Крупнейшие праздники сша

Америка – огромная многонациональная страна, на территории которой проживают представители совершенно различных этнических групп. Это не малым образом повлияло на становление культурных традиций и обычаев этой страны. Практически каждый американский регион привнес в культуру США что-то новое, навеянное духом эпохи колониализма, когда земли штатов были заселены англичанами, испанцами, голландцами, немцами и другими народами.

Федеральные праздники США

Американцы, как и представители других народов мира, очень любят разнообразные праздники. Здесь их огромное количество. Интересно, что на территории США не существует четко установленных государственных праздников. В результате каждый американский штат имеет право назначать свои собственные в зависимости от преобладающего на его территории этнического состава населения. Особенности вероисповедания являются ключевыми в установлении того или иного праздника.

Таких национальных праздников в США бессчетное количество. Но, несмотря на многообразие народов и обычаев, на территории США установлены определенные праздничные дни, которые отмечаются по всей стране, вне зависимости от национальности, вероисповедания или цвета кожи. Такие праздники в США называются федеральными. К ним относятся 11 главных праздников.

Новый год – отмечать его начинают в ночь на 1 января, как правило, шумными веселыми компаниями в ресторанах, клубах, казино, на карнавалах и вечеринках. Главным атрибутом американского Нового года является кукла беби – младенец в подгузнике. В течение всего года ребенок растет и постепенно стареет. В начале года ему на смену приходит юный беби и все начинается снова. В новый год американцы дарят друг другу поздравительные открытки и сувениры. Вечером друзья и родные собираются за праздничным столом, чтобы отметить этот чудесный праздник.

День Мартина Лютера Кинга – официально принято отмечать в 3-й понедельник января. В этот знаменательный день в США вспоминают великого борца за свободу и независимость – Мартина Кинга. Во всех храмах страны проводятся службы и проповеди, посвященные жизни и деятельности этого невероятного человека. По всем телевизионным и радиовещательным каналам транслируются передачи, рассказывающие о Мартине Лютере и других известных борцах за свободу. Этот день в стране официально объявлен выходным.

Инаугурацию президента США, в соответствии с Конституцией США, принято проводить 20 января. Это роскошная торжественная церемония, посвященная официальному вступлению в должность американского президента. Обычно это грандиозное событие проводится в Вашингтоне, прямо перед великолепным зданием Капитолия. Президент, окруженный огромной толпой зрителей, приносит присягу и произносит свою коронную речь. Празднование заканчивается большим парадом, а вечером для всех желающих устраивается сказочный бал. 20 января 2017 года состоялась инаугурация Дональда Трампа. Он стал 45-м президентом США.

День президентов США – приходится на 3-й понедельник февраля. Истоки праздника берут свое начало в 1782 году – первое общественное празднование Джорджем Вашингтоном своего дня рождения. В 19-м столетии этот день превратился в официальный государственный праздник. Высокопоставленные чиновники и знаменитые общественные деятели устраивают торжественные балы и роскошные фуршеты. Простые люди веселятся в барах, ресторанах и тавернах. Этот день значится по всей стране официальным выходным.

День поминовения – американцы отмечают в последний понедельник мая. Национальный день памяти и скорби, посвященный всем погибшим в жестоких кровопролитных войнах, в трагических катастрофах, жертвам стихийных бедствий (лавины, наводнения, землетрясения, ураганы). На городских кладбищах проводятся памятные мероприятия, в церквях проходят службы, проповеди и мессы. Символом праздника являются огромные красные маки. На улицы городов и пригородов выходят цветочники с большими корзинами маков. Средства, полученные от продажи цветов, идут на благотворительность. Поэтому в США трудно встретить в этот день человека без маков в руках. Этой дате в Америке придают особое значение.

День независимости – в США принято отмечать ежегодно 4 июля. Это великий национальный праздник, посвященный свободе и независимости страны. Каждое здание страны, каждый магазин, ресторан или офис, каждый дом украшен американскими флагами. Этот день в США принято отмечать в кругу семьи. Многие празднуют это событие на лоне природы – выезжают загород и устраивают веселые пикники или готовят барбекю у себя во дворе. В городских парках проводятся различные развлекательные мероприятия и спортивные соревнования: играет патриотическая музыка, жарятся шашлыки и хот-доги, взрываются фейерверки, люди в национальных костюмах поют и танцуют. Символом праздника является всемирно известная статуя Свободы. Огромным шумным потоком американцы устремляются к символическому мемориалу. Из-за большого количества желающих попасть в этот день на остров Свободы очень трудно.

День труда – в Америке приходится на 1-й понедельник сентября. В этот торжественный день во всех городах и пригородах США проходят праздничные демонстрации и шествия. Америка чествует людей, которые внесли неоценимый вклад в искусство, промышленность, политику, спорт, экономику и развитие страны. Газеты и журналы пестрят поздравительными открытками и объявлениями, посвященными всем трудящимся. Этот праздник обычно отмечается на природе – устраиваются уютные кемпинги и пикники, жарятся барбекю и сосиски на костре.

День Колумба – официально празднуется во 2-й понедельник октября. Из истории известно, что в октябре 1492 года великий итальянский путешественник Христофор Колумб достиг побережья Америки. Днем над всеми главными зданиями страны поднимается государственный флаг США. В церквях служатся торжественные мессы, на городских улицах проводятся парады. На площадях Нью-Йорка и Сан-Франциско устраиваются грандиозные праздничные концерты и шоу. Интересно, что на территории некоторых отдельных штатов этот день не отмечается (Калифорния, Невада).

