Exercise 3.
What is the historical background of the following holidays and what are the
traditions connected with them?
Holiday Historical background Modern traditions
Memorial Day It was 1866 and the United Many people visit cemeteries and
States was recovering from the long memorials on Memorial Day to
and bloody Civil War between the honor and mourn those who died
North and the South. Surviving while serving in the U.S. military.
soldiers came home, some with Many volunteers place American
missing limbs, and all with stories to flags on the graves of military
tell. Henry Welles, a drugstore personnel in national cemeteries.
owner in Waterloo, New York, Memorial Day is also considered
heard the stories and had an idea. He the unofficial beginning of
suggested that all the shops in town summer.
close for one day to honor the
soldiers who were killed in the Civil
War and were buried in the Waterloo
cemetery. On the morning of May 5,
the townspeople placed flowers,
wreaths and crosses on the graves of
the Northern soldiers in the
cemetery. At about the same time,
Retired Major General Jonathan A.
Logan planned another ceremony,
this time for the soldiers who
survived the war. He led the veterans
through town to the cemetery to
decorate their comrades’ graves with
flags. It was not a happy celebration,
but a memorial. The townspeople
called it Decoration Day.
Independence Day The holiday recalls the signing of the At night many people gather in
Declaration of Independence on July parks to watch fireworks, displays
4, 1776. At that time, the people of of colorful lights exploding in the
the 13 British colonies located along sky. Americans also enjoy the 4th
the eastern coast of what is now the of July by having barbecues or
United States were involved in a war picnics with their family and
over what they considered unjust friends at home or at a local park.
treatment by the king and parliament They grill hot dogs, hamburgers,
in Britain. The war began in 1775. and other meats or vegetables.
As the war continued, the colonists
realized that they were fighting not
just for better treatment; they were
fighting for freedom from England’s
rule. The Declaration of
Independence, signed by leaders
from the colonies, stated this clearly,
and for the first time in an official
document the colonies were referred
to as the United States of America.
Labor Day Eleven-year-old Peter McGuire sold Parades, parties, and picnics are
papers on the street in New York classic American Labor Day
City. He shined shoes and cleaned traditions. When the holiday was
stores and later ran errands. It was initially proposed, the
1863 and his father, a poor Irish government suggested that
immigrant, had just enlisted to fight workers observe and celebrate the
in the Civil War. Peter had to help day with a street parade. Many
support his mother and six siblings. unions organize local parades to
When Peter was 17, he began an celebrate laborers while towns
apprenticeship in a piano shop. At host impressive fireworks
night he went to meetings and displays.
classes in economics and social
issues of the day. Workers were tired
of long hours, low pay and uncertain
jobs. They spoke of organizing
themselves into a union of laborers
to improve their working conditions.
In the spring of 1872, Peter McGuire
and 100 000 workers went on strike
and marched through the streets,
demanding a decrease in the long
working day
Veterans' Day World War I officially ended on The Veterans Day National
June 28, 1919, with the signing of Ceremony, like most ceremonies
the Treaty of Versailles. The actual around the nation, is held on
fighting between the Allies and Veterans Day itself. However,
Germany, however, had ended seven when Veterans Day falls on a
months earlier with the armistice, weekday, many communities
which went into effect on the choose to hold Veterans Day
eleventh hour of the eleventh day of parades or other celebrations on
the eleventh month in 1918. the weekend before or after
Armistice Day, as November 11 November 11 so that more people
became known, officially became a can participate.
holiday in the United States in 1926,
and a national holiday 12 years later.
On June 1, 1954, the name was
changed to Veterans Day to honor
all U.S. veterans.
In 1968, new legislation
changed the national
commemoration of Veterans Day to
the fourth Monday in October. It
soon became apparent, however, that
November 11 was a date of historic
significance to many Americans.
Therefore, in 1978 Congress
returned the observance to its
traditional date.
Thanksgiving The holiday dates back to 1621, the Modern Thanksgiving is
year after the Puritans arrived in essentially a celebration of 4 F's
Massachusetts, determined to — family, friends, football and
practice their dissenting religion food, which are all similar themes
without interference. After a rough to those of the “first
winter, in which about half of them Thanksgiving” in 1621
died, they turned for help to
neighboring Indians, who taught
them how to plant corn and other
crops. The next fall’s bountiful
harvest inspired the Pilgrims to give
thanks to the nature by holding a
feast.
The Thanksgiving feast
became a national tradition – not
only because so many other
Americans have found prosperity but
also because the Pilgrims’ sacrifices
for their freedom still captivate the
imagination.
Exercise 4. What are the American peculiarities of celebrating the following holidays?
New Year’s Day - Families and friends gather to share a meal and “ring in” the New
Year, often with a toast and a song. Americans also enjoy the tradition of watching the
New Year's festivities at Times Square (New York City) which are broadcast on TV.
New Year's Day (January 1st) is a national holiday in the United States.
Christmas - Some Americans use pop-corn threaded on string to help decorate their
Christmas Tree. Making gingerbread houses is also popular to make and eat at
Christmas! Eggnog is a 'traditional' Christmas drink in the USA. Many Americans,
especially Christians will go to Church to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.
Mother’s Day - Mother's Day (IWD) is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The
holiday began as mothers supporting world peace, but over time has become a
celebration of all the hard work moms do everyday. On Mother's Day, children cook
breakfast for their moms, buy them flowers and shower them with small surprises.
Halloween - Homeowners place Jack-o'-lanterns in front of their houses to scare evil
spirits and to welcome trick-or-treaters. Other modern fun activities that reflect the
traditional past of Halloween include watching horror movies and visiting haunted
houses.
