Listen and write Listen to lecture on cassette as many times as necessary in order to complete diagram about types of American holidays. Fill in with names of holidays in box. Earth Day Easter Halloween Independence Day Memorial Day Mor s Day New Year s Day President s Day Valentine s Day Patriotic (Events) Thanksgiving Veterans Day FEDERAL HOLIDAYS Patriotic (People) Religious Special Days Columbus Day Martin Lur King, Jr., Day Christmas Labor Day
Religious Ethnic Hanukkah Passover St. Patrick s Day Celebration Special April Fool s Day Days Days Far s Day Or
Listen to cassette for description of holiday calendar. In chart below, write in ordinal numbers you hear. Note that some holidays are celebrated on same date every year, and ors are always celebrated on same day of month. Same Date Every Year Same Day Every Year Same Date Every Year JANUARY New Year s Day: Martin Lur King, Jr.. Day: MAY FEBRUARY Valentine s Day: President s Day: JUNE MARCH St. Patrick s Day: JULY Independence Day: APRIL April Fool s Day: AUGUST Same Day Every Year Mor s Day: Far s Day: Same Date Every Year Sunday Memorial Day: SEPTEMBER Sunday OCTOBER Halloween: NOVEMBER Veterans Day: DECEMBER Christmas: Same Date Every Year Labor Day: Columbus Day: Thanksgiving: Thursday Holidays Many people spend New Year s Day resting. That s because y ve stayed up most of night, greeting new year! Some went to parties at friends homes or at nightclubs. Ors were out on streets, throwing confetti and bowling noisemakers. Many people make New Year s resolutions (to eat less, to work more, etc.). Few people keep ir resolutions. In 1950s and 1960s, Martin Lur King, Jr., led civil rights movement- struggle foe equal rights for black Americans (see page 66-70).King was assassinated in 1968. Martin Lur King, Jr. Day, which falls in January, around King s birthday is a time to celebrate life and achievements of this great American.
Two or great Americans are honored on Presidents Day. George Washington was country s first president. Abraham Lincoln bought country through Civil War (see page 56-57 and 66-68). Their birthdays were both in February and are celebrated toger. Memorial Day honors American soldiers killed in war. There are many parades on Memorial Day. Memorial Day, which comes on last in May, is also unofficial beginning of summer vacation season. On Memorial Day, many people go to beach. The most important American holiday is Fourth of July, or Independence Day. On July 4, 1776, American colonies declared ir independence from Britain (see page 52). Many families celebrate Fourth of July by having picnics and, at night, watching fireworks. Labor Day honors American workers. Just as Memorial Day, which falls on first in September, marks end of summer. For many students, school year starts day after Labor Day. Columbus Day celebrates Christopher Columbus s arrival in Americas in 1492. As Columbus was Italian, working for Spain, Columbus Day is an especially important holiday for many Italian- Americans and Hispanic-Americans. Although Halloween, on October 31, is not an official holiday, it is a very special day. On Halloween, children dress in costume as all kinds of things- as witches, ghosts, monsters, pirates, TV characters, and even computers and cereal boxes. The windows of many houses have Halloween decorations and jack-o -lanterns. (Jack-o -lanterns are pumpkins that have been carved with strange faces and have a candle inside.) In evening, children go from house to house, knocking on doors and saying trick or treat. The people in houses give children candy or some or treat. If y don t, children might play a small trick on m! In 1620 one of first British settlements in America was established in Massachusetts. These settlers, known as Pilgrims, had come to America to freely practice ir religion. They arrived in November, when it was too late to plant crops. Although many people died, Pilgrim settlement survived winter because of help from Indians who lived nearby. The Indians taught Pilgrims about corn and showed m where to fish. The next November, after crops are
harvested, Pilgrim gave thanks to God at a feast to which y invited Indians. Every year, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. Families and friends get toger for a big feast. The meal usually includes roast turkey with stuffing and gravy, a sweet sauce made from cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. What a meal! It s not surprising that a recent Thanksgiving tradition is to it after dinner in front of TV watching a professional football game. Christmas, marking birth of Christ in Christian religion, is anor time when families get toger. Christmas is an important time for giving gifts. In fact, people start buying gifts right after Thanksgiving, although Christmas is a month away. Many families put up a Christmas tree and bake lots of special Christmas cookies. Small children believe that ir gifts come from Santa Claus. Their parents tell m that Santa lives in North Pole and, on night before Christmas, he travels around world in a sled pulled by reindeer. He goes down chimney of houses to leaves gifts for children who have been good. Naturally, children are first to get out of bed on Christmas morning. Quiz: What do you remember about United States? Answer following questions. 1. Where did first people to settle North America come from? 2. In years 1870-1930, what part of world did many immigrants to United States come from? 3. What two parts of world are most immigrants from today? 4. Why does U.S. Government have a system of checks and balances? 5. What are two major political parties in United States? 6. What written document set up basic government of United States? 7. Why does United States have to import many resources? 8. What are some U.S. exports? 9. Does United States have an official religion?