День ветеранов – отмечается в США в ноябре, 11-го числа. Американцы выходят на улицы городов, чтобы воздать дань памяти всем погибшим в страшных жестоких войнах, а также чествовать всех ветеранов, принимавших участие в том или ином вооруженном конфликте. В этот день на городских площадях проводятся военные парады, в церквях служатся поминальные мессы. Символическим является возложение венков к памятнику Неизвестному Солдату, расположенному в столице страны на Арлингтонском кладбище. Здесь проводятся самые торжественные мероприятия. Ветераны собираются вместе, вспоминают о страшных событиях своей жизни и поминают погибших товарищей добрым словом или молитвой.

День благодарения – в Америке празднуется в последний четверг ноября. За праздничным столом собирается огромная семья, каждый благодарит судьбу за все хорошее, что случилось в его жизни. Символом праздника является жареная индейка. В центре стола стоит большая корзина, наполненная яблоками, каштанами, виноградом, апельсинами, орехами – как олицетворение достатка и благополучия. Дома украшают букетами хризантем и небольшими веточками со спелыми ягодами. Во всех церквях США проводятся торжественные службы. А на городских улицах устраиваются костюмированные парады.

Рождество – американцы празднуют ежегодно 25 декабря. Это один из самых любимых праздников в Америке. Его с нетерпением и трепетом ждут и взрослые, и дети. Задолго до праздника улицы и дома украшаются яркими разноцветными гирляндами. У входа можно увидеть огромные фигуры Санта-Клаусов, сказочных гномов, веселых снеговиков или северных оленей. Почти в каждом доме сверкает основной атрибут праздника – нарядная елка. Заранее готовятся подарки и поздравительные открытки. По традиции в этот день принято печь пироги и печенья. Но главным рождественским блюдом является фаршированная индейка. В Рождественскую ночь многие американцы выходят на городскую площадь, чтобы повеселиться от души. Здесь царит атмосфера тепла, добра и праздника. Дети подвешивают у камина разноцветные чулки и верят, что ночью их посетит Санта и принесет им кучу подарков.

Другие праздники

Кроме федеральных праздников на территории США отмечают еще и множество других знаменательных дат.

День сурка – в Америке празднуют ежегодно 2 февраля. Американцы утверждают, что в этот день после долгой зимы просыпается сурок, чтобы предсказать, насколько ранней будет весна. Если день солнечный, значит весна будет поздней, если же погода облачная, весна уже спешит. Живет этот чудесный зверек в городе Панксутоне (штат Пенсильвания). Каждый год 2 февраля у Индюшачьей горы собирается толпа зевак, сюда одетые в традиционные смокинги и цилиндры приходят несколько джентльменов, чтобы выполнить основной ритуал – вытащить маленького «предсказателя» из норки.

День святого Валентина – принято отмечать 14 февраля. В этот день все влюбленные обмениваются яркими разноцветными валентинками – маленькими поздравительными открытками в виде сердец, дарят подарки. Мужчины посылают своим дамам большие охапки цветов.

День доброты – празднуется ежегодно в феврале, 17-го числа. Этот праздник был принят по инициативе крупных международных благотворительных фондов. В этот день американцы несут стране добро – улыбки не сходят с их лиц, каждый нуждающийся сможет получить помощь и заботу. Особенно активно работают фонды милосердия и благотворительности, люди со всех концов страны шлют сюда свои пожертвования.

День святого Патрика – это истинно ирландский праздник. Так как представителей этой национальности на территории США огромное количество, то здесь этот день отмечается с большой радостью. 17 марта на улицы городов и пригородов выходят ирландцы, одетые в зеленые одежды, чтобы почтить память святого Патрика – покровителя всей Ирландии. Шумно и весело проходят парады: звучат национальные песни, сопровождающиеся народными плясками. Всюду пестрят ирландские флаги.

Хэллоуин – в Америке отмечается 31 октября. Этот праздник берет свое начало в далеком прошлом из древней кельтской культуры. Американцы верят, что в эту ночь по улицам гуляют нечистые духи. В этот день в каждом доме готовятся праздничные угощения, чтобы задобрить духов и не навлечь на себя беды. Люди выходят на улицы в обличии монстров, мумий, чудовищ, держа в руках главный атрибут Хэллоуина – вырезанный из тыквы светильник. Во дворах устанавливаются деревенские пугала. Дети в этот день ходят по домам и выпрашивают сладкие лакомства.

День смеха – как и в России, празднуется ежегодно 1 апреля. В Америке в этот день устраиваются праздничные обеды, дарятся подарки. В стране царит атмосфера веселья – шуток, розыгрышей и хорошего настроения.

Международный день Земли – приходится на 22 апреля. Праздник посвящен экологии, охране природы, защите растений и животных. Этот день призван объединять всех жителей огромной планеты с целью защищать и беречь окружающий нас мир. В городских парках производятся работы по уборке и озеленению территории, облагораживаются приусадебные участки и дворы, проводится масса мероприятий, посвященных экологическим катастрофам.

День рождения Джорджа Вашингтона – в США празднуют в феврале – 22-го числа. Вспоминаются все заслуги первого американского президента, по телевидению транслируются передачи, посвященные жизни и деятельности Джорджа Вашингтона. Праздничный обед сопровождается вкусным вишневым пирогом.

День отца – в стране отмечается в 3-е воскресенье июня. В этот день все отцы получают поздравления и подарки. Для них готовятся вкусные обеды.

День свободы вероисповедания – американцы отмечают ежегодно 16 января. В этот день во всех образовательных и бизнес-учреждениях устраиваются специальные мероприятия, посвященные истории и религии США. Несколько десятков лет назад в штате Вирджиния президентом Томасом Джефферсоном был впервые принят закон о свободе вероисповедания.

День рождения Роберта Ли – празднуется в январе – 19-го числа. Праздник посвящен талантливому военачальнику Роберту Эдварду Ли. В этот день американцы воздают дань памяти и уважения этому знаменитому человеку, вспоминают о его неоценимых заслугах.

