1. 2012-04-23 1

2. Groundhog Day is celebrated on February 2. This is festival started In XIX century in Pennsylvania and it predicts the arrival of spring. 2012-04-23 2

3. On this day, when a groundhog wakes up and it is a cloudy day, it means that spring will come early. If it is sunny, the groundhog will see shadow and go back to burrow and that means that the winter weather will be for six more weeks. 2012-04-23 3

4. The day is usually celebrated with racial events. People meet in the middle of towns, food is served, speeches are made and some plays are shown for entertainment. 2012-04-23 4

5. The largest Groundhog Day celebration is in Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania. Every year, since 1886, at least 40.400 people meet to celebrate the holiday! 2012-04-23 5

6. A famous film ‘Groundhog Day’, with Bill Murray, was made there. The funniest thing is that groundhog’s weather forecast is true in more 60% of the situation. 2012-04-23 6

7. Independence Day, also known as the Fourth of July is the most popular national holiday in USE. People celebrate the Declaration of Independence of July 4, day when America hd became independent from the Kingdom of Great Britain. 2012-04-23 7

8. During the American Revolution (1775 - 1783), Thirteen Colonies separated and opposed to Great Britain. On 4 July in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, and the 13 colonies were free from Great Britain. 2012-04-23 8

9. On this special day, people in every little town and city celebrate. It is a big festival of firework displays, parades and parties. Families meet at picnics or barbecues. Decorations are in red, white and blue – the colours of the American Flag (Star and Stripes). 2012-04-23 9

10. There are plays or concerts held. People sing patriotic songs such as national anthem ‘The Star – Spangled Banner’, ‘Goo Bless America, ‘America is Beautiful’ and ‘Stars and stripes Forever’. 2012-04-23 10

11. It is the most colourful and joyful celebration of the year. People have fun usually for more than just one day, because Americans often go on vacation trips. 2012-04-23 11

12. Halloween is celebrated on October 31, the night before, also known as All Hallows’ Evening All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Day. 2012-04-23 12

13. In the past people believed that on this night souls of the dead wander around living people before going into next world. People wore masks and costumes so the souls would not see you, and lighted candles to show them the way. 2012-04-23 13

14. Today, a typical Halloween means trick-or- treating going to costume pasties, making jack-o’- lanterns from a pumpkin, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted attractions. Some tell scary stories or watch horror films. 2012-04-23 14

15. I think children, not only in the USA, like this day the most. They can dress up like a monsters, ghosts, skeletons, witches, zombies or devils and go from one house to another playing jokes and asking for sweets. The most popular food on this day is a candy apple and pumpkin cake. 2012-04-23 15

16. 2012-04-23 Basia Mikołajewska16