10. What is single largest religious grouping United States? 11. What is a reconstituted family? 12. What is generation gap? 13. How many basic levels are re in U.S. educational system? 14. Do most American children attend public school or private school? 15. What does Fourth of July celebrate? 16. On what day will you see many jack-o -lanterns? 17. What was reason for first Thanksgiving? Cloze Americans love holidays and celebrate a variety of days all through. They observe federal holidays, which give m a off school or work, and or celebration days without a day off. The government of United States has declared ten.. holidays. On se holidays, all federal government offices, banks, and post offices are.. Since American states have ir own governments, each.... has a right to decide which of federal holidays it will. Private businesses can decide which of se federal holidays ir employees will observe with a. day. As it happens, most states and businesses. at least of federal holidays, so everyone can have at least nine days off from. or every year. There are several different.. of federal holidays. Some are holidays, which remember important.. in history of United States. For instance, Thanksgiving is a day to remember very beginnings of and first people that came and in America. Anor holiday, Independence Day, celebrates American colonies Declaration of Independence from.. and birth of United States. Veterans Day and. Day honor Americans who have fought and died in wars.
Or federal holidays are patriotic in a different way. They remember important. in country s history. For example, Columbus Day Christopher Columbus, explorer financed by Spain who opened America to European exploration. Two presidents, George and Abraham Lincoln, are honored February on Presidents Day. Finally, Martin Lur King, Jr., Day honors a. African American civil rights leaders. Some federal holidays are special days that are also. In or countries, but perhaps in different ways and at different times of year. New.. Day is one of se special days. Labor Day, a holiday which honors all people, is anor. Most. holidays are not federal holidays because American constitution separates government from church. However, re is one religious holiday that is also a federal holiday, and that is.. There are also many..days of celebration in United States that are not observed with.from school or work. These days are celebrated with ir own special.., eir by all Americans or by specific.or religious groups. Some different types of se celebration days are religious holidays and ethnic holidays. Religious holidays are celebrated by Americans of different religious For example, Easter is a day celebrated by Christians, and Hanukkah and Passover are examples of.. holidays. Ethnic holidays are celebrated with special traditions brought to this country by many.who came to United States from all over world. For example, St. Patrick s Day is a holiday which celebrates.background of many Americans. Americans also have a number of special celebrations just for fun,.. and family, such as., a special day on which children dress up in.. and eat lots of candy. April Fool s Day is celebrated by playing little. on friends. There are also holidays to parents, such as Mor s Day and Far s, and a holiday just for Valentine s Day.
As time goes on, or days become pert of American holiday One example of this is Earth Day, a special day in April that honors This day is observed by more and more Americans each year who are interested in. earth. Although it is difficult to get Congress to agree to add a new federal holiday to American calendar, re is always room for new celebrations.