День свободы – в Америке отмечают первого февраля. Несколько десятилетий назад, 1 февраля, Авраамом Линкольном был подписан законодательный акт об отмене рабства. Традиционным жестом считается возложение венков к знаменитому Колоколу Свободы. Он воплощает в себе символ свободы и независимости всего американского народа. На городских площадях устраиваются праздничные мероприятия и концерты.

День рождения Авраама Линкольна – празднуется ежегодно в феврале – 12-го числа. В этот день американцы вспоминают все заслуги этого талантливого и могущественного человека. К его мемориалу, расположенному в Вашингтоне, возлагаются венки и приносятся цветы.

День цветных женщин – американки отмечают в первый день весны, 1-го марта. Основная цель этого праздника донести до миллионов людей те проблемы расизма, которые существуют в каждой стране мира. Созданная на территории США Ассоциация цветных женщин призвана объединять все слои населения, вне зависимости от цвета кожи или вероисповедания, оградить большую часть населения от грубых проявлений расизма. Данная ассоциация направлена на восстановление сотрудничества между разными этническими группами.

День доктора – национальный американский праздник, отмечающийся 30 марта. В это день чествуют всех представителей этой чудесной профессии. Символом этой знаменательной даты является ярко-красная гвоздика.

День Сесара Чавеса – посвящен великому человеку, активно отстаивавшему трудовые права простых сельскохозяйственных рабочих. Он отмечается в последний день марта.

Православную и католическую Пасху американцы празднуют 24 апреля. Это великий церковный праздник, воспевающий чудесное воскресение сына Божьего – Иисуса Христа.

День древонасаждения – в Америке празднуется в последнюю пятницу апреля. История праздника уходит своими корнями в древнюю культуру ацтекских племен. Он посвящен посадке деревьев, облагораживанию и озеленению городских парков и улиц.

День ветеранов вьетнамской войны – в США празднуют 30 апреля. В этот день американцы вспоминают всех погибших в той ужасной войне, а также чествуют ветеранов.

День матери – отмечается во 2-е воскресенье мая. Он посвящен всем американским матерям.

День государственного флага – американцы празднуют в июне – 14-го числа. В этот день жители США чествуют национальное звездно-полосатое знамя. Красный цвет символизирует смелость и выносливость, белый олицетворяет чистоту, синий – символ трудолюбия и справедливости.

18 июля в США отмечается Национальный день хот-дога. Он посвящен традиционному американскому блюду.

День памяти жертв Хиросимы – жителями Штатов отмечается 6 августа. В этот день американцы вспоминают о страшных событиях 1945 года. Воздают дань памяти всем погибшим в этой ужасной катастрофе.

День памяти Элвиса Пресли – знаменательная дата, которая отмечается 16 августа. Он посвящен всемирно известному певцу и музыканту – Элвису Пресли.

День равенства американских женщин – приходится на 26 августа. В 1971 году этот праздник был введен известной американской женщиной, политиком, юристом Беллой Абзуг. Он направлен на защиту и уравнивание прав американских женщин.

День сладостей – чудесный праздник взрослых и детей, отмечающийся в 3-ю субботу октября. В этот день принято дарить друг другу всякие сладкие подарки, букеты из роз, признаваться в любви.

США – большая многонациональная страна с богатой культурой и историей. Главным призванием всех американских праздников является объединение всех людей вне зависимости от их национальности, пола, возраста, сословия или вероисповедания.

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Public holidays in the United States
Public • Paid • Federal • Observance • School • Hallmark
Observed by	Federal government State governments Local governments Private and public sector employers
Type	National

The schedule of public holidays in the United States is largely influenced by the schedule of federal holidays but is controlled by private sector employers who provide 62% of the total U.S. population with paid time off.^{[citation needed]}

Public holidays with paid time off is generally defined to occur on a day that is within the employee’s work week. When a holiday occurs on Saturday or Sunday, that holiday is shifted to either Friday or Monday for work purposes. Most employers follow a holiday schedule similar to the federal holidays of the United States observed by government employers and government-regulated employers, with exceptions or additions.

At the discretion of the employer, other non-federal holidays such as New Year’s Eve, Christmas Eve and the Day after Thanksgiving are common additions to the list of paid holidays while Columbus Day and Veterans Day are common omissions. Besides paid holidays, there are festival and food holidays that also have wide acceptance based on sales of goods and services that are typically associated with that holiday. Halloween and Valentine’s Day are examples of widely celebrated uncompensated holidays.

History[edit]

Public holidays had their origins from established federal holidays that were enacted by Congress. They were typically observed on days that have significance for various sectors of American society and are observed at all levels of society, including government and the private sector. These holidays are typically derived from the history, religions, and cultures of the United States and have changed over time. Major holidays are most commonly observed with paid time off, however, many other holiday celebrations come without time off.

There are no national holidays on which the law requires all businesses to close. Federal holidays are only established for certain federally chartered and regulated businesses, government contractors, and the city of Washington, DC. All other public holidays are created by the States; most states also allow local jurisdictions (cities, villages, etc.) to establish their own local holidays. As a result, holidays have not historically been governed at the federal level and federal law does not govern business openings.

Some states, however, do restrict certain business activities on some holidays.^[1] Business closures are mandated on a few holidays in some states for certain kinds of businesses by blue laws. For example, businesses that operate on more than 5,000 square feet (460 m²) cannot open on Thanksgiving in some New England states. The most notable businesses to close on such occasions are car dealerships and liquor stores. Some holidays are observed with community service, depending on the meaning of the holiday. Service is, however, not mandated by any government agencies, whether they be federal, state, or local.

