to see them through the next winter and decided to have a feast to thank God for the good harvest. It became tradition every year after that. These days it is tradition for Americans to gather with their families and have a big feast. Americans always have many of the same food the first settlers ate on that first Thanksgiving. These include roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie.  Many cities also have parades.

Christmas Day, a Christian holiday, celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ), who Christians believe was the son of God sent to Earth to provide salvation to all humankind by sacrificing his life for all humankind’s sins.  Most Americans give gifts to everyone at this time. This custom was probably started because of the Bible’s description of three wise men (astrologers) from Persia who sensed the birth of the son of God and followed a star across the desert to find him. When they found the baby Jesus they gave him many gifts to honor his birth. And so the tradition of giving gifts on the birthday of Jesus Christ was started. Many Americans open their gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24 while others wait till Christmas Day, December 25. Also, it is tradition to have a big feast, similar to Thanksgiving feast, on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Background
Official Holidays: You are here.
Unofficial Holidays