American celebrate Christmas and New Year's Day, Easter, Halloween, St. Valentine's Day as the English do. But there are some American holidays. They are Martin Luther King's Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labour Day, Columbus Day and Thanks-giving.
Independence day is the most important American holiday. They celebrate it on the 4th of July. On the 4th of July in 1776 the American colonies declared their independence from Britain. Americans usually have picnics on this day.
Martin Luther King's Day is celebrated in January. Martin Luther King was a famous fighter for civil rights for Afro-Americans. In the 1950s and 1960s he organized the civil rights movement. In 1968 he was assasinated. Presidents" day is celebrated in February. It is the day on which George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are honoured. They were born in February. George Washington was the first American president. Abraham Lincoln headed the country during the Civil War and put on end to slavery.
Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. On this day Americans honour the soldiers killed in war. There are always parades on this day.
On the first Monday in September Americans celebrate Labour Day. They honour the American worker.
Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday of October. Americans mark the coming of Columbus"s ship to America. They honour the man who was the discoverer of their country.
On the 31st of October Americans celebrate Halloween. On this day children dress in fancy costumes as witches, ghosts and other monsters or characters from TV programmes.
They go from house to house, knock at the door and say: "Trick or treat." People give them sweets, fruit or cakes. If they don't get something tasty, they play a trick on people.
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. People go to church and families come together for the day. They decorate their houses with fruit and flowers of autumn and prepare traditional American food: roast turkey, potatoes and pumpkin. They thank God for many things. This holiday was first celebrated in 1621 by the colonists after their first good harvest.
Washington's birthday is celebrated on the 22nd of February. It's a great day for shoppers. The department stores of Washington D. C. started a national tradition of sales marked by unusual bargains.
Answer the questions.
|1.What holidays do Americans celebrate as the English do?
2. What is the most important American holiday? When is this holiday celebrated?
|3. Why do Americans celebrate Independence Day? What do they usually do on this day?
4. What was Martin Luther King? What movement did he organize? When was he assassinated?
5. Why do Americans celebrate Presidents' Day in February? What were George Washington and Abraham Lincoln?
6. When is Washington's birthday celebrated?
7. Who do Americans honour on Memorial Day?
8. When do Americans celebrate Labour Day?
9. What was Columbus? Why do Americans honour Columbus?
10. Why do people in America dress in fancy costumes on the 31th of October? What do theyusually do on this day?
11. When was Thanksgiving Day first celebrated? Why? What do Americans thank God for on this day? What do they usually have for Thanksgiving dinner?
| HOLIDAY | DATE |
| 1. New Year's Day | January, 1st |
| 2. Martin Luther King's Day | January, third Monday |
| 3. St. Valentine's Day | February, 14th |
| 4. Presidents' Day | February, third Monday |
| 5. Washington's Birthday | February, 22nd |
| 6. St. Partick's Day | March, 17th |
| 7. April Fool's Day | April, Ã1 |
| 8. Easter | late March or early April |
| 9. Memorial Day | May, last Monday |
| 10. Mother's Day | May, one Sunday |
| 11. Father's Day | June, one Sunday |
| 12. Flag Day | June, 14th |
| 13, Independence Day | July, 4th |
| 14. Labour Day | September, first Monday |
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