Overview[edit]

As of June 2021, there are eleven annual federal holidays in the United States, and one additional quadrennial holiday (Inauguration Day).^[2] Pursuant to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 (effective 1971), official holidays are observed on a Monday, except for New Year’s Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.^[3]

While all current federal holidays have also been made public holidays in all 50 states, each state is not bound to observe the holidays on the same dates as the federal holidays. Many states also have additional holidays that are not observed by the federal government.^[4] Many businesses likewise observe certain holidays as well, which are also not mandated by any government agency.

Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Atlanta, 2012

Since 2000, some city and state-level celebrations of Malcolm X Day and Rosa Parks Day have been created, in addition to the federal Martin Luther King Jr. Day, to embrace the African American community in the form of festivals and parades. Illinois and Berkeley, California are two places where Malcolm X is honored by a legal holiday with offices closed, whereas Missouri honors Rosa Parks on her birthday.^[5]^[6] Today, the United States is the 85th most ethnically diverse country in the world. Many workplaces celebrate religious observance as well as ethnic holidays, such as Saint Patrick’s Day, Kwanzaa, Diwali, Mardi Gras, and Cinco de Mayo, as a matter of best practice.^[7]

While the popularity of each public holiday cannot easily be measured, the holiday with the highest greeting card sales is Christmas.^[8] Major retail establishments, such as shopping malls and centers, close only on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but remain open on all other holidays (with early closings on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and sometimes on other major holidays). In the face of a rapidly tightening retail market in the 2010s, retailers have increasingly been opening on Thanksgiving evening and night to extend Black Friday and the holiday shopping season, however, the Covid-19 pandemic greatly limited this practice.^[9]^[10] Virtually all large companies observe and close on the major holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas). Some non-retail businesses close on the day after Thanksgiving, while others (such as federal banks and post offices) are not allowed to close that day. Some smaller businesses normally open on Sundays will close on Easter Sunday if they expect to have very few customers that day.^[11]

Holidays most commonly celebrated[edit]

This is a list of the most commonly celebrated holidays in the United States, not a list of federal holidays.

Rank	Date	Holiday	% of Americans celebrating	USD sales (in billions)^[12]	Main Symbols	Description
1	December 25 (Fixed)	Christmas	92–96% ^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16]	$630.5	Christmas carols and popular songs, Christmas dinner, Christmas trees, church services, decorations, gift-giving, Santa Claus, shopping	Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Celebrations are marked by decorations and exchanging of gifts between family members and friends. Most popular holiday based on greeting card sales. Also known for having the second highest church attendance (behind Easter). Widely celebrated as a secular holiday.
2	November 22–28 (Floating Thursday)	Thanksgiving	87–90% ^[17]^[18]	(part of Christmas sales)	Giving thanks, prayer, feasting, spending time with family, football games, parades, turkey, traveling	Thanksgiving is a celebration of thanks for the previous year, with families and friends gathering for a large meal or dinner. Consequently, the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.^[19] One-sixth of the turkeys consumed annually in the U.S. are eaten around Thanksgiving.^[20]^[21]
3	May 8–14 (Floating Sunday)	Mother’s Day	84% ^[22]^[23]	$19.9	Breakfasts in bed, family meals, gift-giving, flowers	Mother’s Day recognizes mothers, motherhood, and maternal bonds in general, as well as the positive contributions that they make to society. Known for having the highest restaurant sales, even compared with Valentine’s Day, as well as the highest church attendance after Easter and Christmas.^[24]^[25]
4	March 22 – April 25 (Floating Sunday)	Easter	80–81% ^[26]^[27]	$16.4	Church services, family meals, Easter egg decorating, egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, Easter parades, Easter baskets, chocolates	Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The highest church attendance happens on Easter.^[25] Like Christmas, it has become a widely celebrated secular holiday, and customs observed by both Christians and some non-Christians include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny, and Easter parades.
5	July 4 (Fixed)	Independence Day (Fourth of July)	78–79% ^[28]	$68.0 (Part of Back to School sales)	Fireworks, family reunions, concerts, barbecues, picnics, parades, baseball games, carnivals and fairs	Independence Day, also commonly known as the Fourth of July, marks the date that the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. The holiday is best known for fireworks and barbecues. 45% of American celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks, accounting for about $675 million in fireworks sales.^[29]
6	October 31 (Fixed)	Halloween	76% ±4.1 ^[30]	$6.9	Trick-or-treating, costume parties, carving jack-o-lanterns, lighting bonfires, visiting haunted attractions, horror movies	Halloween celebrations are marked by costumed children knocking door to door asking for treats, and costumed adults attending parties. The most popular holiday for candy sales, amounting to $3 billion in 2021, and $10.14 billion in total on Halloween related items including candy, decorations, costumes, and greeting cards.^[31]
7	June 15–21 (Floating Sunday)	Father’s Day	75% ^[32]	$12.7	Family meals, gift-giving	Father’s Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. It accounts for the highest sales of ties and neckwear annually, around $12.7 billion.^[33]
8	February 14 (Fixed)	Valentine’s Day	55% ^[34]	$18.9	Sending greeting cards, gift-giving, dating and romantic dinners, church services, candy, flowers	Valentine’s Day is recognized as a significant cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love. It accounts for 224 million roses grown annually. 24% of American adults purchased flowers for Valentine’s Day in 2015.^[35] The holiday comes in second in terms of annual restaurant sales, behind Mother’s Day.^[24]
9	March 17 (Fixed)	Saint Patrick’s Day	51% ^[36]	$4.4	Parades, parties, shamrocks, leprechauns, display of the color green, Irish beer and Irish whiskey, corned beef, copious consumption of alcohol	Saint Patrick’s Day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, parties, the wearing of green attire or shamrocks, and alcohol consumption.
10	January 1 (Fixed)	New Year’s Day (New Year’s Eve)	37–45% ^[37]^[38]	(Part of Christmas sales)	Making New Year’s resolutions, church services, parades, football and hockey games, fireworks	Observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. Known for being the holiday with the highest alcohol consumption, evidenced by the spike in sales around between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.^[39]^[40]

