Projekt: CZ.1.07/1.5.00/ Autor: American Holidays Czech, American and British Holidays VY_32_INOVACE_45-06_VP_American_Holidays Mgr. Veronika Richterová

AMERICAN HOLIDAYS

In the United States of America there are these public holidays

New Year‘s Day Martin Luther King Day President‘s Day Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans‘ Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day and Boxing Day

There are also holidays which are not official but are generally known and popular

St. Patrick‘s Day Easter Monday Mother‘s Day Father‘s Day Halloween April Fool‘s Day

Many of the holidays celebrated in America are celebrated also in the United Kingdom and all over the world. Although there are some differencies, they are celebrated in a similar way. However, there are some holidays that are purely American or are celebrated in a specific way.

These are the most important American holidays: THANKSGIVING INDEPENDENCE DAY

BRITISH AND AMERICAN HOLIDAYS BRITISH HOLIDAYSAMERICAN HOLIDAYS GUY FAWKES‘ DAYTHANKSGIVING INDEPENDENCE DAY

THANKSGIVING Thanksgiving is an American holiday which is celebrated the fourth Thursday in November. It commemorates the first English colonists Pilgrim Fathers who sailed to America in There was no food and cruel winter and conditions. Luckily, Indians helped them. The Puritans wanted to thank them and invited them for a dinner. THANKS!!!

The most important feature of Thanksgiving is the Thanksgiving dinner. The traditional Thanksgiving meal is usually a turkey filled with stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce, followed by a pumpkin pie. TURKEY PUMPKIN PIE CRANBERRY SAUCE OUCH!

INDEPENDENCE DAY Independence Day is celebrated on the 4 th of July and it is also known as the Fourth of July - July Fourth. It commemorates the date when the USA was founded and the adoption of constitution. 4th of July, 1776

It is the national day of the US. There are fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, concerts, baseball games and political speeches.

Here are other specifically American holidays

MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY This holiday is celebrated on third Monday in January and celebrates Martin Luther King. He was an activist and he fought against racial segregation. He helped to obtain civil rights for the black people. He was murdered.

PRESIDENT‘S DAY President’s Day is celebrated on third Monday in February. It was originally held in honour of the birthday of the first American president George Washington. Nowadays it remembers all the American presidents.

MEMORIAL DAY It is celebrated on the last Monday in May. Although it remembers all the soldiers, it is also taken as unofficial start of summer. COLUMBUS DAY This American holiday is celebrated on the second Monday in October. It commemorates Christopher Columbus – a sailor who discovered America in I AM IN INDIA!

VETERANS DAY Veterans day is celebrated on second Monday in Novemeber and it commemorates the official end of WWI in 1918 and the war veterans. Nowadays, it remembers all the people who have died during any war. People light candles and visit special mass.

NOTE!!! Veterans Day exists also in Britain. It is celebrated on the 11th of November and because of the same reason. BUT! In Britain it is called REMEMBRANCE DAY! AMERICABRITAIN VETERANS DAYREMEMBRANCE DAY

AND IS THIS THE END? NO!!! LET‘S JUST HAVE A LOOK AT SLIGHT DIFFERENCIES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN CHRISTMAS AND EASTER!

EASTER Easter is celebrated in a similar way as in Great Britain. The only difference is that they don’t keep the tradition of egg-rolling in America.

CHRISTMAS Christmas is also celebrated in a similar way as in Great Britain. The Americans just don’t celebrate Boxing Day so much. The presents brings Santa Claus instead of Father Christmas.

Thanksgiving, Independence Day, Veterans Day QUESTIONS Which are the most important American holidays? When and why is Thanskgiving celebrated? Which does typical Thanksgiving dinner consist of? Thanksgiving is celebrated on fourth Thursday in November. People commemorate the Indians who helped the Pilgrim Fathers in Typical Thanksgiving dinner consists of a turkey, followed by a pumpkin pie.

When and why is celebrated Independence Day? What do people do on that day? When and why is celebrated Veterans Day? Tell some other specifically American holidays Independence Day is celebrated on the 4th of July and we commemorate the foundation of the USA. On Independence day people do parades, fireworks, are on picnic or play baseball games. Veterans Day is celebrated on the 11th of November and it remembers the end of the WWI and all the war veterans. Martin Luther King Day, President‘s Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day.

Použitá literatura a zdroje PEPRNÍK, Jaroslav. Británie a USA: ilustrované reálie. 1. vyd. Olomouc: Nakladatelství Olomouc, 2004, 407 s.: barevné fotografie. ISBN online.cz/maturita/maturitni-temata/Holidays and Celebrations/The American Federal Holidays online.cz/maturita/maturitni-temata/Holidays