МИНИСТЕРСТВО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ И НАУКИ ДОНЕЦКОЙ НАРОДНОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ «ДОНЕЦКИЙ НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ» Факультет иностранных языков Кафедра английской филологии Направление подготовки 45.03.01 Филология, профиль «Зарубежная филология (английский язык и литература)» РЕФЕРАТ по теме: «Holidays in the USA» Подготовила: студентка группы 221 Карнаух Юлия Сергеевна Проверил: кандидат филологических наук Фатьянова Ирина Валерьевна Донецк 2018 Introduction People in every culture celebrate holidays. Although the word "holiday" literally means "holy day”, most American holidays are not religious, but commemorative in nature and origin. Because the nation is blessed with rich ethnic heritage it is possible to trace some of the American holidays to diverse cultural sources and traditions, but all holidays have taken on a distinctively American flavor. In the United States, the word "holiday" is synonymous with "celebration!" In the strict sense, there are no federal (national) holidays in the United States. Each of the 50 states has jurisdiction over its holidays. In practice, however, most states observe the federal ("legal or public") holidays, even though the President and Congress can legally designate holidays only for federal government employees. Federal government offices, including the post office, are always closed on all federal holidays. Schools and businesses close on major holidays like Independence Day and Christmas Day but may not always be closed, for example, on Presidents' Day or Veterans' Day. Federal holidays are observed according to the legislation of individual states. The dates of these holidays, and others, are decided upon by each state government, not by the federal (national) government. Each state can agree on the same date that the President has proclaimed, such as Thanksgiving Day. State legislation can also change the date of a holiday for its own special commemoration. 1. Federal holidays Every month of the year has something special to celebrate in the U.S. Throughout the years, the U.S. Congress has passed laws declaring special days as official observances known as federal holidays. Each federal holiday represents a day when federal employees and many other workers have a paid day off from their jobs. There are some holidays we celebrate that are not federal holidays but are very popular holidays to celebrate. Many government offices close on federal holidays and some private businesses may close as well. If the holiday falls during the weekend, the government may observe it on a different day. Federal employees receive pay and many receive time off for federal holidays. New Year's Day is on 1st of January in the US. It's almost universally day off from work . New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the US are both regarded as holidays, though only New Year's Day is an official one. The holiday starts on New Year's Eve when people go out to celebrate in style. This holiday is marked by fancy parties and plenty of parades and other events. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of Roses Parade, which precedes the Rose Bowl football game—both held in Pasadena, California Celebrating the New Year across the time zones that cross the US is a popular tradition, with those who like to stay at home. In Times Square in New York, one of the biggest celebrations in the nation is held and this is typically regarded as the official New Year party for the entire country, though each time zone rings in the New Year with its own celebration. New Year's resolutions are popular in the US, though often in a tongue-in-cheek way. It's almost accepted as a matter of course that people will not follow through these resolutions and it fits well with the tradition of American sarcastic humor. The most popular new year song "Auld Lang Syne" means "the good old days" or "days gone by". The song is very old tradition, dating back hundreds of years. Martin Luther King Junior Day is held on the third Monday in January in the US. It is a US federal holiday marking to the birthday of the slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Martin Luther King Junior Day is tied to the civil rights struggles and beyond. It's very much associated with the struggles of the African-American community in particular, but it's also celebrated by most people in the US as a unifying holiday. King advocated for the rights of African Americans and other groups who were discriminated against via racist laws. He also advocated non-violence, and the images of riot police beating unarmed, non-violent civil rights protesters in the 1960s are largely credited with swaying public opinion. Teaching African-American history is a major component of many Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was not officially recognized by every state until 2000. Though President Reagan signed it into law in 1983, many states resisted the holiday. Mother's Day is held on the second Sunday in May every year. The holiday is over one hundred years old and was officially declared a federal holiday in 1914. Originally, the holiday was celebrated by hanging a flag to recognize the mothers who had a child who died in a war. It has no association with war nowadays. Some of the first Mother's Day celebrations were connected to the temperance movement, the movement behind the prohibition laws that went into effect in the early twentieth century. It's common for people to buy expensive gifts for their mothers, or at very least to send them a card showing their appreciation. In US, children will sometimes really go over the top for their mothers in this holiday. Father's day is a relatively recent holiday in