Holidays observed with paid time off[edit]

The 1979 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

The labor force in the United States comprises about 62% (as of 2014) of the general population.^[41] In the United States, 97% of the private sector businesses determine what days this sector of the population gets paid time off, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management. The following holidays are observed by the majority of U.S. businesses with paid time off:

New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve^[42]
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving and the day after
Christmas Eve and Christmas

Holidays with religious significance[edit]

Box of Valentine chocolates, typically sold around Valentine’s Day

Religious and cultural holidays in the United States are characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices. However, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that «Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….» and Article VI specifies that «no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.» As a result, various religious faiths have flourished, as well as perished, in the United States. A majority of Americans report that religion plays a «very important» role in their lives, a proportion unique among developed nations.^[43]

The majority of Americans (73–80%) identify themselves as Christians and about 15–20% have no religious affiliation.^[44] According to the American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) (2008) 76% of the American adult population identified themselves as Christians, with 51% professing attendance at a variety of churches that could be considered Protestant or unaffiliated, and 25% professing Catholic beliefs.^[45] The same survey says that other religions (including, for example, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism) collectively make up about 4% of the adult population, another 15% of the adult population claim no religious affiliation, and 5.2% said they did not know, or they refused to reply. According to a 2012 survey by the Pew forum, 36 percent of Americans state that they attend services nearly every week or more.^[46]

Christian holidays[edit]

With 65% of adults in the U.S. identifying as Christian, many holidays from the liturgical calendar are observed by this segment of the population.^[47] Many businesses, as well as federal, state, and local governments, are closed on Christmas, arguably the most significant holiday of the Christian religion.^[48] A reference in the film A Christmas Story shows a Chinese restaurant being the only establishment open on Christmas.

Some private businesses and certain other institutions are closed on Good Friday.^[49] The financial market and stock market is closed on Good Friday.^[50] Most retail stores remain open, although some might close early. Public schools and most universities are closed on Good Friday, either as a holiday of its own, or part of spring break. The postal service operates, and banks regulated by the federal government do not close for Good Friday.^[2]

Many companies, including banks, malls, shopping centers, and most private retail stores that normally open on Sundays are closed on Easter.^[11]

Date	Name	Remarks
January 6	Epiphany	Epiphany (from Greek epiphaneia, «manifestation»), falls on the 12th day after Christmas. It commemorates the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, as represented by the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the miracle of the wine at the marriage feast at Cana. One of the three major Christian festivals, along with Christmas and Easter. Epiphany originally marked the beginning of the carnival season preceding Lent, and the evening preceding it is known as Twelfth Night.
January 7	Orthodox Christmas	January 7th is the Gregorian Calendar equivalent of December 25 on the Julian Calendar still observed by the Russian and other Eastern Orthodox Churches.
February 3 – March 9 (floating Tuesday using Computus)	Mardi Gras and Ash Wednesday	A festive season (Carnival) leading up to Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras. Closes with Ash Wednesday (40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays), which starts the penitential season of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. Legal holiday in Louisiana and Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama.
February 14	Valentine’s Day	St. Valentine’s Day, or simply Valentine’s Day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. Modern traditional celebration of love and romance, including the exchange of cards, candy, flowers, and other gifts.
March 15 – April 18 (floating Sunday using Computus)	Palm Sunday	Celebration to commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
March 17	St. Patrick’s Day	A holiday honoring Saint Patrick that celebrates Irish culture. The primary activity is simply the wearing of green clothing («wearing o’ the green»), although drinking beer dyed green is also popular. Big parades in some cities, such as in Chicago, where there is also a tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green.
March 20 – April 23 (floating Friday using Computus)	Good Friday	Friday of Holy Week, when Western Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Good Friday is a holiday in some individual counties and municipalities, as well as a state holiday in Connecticut,^[51] Delaware,^[52] Florida,^[53] Hawaii,^[54] Indiana,^[55] Kentucky,^[56] Louisiana,^[57] New Jersey,^[58] North Carolina,^[59] North Dakota,^[60] Tennessee^[61] and Texas.^[62] State and local government offices and courts are closed, as well as state-chartered banks and in these jurisdictions. Federal banks and post offices that are located in buildings that close for Good Friday and Easter will also be closed. Good Friday is also a holiday in Guam,^[63] U.S. Virgin Islands^[64] and Puerto Rico.^[65] Many public and private schools, colleges, universities and private-sector businesses; and the New York Stock Exchange and financial markets are closed on Good Friday.
March 22 – April 25 (floating Sunday using Computus)	Easter	Celebration of the resurrection of Jesus in most Western Christian churches. A minority of Protestant churches do not observe Easter. Eastern Orthodox (including Western Rite), Oriental Orthodox and some Neo-Celtic churches observe Easter according to a different calendar, usually on a later Sunday (thus they also observe Palm Sunday and Good Friday on different days than Western Christians). Many Americans decorate hard-boiled eggs and give baskets of candy, fruit, toys, and so on, especially to children; but gifts of age-appropriate Easter baskets for the elderly, the infirm, and the needy are increasingly popular. An annual Easter Egg Roll has been held at the White House South Lawn for young children on Easter Monday since President Hayes started the tradition in 1878.^[66] Not a federal holiday due to the fact that it always falls on a Sunday, which is a non-working day for federal and state employees. Many companies that are normally open on Sunday close for Easter.
October 31	Halloween	Originally the end of the Celtic year, it now celebrates Eve of All Saint’s Day. Decorations include jack o’lanterns. Costume parties and candy such as candy corn are also part of the holiday. Kids go «trick-or-treating» to neighbors who give away candy. It is not generally observed by businesses and is one of the most popular holidays in the US.
December 8	Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary	Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church maintaining that the Virgin Mary was kept free of original sin from her moment of conception. Companies in some states will give day off to their employees.
December 24	Christmas Eve	Day before Christmas. Virtually every business closes early, though some remain open.
December 25	Christmas	Is a federal holiday.

Hindu holidays[edit]

Rangoli decorations, made using colored powder, are popular during Diwali.

The Hindu holidays of Diwali and Holi are celebrated in some parts of the United States, mostly by Indian Americans or peoples of Indian descent. ^[67]^[68] Holi, the «festival of colors» has inspired a Broadway musical based on this festival.^[69] While not officially recognized in most of the United States, the New York City Council officially recognized these as official school holidays in New York City.^[70] CNN reported that the Diwali holiday is shown in American pop culture through an episode of The Office.^[71]^[72]

Date	Name	Remarks
February or March (depends on Hindu calendar)	Holi	Holi (English: ) (Sanskrit: होली) is a spring festival also known as Festival of Colors, and sometimes Festival of Love.^[73]^[74] It is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities.^[75]
October or November (depends on Hindu calendar)	Diwali	Diwali (English: or English: ) also called the Festival of lights«, is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in autumn every year.^[76]^[77] The festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.^[62]^[78]^[79] The festival preparations and rituals typically extend over a five-day period, but the main festival night of Diwali coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu Lunisolar month Kartik. In the Gregorian calendar, Diwali night falls between mid-October and mid-November.

Jewish holidays[edit]

The three most commonly celebrated Jewish holidays are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.^[80] Passover and Yom Kippur in addition to Rosh Hashannah and Hanukkah are recognized as an optional state level holiday in Texas^[81]^[82] All Jewish holidays start the night before, as that is when the Jewish day begins.

Date	Name	Remarks
March 21 – April 24 (floating date)	Passover פסח	A seven- or eight-day festival in Judaism (seven days in Israel, eight outside of Israel), commemorating the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. For Karaite Jews, Passover is the holiest day of the year and is the festival that marks the beginning of the year. Some Christian groups celebrate Passover instead of Easter. In many regions with large Jewish communities, schools close for all or part of Passover.
May 9 – June 12 (floating date)	Shavuot שבועות	A two-day (one in Israel) festival celebrating the receiving of the Torah at Sinai and the harvest season of the Land of Israel. Many people have the custom to eat dairy foods, specifically cheesecake.
September 5 – October 5 (floating date)	Rosh Hashanah ראש השנה	Observed by Jewish people. Traditional beginning of the Jewish High Holidays. It also celebrates the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar. In regions with large Jewish populations, schools and universities may close on Rosh Hashanah. It is a widely accepted custom to dip an apple in honey on the first night. Unlike other holidays where the Diaspora (outside of Israel) celebrate extra days, this holiday is observed for two days everywhere.
September 14 – October 14 (floating date)	Yom Kippur יום כיפור	Observed by Jewish people. This day marks the end of the Ten Days of Penitence that began with Rosh Hashanah. It is described in Leviticus as a «Sabbath of rest,» and synagogue services begin the preceding sundown, resume the following morning, and continue to sundown. Orthodox and many Conservative Jews fast on Yom Kippur. In regions with large Jewish populations, schools and universities may close on Yom Kippur.
September 19 – October 19 (floating date)	Sukkot סוכות	A nine-day (eight in Israel) holiday celebrating the huts Jews lived in for forty years after the Exodus before getting to Israel. It also celebrates the cloud of glory that protected the Jews in the desert during the same period. Jews eat, and some sleep, in a special hut called a sukkah outside their home for the first seven days. Also, the ‘four species’ or ‘Arba Minim’, ארבע מינים, the Lulav לולב (palm frond), the Etrog אתרוג (citron), the Aravot ערבות (willow branches), and the Hadasim הדסים (myrtle branches), are shaken in the sukkah in the morning, as well as during prayers. The Seventh Day, known as Hoshanah Rabbah הושנה רבה is the last day of the season of repentance started on Rosh Hashanah and has extra prayers in addition to the extra holiday prayers. The Eighth day is known as Shemini Atzeret שמיני עצרת and is to some degree considered a different holiday. The ninth day (or part of the eighth in Israel) is known as Simchat Torah שמחת תורה and celebrates he finishing of one cycle of reading the Torah or bible, and includes much joyous singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls during prayers.
November 28 – December 27 (floating date)	Hanukkah חנוכה	An eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BC. Candelabras are lit, one candle on the first night and adding one candle per night. It is also a widely accepted custom to spin a top-like toy called a dreidel, and to give coins to the children.
February 23 – March 26 (floating date)	Purim פורים	A one-day holiday, celebrated the Jews being saved from a plot by Haman, the second-in-command to the Persian king, Achasverosh, or Xerxes, to exterminate every single Jew. It is generally celebrated by reading the Book of Esther in Synagogue the preceding night (which, like all Jewish holidays, is actually part of the holiday) and in the morning, giving charity, giving presents of food baskets to at least two friends, and having a celebratory feast. Unlike most other Jewish holidays (other than Hanukkah), work is allowed including using electricity, and other prohibited actions on Sabbath, and other holidays. The day before (or the Thursday before, if Purim is on a Sunday) is a fast day commemorating the fast of Esther before she met with King Achashverosh. In Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated the day after the rest of the world.

Islamic holidays[edit]

Mehndi is the application of henna as a temporary form of skin decoration, commonly applied during Eid al-Fitr in Indian subcontinent culture.