US, having come into existence in 1972. It's celebrated on the third Sunday of June every Year. Father's day is all about showing fathers appreciation for what they do, for acknowledg- ing the role of father's in children lives. Father's Day gifts tend to be, not surprisingly, manly in nature. It's common for people to buy their dads power tools, neckties, sporting equipment and so forth. In fact, getting an ugly necktie on Father's Day is something of a cliched joke among fathers across the nation. Collect calls are particularly popular on Father's Day, somewhat humorously. Independence Day. It is a day commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the USA commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Americans celebrates this holiday in many ways, but people mostly go to picnics and barbecues. It's also a day to be patriotic, so you'll often see the American flag and people dressed in red, white and blue. Parades are another common sight on the fourth of July. The custom of shooting off fireworks on Independence Day can be traced back to a quote by American second president, John Adams. He said that he believed that July 4th should be "celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations." The most outstanding firework displays take place in New York City and Washington. Both of these displays are televised nationally and the president even attends the display in Washington. On the fourth of July, you'll hear Us national anthem "The star spangled banner. The words were written by Francis Scott Key, who was inspired to write the lyrics after witnessing the battle of Fort McHenry in the War of 1812. Labor Day is celebrated nationwide in the US on the first Monday in September. It's been celebrated since 1894 at the federal level, and it's the only US federal holiday dedicated to American workers. The holiday arose from a time of political crises in the USA, and partially in reaction to a particularly bloody strike. It's also the unofficial end of the summer vacation and recreation season. The celebrations are informal and the main purpose of the holiday is re- ally to give a people a day off a work and to recognize what working men and women contribute to the nation. Every Labor Day you'll smell plenty of barbecues firing up. Parades are sometimes held to commemorate the day. Labor day was offered as an alternative to International worker's day due to the political nature of the latter. Fearing the political influence of the communist movements just starting up in Europe Congress and President Grover Cleveland needed to reach out to the American labor force. They rushed Labor Day through as a holiday it was already celebrated in several states to offer reconciliation with the labor movement and prevent the influence of more radical worker's movement's in Europe. Columbus Day celebrates the day that Christopher Columbus first arrived on the 12 of October , 1492 and discovered the New World. It's also popular in US cities with large Italian populations, though it's celebrated nationwide. New York City is particularly well-known for its large Columbus Day parade. San Francisco has the longest-running Columbus Day celebration, dating back to 1868. The Knights of Columbus is a charitable organization with very strong Italic and Catholic roots, they participate in just about every Columbus Day celebration. Columbus Day in the US is not celebrated in every state. In fact, some US states don't recognize it at all .There is controversy surrounding this holiday and it's been changed to a celebration of Native American cultures in some areas. Columbus didn't realize he'd been arrived in the Americas. This is why Native Americans are sometimes referred to as "Indians", which, incidentally, some way is politically incorrect. Columbus initially thought he was in the East Indies. Since 1919, November 11th has been a national holiday in the United States. Originally called "Armistice Day", Veterans Day commemorates the men and women who served in America's armed forces. This holiday is marked by parades, educational events, and gatherings at memorials to fallen soldiers. The holiday was originally specific to the ending of World War 1, but it became Veterans Day in 1954. During Veterans Day celebration's, the most important time of day is 11 a.m. The armistice that brought World War to a halt was signed on the 11th hour off the 11th day of the 11th month. Germany's agreement to this ceasefire brought an end to a war whose repercussions would be felt well into the next generation Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving during the dark days of the American Civil War. Even though the holiday was officially born during the conflict, it's more associated with the initially good relations between the first immigrants and the Native Americans. Thanksgiving, to a large extent , is about a feast with friends and family. Turkey is the traditional main course, with yams, squash, pumpkin pie, cranberries and other rich and filling foods rounding out the meal. Some families spend weeks preparing and to stuff oneself is most certainly encouraged. The Thanksgiving meal of today is rooted in the meal that the pilgrims from Europe shared with the Native Americans on the first Thanksgiving. Watching the football game while preparing the Thanksgiving meal is an important part of the celebration for many families. 2. Ethnic and Religious Holidays Christmas Day is celebrated on the 25th of December in US. Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Parades, gift giving, holiday displays, and lights galore mark the arrival of Christmas. Christmas in the US involves a great many types of celebration. For Christians, it means church services and social gatherings. Even people who don't celebrate the religious aspects of the holiday tend to enjoy gift giving, having family gatherings, and feasting together. Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved on the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December). Putting colorful lights on one's house is a very popular in US. The Christmas tree Artificial or natural it's common to see a conifer tree decorating the living room of most homes. There's also a National Christmas Tree in the US, which is lit up by the president at the beginning of December. Christmas traditional songs are "Silent Night", "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and others. Easter Sunday in the United States is among the most important religious holidays in the nation. There are also secular events held around this holiday, and in some cases, family celebrate traditions other than then Christian one. For Christians, the holiday is centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Services at the break of day are among the most popular church events. During these services, Christians come to church in the predawn hours and have their service as the sun rises. Some churches hold elaborate parades to celebrate the day. Aside from the religious traditions which vary from church to church, For some people, Easter Sunday is merely a celebration of spring. Secular events held during Easter Sunday include Easter egg hunts. The Popular Easter symbols such as the Easter bunny and egg dyed were introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. Kwanzaa – a secular festival observed by many African Americans as a celebration of their cultural heritage. The holiday originated in 1966 and is held from December 26 until January 1st. Today, it provides an opportunity for African Americans and other US citizens to learn about each other, as well as day that serves as a uniquely African-American holiday. Kwanzaa came out of the 1960s in the United States, when racial tensions were particularly high. Many leaders in the African-American community wanted to create cultural events and holidays that were specific to African Americans. Kwanzaa is very much centered on community. The holiday’s name comes from a Swahili term, which refers to both tradition and reason. There are seven principles associated with Kwanzaa: unity, collective work and responsibility, self-determination, purpose, cooperative economics, creativity and faith. The holiday was recently commemorated with its own stamp issued by the United States Postal Service. Kwanzaa has a seven candle candelabra that’s lit over the course of the holiday. A pow wow is a large social gathering of Native American tribes and individuals. Every year, hundreds of powwows occur on Native American reservations and in other locations across the nation from March through August. Pow-wows are lively occasions that include tribal dance and dance competitions, drumming, singing, Indian foods, art, crafts, educational events, presentations, and in some areas, a rodeo. Despite the festive atmosphere, powwows are also spiritual occasions that involve rituals, blessings, and respectful protocol. These are times for Native Americans to strengthen ties of culture, community and tradition, and to celebrate heritage and history. The word “pow-wow” comes from an Algonquin Indian word “pauwau” or “pauau,” which referred to tribal spiritual leaders and their religious and healing ceremonies. The ceremonies usually included dancing and rituals, which were sometimes seen by early European settlers and explorers. Because they did not understand Indian culture or ceremonies, they thought a “pow- wow,”—their mispronunciation of the Indian word—was any tribal gathering or event. 3. Fun days Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th every year. Valentine's Day has strong associations with what was called a courtly love in the High Middle Ages. Although there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine, the day may have taken its name from a priest who was martyred about 269 ce by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus. According to legend, the priest signed a letter “from your Valentine” to his jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and, by some accounts, healed from blindness. Other accounts hold that it was St. Valentine of Terni, a bishop, for whom the holiday was named, though it is possible the two saints were actually one person. Another common legend states that St. Valentine defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love. Valentine's day is, among other things, a day when one partner is encouraged to essentially court their partner as they would before they were dating or married. Presenting a wife, lover, girlfriend or boyfriend with flowers, candy, and other romantic gifts is a huge part of Valentine's day traditions. In some cases, people in the US who are currently single will do something special for a friend who means a eat deal to them and to whom they want to express affection, even though it's not romantic affection. Valentine's Days cards are among the most impressive pieces of artwork associated with this holiday. On October 31st dozens of children dressed in costumes, knock on neighbors’ doors and yell“ Trick or Treat ” ( “Give us a treat, or we’ll play a joke on you!”) when the door opens. Pirates and princesses, ghosts, and popular heroes and heroines of the day all hold bags open to catch the candy or other goodies that the neighbors drop in. As they give each child a treat, the neighbors exclaim over the costumes and try to guess who is under the masks. This holiday started in Ireland. Halloween was originally a festival of the dead. It is celebrated on the 31st of October. Halloween means All Hallows Eve (800s AD) . This