The major Islamic holidays of Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha have been recognized in the United States. Awareness of these holidays can be found in calendars published by major calendar manufacturers.^[83]^[84]^[85] According to Al-Jazeera, schools in New York and Michigan (mainly Dearborn) may begin to close in observance of all Muslim holidays.^[86]

Date	Name	Remarks
depends on Islamic calendar	Ramadan	Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان Ramaḍān, IPA: [rɑmɑˈdˤɑːn];^[variations] Persian: رَمَضان Ramazān; Urdu / Punjabi رَمْضان Ramzān; Turkish: Ramazan) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar;^[87] Muslims worldwide observe this as a month of fasting.^[88] This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam.^[89] The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths.^[90]^[91] The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness.^[92] Fasting is fard («obligatory») for adult Muslims, except those who are ill, traveling, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic or going through menstrual bleeding.^[93] Fasting the month of Ramadan was made obligatory (wājib) during the month of Sha’aban, in the second year after the Muslims migrated from Mecca to Medina.
depends on Islamic calendar	Eid al-Fitr	Eid al-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ʻĪd al-Fiṭr, IPA: [ʕiːd al fitˤr], «festival of breaking of the fast»), also called Feast of Breaking the Fast, the Sugar Feast, Bayram (Bajram), the Sweet Festival^[94] and the Lesser Eid, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting (sawm). The religious Eid is a single day and Muslims are not permitted to fast on that day. The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. The day of Eid, therefore, falls on the first day of the month of Shawwal. This is a day when Muslims around the world show a common goal of unity. The date for the start of any lunar Hijri month varies based on the observation of new moon by local religious authorities, so the exact day of celebration varies by locality. However, in most countries, it is generally celebrated on the same day as Saudi Arabia(lunar calendar).
depends on Islamic calendar	Eid al-Adha	Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى ʿīd al-aḍḥā [ʕiːd ælˈʔɑdˤħæ] meaning «Festival of the sacrifice»), also called the Feast of the Sacrifice, the Major Festival,^[95] the Greater Eid, Kurban Bayram (Turkish: Kurban Bayramı; Bosnian: kurban-bajram), Eid e Qurban (Persian: عید قربان) or Bakr’Eid (Urdu: بکرا عید), is the second of two religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide each year. It honors the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his young first-born son Ishmael (Ismail)^a as an act of submission to God’s command, before God then intervened to provide Abraham with a lamb to sacrifice instead.^[96] In the lunar-based Islamic calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for four days.^[97] In the international Gregorian calendar, the dates vary from year to year, drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year.

Holidays with other cultural or historical significance[edit]

Confederate States of America[edit]

The following holidays memorialize the historic Confederate States of America from the American Civil War:

Confederate Memorial Day is a public holiday observed by Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana^{[citation needed]} and Texas and an unofficially observed holiday in some other states. It is often in late April to align with the final surrender of the last Confederate Army. Texas observes Confederate Heroes Day.
Confederate History Month has been declared at least once in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia as well as by various cities, usually in April to augment Confederate Memorial Day.
Robert E. Lee Day (on or around Lee’s Jan 19 birthday) is still observed in Alabama and Mississippi combined with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the only remaining states to do so.^[98] It is officially recognized in Florida, but is not widely observed there.^[99]
Arkansas combined the observance of Robert E. Lee Day with Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1985.^[100] In 2017, the state passed a law removing Lee’s name from the January holiday and instead establishing a state memorial day on the second Saturday of October in honor of Lee.^[101]

Drinking holidays[edit]

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 86% of the population over 18 drinks alcohol recreationally or socially.^[102] In the United States, the holidays that are considered the most «festive» are generally regarded as some of the «most drunken holidays.» Celebrations usually revolve around barbecues and beer. Although many of these holidays lack any official status, they are generally observed by the drinking culture for the fact that these holidays revolve around drinking. One measurement of the popularity of these holidays is the amount of alcohol purchased for the occasion. One survey names New Year’s Eve as the holiday on which the most alcohol is consumed based on sales.^[103] While many holidays are listed, some are generally notable for their drinking requirement while others are known for abstinence.^[104]

African American holidays[edit]

African Americans make up about 12% of the U.S. population. While some customs have come from abroad, many of the customs were developed inside the United States. Kwanzaa, for example, is a custom that has greatly influenced American culture originating from the turbulent 1960s.^[105] Most of the newer holidays revolve around a particular civil rights activist and have recently gained attention from city and state-level governments. At the federal level, there are only three national holidays named for a person, and one of those honors 20th century African American Martin Luther King Jr.; the other two are Washington’s Birthday (for George Washington, a major Founding Father of the United States), and Columbus Day (for Italian Christopher Columbus’s European discovery of the Americas in 1492).

Date	Name^[106]	Remarks
December 26 – January 1	Kwanzaa	Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration held in the United States and in other nations of the Western African diaspora in the Americas. The celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a feast and gift-giving.^[107] Kwanzaa has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba). It was created by Maulana Karenga and was first celebrated in 1966–67.
January 15–21 (floating Monday)	Martin Luther King Jr. Day	Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday marking the birthday of an African American. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around King’s birthday, January 15.
February 1–29	Black History Month	Also known as the «African American History Month» which was set aside as an observance of important leaders of the African diaspora.
February 4 or December 1	Rosa Parks Day	Currently observed in the states of California, Missouri, and Ohio to honor the late civil rights leader Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks Day was created by the California State Legislature and first celebrated February 4, 2000.^[108] The holiday was first designated in Ohio championed by Joyce Beatty, advocate who helped Ohio’s legislation pass to honor the late leader.^[109] In 2015, Missouri has declared Rosa Parks Day a legal holiday.
March 10	Harriet Tubman Day	Commemorates anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman for her accomplishments. Occurs two days after International Women’s Day.
April 16 (DC)	Emancipation Day	Currently observed in Washington, DC, Mississippi, Texas (as Juneteenth), Kentucky, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in observance of the emancipation of slaves of African descent. It is also observed in other areas in regard to the abolition of serfdom or other forms of servitude.
May 19	Malcolm X Day	Currently observed in Berkeley, California, and Illinois, this holiday honors Malcolm X as a civil rights leader as a legal holiday with offices closed. Various municipalities such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC have festivals commemorating the civil rights leader.
June 19	Juneteenth	Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in June 1865, and more generally the emancipation of African-American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth^[110]^[111] and is a federal holiday.