was the day and evening before All Saints’ Day, a holy day that was celebrated on November 1st. People thought that the evening before is the time when the veil between the living and the dead is lifted and witches, ghosts and other creatures are about. So this holiday is associated with death and supernatural. Like some other American holidays, Halloween customs evolved from a mix of traditions. In ancient times, October 31st was the eve of the Celtic New Year. The Celts, who lived over 2,000 years ago, were the ancestors of the present-day Irish, Welsh, and Scottish people. On this day, the Celts held the festival of Samhain in honor of the Celtic lord of the dead. In the evening, Samhain allowed ghosts to walk and mingle with the living, or so the Celts thought. The towns people baked food all that day, and when night came, they dressed up in animal heads and skins, and attended a great bonfire, set by their priests, the Druids. Hoping that the ghosts would leave peacefully before the new year, the people carried the food they had made to the edge of town and left it for the spirits to find. The celebration of Samhain also marked the end of the harvest season, and the beginning of the cold, dark time of year. Over time, however, Halloween became a celebration mostly for children. “When millions of Irish, British, and others from Celtic regions immigrated to the United States in the 1840s, the traditions came with them. At Halloween parties, children play games, listen to ghost stories, enjoy snacks, and decorate their Halloween “trick-or-treat” bag for the evening. One traditional Halloween game is bobbing for apples. One child at a time has to get an apple from a tub of water without using any hands! By sinking his or her face into the water and biting into the apple! Halloween originated in part as a celebration connected with evil spirits and the dead. Witches flying on broomsticks with black cats, ghosts, goblins, and skeletons have all evolved as symbols of Halloween. Pumpkins are also a symbol of Halloween. Since the pumpkin is a large, orange-colored squash, orange has become the other traditional Halloween color. Carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns is a Halloween custom dating back to Ireland. A legend grew up about a man named Jack who was so stingy that he was not allowed into heaven when he died. His spirit was doomed to wander around the countryside, holding a lantern to light his way. Groundhog Day is a fun tradition in the United States. It’s not a national holiday and nobody gets a day off, but everybody waits to see whether the groundhog predicts that spring will come early or late. It takes place on February 2nd. Groundhog Day comes at the time of year when winter has dragged on for quite a while and when people are ready for spring. Of course, the groundhog really cannot predict whether spring come early or late, but when he it predicts that spring is on its way soon, people are much more chipper. Groundhog Day might not be a national holiday, but it’s certainly important and well-known tradition in the United States. Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, which is as close to a national capital for the holiday as there is, receives approximately 40,000 people every year who come to celebrate the day. Groundhog Day involves a rather simple tradition. When the groundhog looks out of his burrow, its prediction is based upon his choice to either go back into his burrow or to come out. If the weather is cloudy and it doesn’t see its shadow, the legend holds that it’ll stay out of its burrow, signaling that that spring will come soon. If it sees its shadow and goes back into its burrow, it means that there are six more weeks of winter on the way. Conclusion Although the United States is young compared to other countries, its culture and traditions are rich because of the contributions made by the many groups of people who have come to its shores over the past two centuries. Hundreds of regional holidays have originated from the geography, climate and history of the different parts of the country. Each state holds its own annual fair with local themes and music; and some celebrate the day on which they joined the Union and became a state. The population of the United States is made up of people of very many nationalities. Their predecessors came to America from different countries, and they brought their native celebrations with them. They all become Americans, but they kept many traditions of those countries they had come from. That is why the number of holidays in different states of America is different. But the most important holidays are marked throughout the United States. There are a lot of holidays in the USA. Many of them are associated with the history of the nation. The main holidays of the USA are New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. American holidays are strikingly different in origin and show surprising similarities in the manner of their celebration. No matter what the holiday's origin is, they all seem to be the same thing. A holiday has simply become, for most Americans, a day off from work, though some (for example, Thanksgiving and Christmas) retain some individuality. References 1) https://usa.usembassy.de/etexts/hol/celebrate.pdf 2) www.sossoukyjov.cz/.../anj/10_festivals_UK_and_USA.pdf 3) https://americanenglish.state.gov/.../celebrate-holidays-usa 4) https://usa.usembassy.de/holidays-ethnic.htm 5) https://www.rong-chang.com/us_holidays.htm 6) https://www.internationalstudentguidetotheusa.com/.../holida... 7) www.usatourist.com/english/.../holidays/holidays-main.html 8)https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Public_holidays_in_the_Uni ted_States&oldid=840178098> [accessed 13 June 2018]