Other traditional and informal holidays[edit]

In addition to the federal/national holidays, many religious, ethnic, and other traditional holidays populate the calendar, as well as lighter celebrations. These are rarely observed by businesses as holidays (Except for Easter and most often also on Good Friday);^[11] indeed, many are viewed as opportunities for commercial promotion. Because of this commercialization, some critics apply the deprecatory term Hallmark holiday to such days, after the Hallmark greeting card company.

Date	Name	Remarks
February 2	Groundhog Day	The day on which folklore states that whether or not a local groundhog casts a shadow determines if the spring season will arrive early or on time.
April 1	April Fools’ Day	A day that people commonly play tricks or jokes on family, friends, and co-workers, especially in English-speaking nations. Sometimes called «the Feast of All Fools» as a play on the feast days of saints; there is no evidence the holiday has any Christian religious origins.
April 22 (varies by location and observance)	Earth Day	A celebration of environmentalism.
April 24–30 (floating Friday)	Arbor Day	A day for planting trees.
May 1	May Day	In most other countries, May 1 is International Workers’ Day, the equivalent of Labor Day, which commemorates the labor movement and the ultimate triumph of socialism over capitalism. This theme borrows from the pagan origins of May Day which emphasized the change in season and the triumph of the warm sun over the cold winter. The holiday is often celebrated with parades and protests for workers’ rights and other broad social issues.
May 5	Cinco de Mayo	Primarily a celebration of Mexican culture by Mexican-Americans living in the United States. Although this is the anniversary of the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, Cinco de Mayo is far more important in the United States than in Mexico itself, often celebrated even by non-Mexican-Americans. Additionally, this «holiday» is often mistaken by Americans as being Mexican Independence Day, which is actually observed on September 16.
May 8–14 (floating Sunday)	Mother’s Day	Honors mothers and motherhood (made a federal holiday by Presidential order, although most federal agencies are already closed on Sundays)
June 14	Flag Day	Commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, in 1777.
June 27	Helen Keller Day	Commemorates the achievements of Helen Keller and the blind.
June 15–21 (floating Sunday)	Father’s Day	Honors fathers and fatherhood.
July 24	Pioneer Day	Observed in Utah and some other areas to commemorate the arrival of pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
August 26	Women’s Equality Day	Celebrates the fight for, and progress towards, equality for women. Established by the United States Congress in 1971 to commemorate two anniversaries: Passage of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ensuring Woman Suffrage in 1920 and a nationwide demonstration for equal rights, the Women’s Strike for Equality, in 1970.
September 11	Patriot Day	Commemorates the response to the attacks on the World Trade Center (New York City), The Pentagon (Washington, DC), and United Airlines Flight 93 in 2001.
September 17	Constitution/Citizenship Day	Commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of the United States.
October	Oktoberfest	16-day folk festival drinking beer. Modeled after the original Oktoberfest from Munich, Germany. Celebrated most often in areas with contemporary or historic populations of German heritage.
November 2–8 (floating Tuesday)	Election Day or Democracy Day	Observed by the federal and state governments in applicable years; a legal holiday in some states.
November 23–29 (floating Friday)	Black Friday	Traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the United States, where stores lower prices. «Black Friday» is not a holiday under that name, but California and some other states observe «The Day After Thanksgiving» as a holiday for state government employees. Virtually all schools, colleges, and universities are also closed, along with many non-retail private sector businesses. Federal government offices, post offices, and federally chartered banks must open on Black Friday (unless the President issues an executive order or proclamation allowing them to close).
November 26 – December 1 (floating Monday)	Cyber Monday	The online shopping equivalent of Black Friday, held the Monday after Black Friday.
December 7	Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day	Day to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941.
December 31	New Year’s Eve	Final Day of the Gregorian year. Usually accompanied by much celebration, such as party and fireworks. Virtually every company and retail outlet closes early, except for stores that sell alcoholic beverages and party supplies.

Other notable holidays[edit]

Opening Day (late March/early April; the beginning of the Major League Baseball season and an unofficial indication that summer is approaching)
Winter break (two weeks in late winter that schools are off)
Spring break (one week in early spring that schools are off)
Summer vacation (summer months in which schools are off)
Super Bowl Sunday (the second Sunday in February; the day of the National Football League’s championship; festivities generally including in-home parties and watching the game on television with beverages and snacks)

References[edit]

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^ ^a ^b «Federal Holidays». Opm.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
^ Uniform Monday Holiday Act
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^ ^a ^b «Mother’s Day Church Attendance Third Highest After Easter, Christmas; Father’s Day Last».
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^ Rapoza, Kenneth (2012). «In Survey, Most Americans Not Celebrating New Year’s Eve». Forbes. Retrieved November 30, 2016. 37 percent plan to stay up to welcome in 2013 while 23 percent say they will entertain at home.
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^ Department of Information Technology. «About Connecticut». CT.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
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^ «The Official Web Site for The State of New Jersey | State Holidays». Nj.gov. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
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External links[edit]

U.S. Department of Commerce Federal Holiday Calendar
Text of Federal Holiday Legislation
Bizarre American Holidays – a comprehensive compilation of special recognition given both to months and individual days. Unfortunately, the origins of the commemorations aren’t provided.
Infoplease: State Holidays
Federal Holidays: Evolution and Application, CRS Report for Congress, 98-301 GOV, updated February 8, 1999, by Stephen W. Stathis