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HOLIDAYS
Technically there are no national holidays in the U.S.; each state has jurisdiction over its
holidays, which are designated by legislative enactment or executive proclamation. In practice,
however, most states observe the federal legal public holidays even though the President or
Congress can legally designate holidays only for the District of Columbia and for federal
employees. When a holiday falls on a Sunday or Saturday it is usually observed on the
following Monday or preceding Friday.

FEDERAL LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR'S DAY (January 1): Following a long, hectic New Year's Eve, Americans spend
a quiet, leisurely New Year's Day. Two picturesque New Day festivals receive widespread
attention and coverage by the news media: the Mummer's Parade and the Tournament of Roses.
Both these events have been American traditions for more than half a century. The Mummer's
Parade, which takes place in Philadelphia, is a ten-hour spectacle that usually attracts more
than a million spectators. In the colorful and high-spirited parade, the men are dressed in lavish
costumes. Some impersonate women since no women are allowed to participate. There are
clowns, musicians, dancers, and floats -- altogether about 17,OOO marchers led by King
Momus dressed in gleaming satin. The Tournament of Roses takes place in Pasadena,
California. Elaborate floats displaying roses and thousands of other California flowers depict a
different theme each year. Priyes are awarded for the most unusual and attractive floral
displays. After the parade, the Rose Bowl football game, a contest between two top-ranking
college football teams, is played. These three events attract thousands of tourists and millions
of TV viewers.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (3rd Monday in January): Designated a federal holiday
during the Reagan administration, MLK Day commemorates the many achievements of the
Afro-Americans and their civil rights movements. It also marks the beginning of Black History
Month, which is February in each year.

PREDISENT'S DAY (3rd Monday in February): Originally Washington’s birthday, this is now
a federal holiday commemorating all US presidents.

MEMORIAL DAY (the last Monday in May, also known as Decoration Day): In 1868, the
Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic issued an order designating the day
as one in which the graves of soldiers would be decorated. Originally established to honor the
Civil War dead, Memorial Day now officially honors all American servicemen who gave their
lives for their country. Unofficially, the holiday has been extended beyond its military
connection to become a day of general tribute to the dead. Yet the military nature of Memorial
Day is evident in the parades and customs which solemnly mark the occasion. Military
exercises are held at Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania and at the National
Cemetery in Arlington, Va.

INDEPENDENCE DAY (July 4): Observed in all the states. It commemorates the adoption
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of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is THE national holiday for Americans, and they
celebrate it with fireworks and festivities. Each year, The New York Times reprints the
Declaration of Independence.

LABOR DAY (1st Monday in September): It was first celebrated in New York in 1882 under
the sponsorship of the Central Labor Union. The achievements which Americans honor on LD
are primarily those of the labor unions. Pressure exerted by the unions forced the passage of
much legislation to protect the working man. The typical American family use the three-day
weekend -- occurring just before most of the nation's schools reopen -- as a final summer
vacation. This is NOT the European Labor Day of May 1st.

COLUMBUS DAY (2nd Monday In October): It grew out of an Italian-American holiday in

California (1850s), and became a federal one in 1937. It commemorates the “discovery” of the
Americas. It is a hotly debated holiday.

ELECTION DAY (1st Tuesday after the first Monday in November): This is the day
Americans go to vote. The day was set for the second business day of the month to give time
to businessmen to draw the balance of October on the first business day. Note that there is no
campaign silence in the US.

VETERANS’ DAY (November 11): Formerly Armistice Day, to commemorate victory in the
First World War. It is now a holiday for all veterans of foreign wars, and Americans honor the
tomb of the unknown soldier.

THANKSGIVING DAY (4th Thursday in November): Arguably the biggest holiday in the
States, this one commemorates the survival of the Pilgrims in the New World. This is a long
holiday (usually four days, although the Friday after is a workday), and families get together
for company and meals. Typical Thanksgiving meals include turkey and cranberry sauce. The
Christmas shopping season starts the Friday after Thanksgiving with huge one-day sales.

CHRISTMAS DAY (December 25): Most of the Christmas customs which Americans enjoy
today are variations of traditions taken there by European immigrants. As regards some of the
most popular customs (eg. sending Christmas cards, singing Christmas carols, decorating trees)
there is no substantial difference between how this holiday is celebrated in the U.S. or in
Hungary. There are, however, some differences:
 In the U.S., Christmas is a one-day holiday. There is no Boxing Day. Exchanging gifts
in the US normally takes place not at Christmas Eve, like in Hungary, but on the
following morning.
 Santa Claus is the American name for St. Nicholas, whose feast day (December 6) is
observed in Hungary, but not in the U.S.A. Dutch immigrants took the concept of St.
Nicholas to America, where the name was mispronounced and finally changed to Santa
Claus. 19th-century artists and authors altered St. Nick's appearance and created the
roly-poly man in red that we see today. Santa's sleigh and reindeer were derived from
an old Norse legend.
 Many American children believe that on Christmas Eve Santa Claus slides down their
chimney to bring them gifts. According to the story, Santa Claus travels in a sleigh
pulled by eight reindeer. Children tell Santa Claus what toys they want by writing him
a letter or visiting him in a local department store. As in Britain, children in the US
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hang stockings by the fireplace, hoping that Santa will fill them with candy and toys.
 Decorating the home with evergreens and other plants. The winter custom of decorating
homes and churches with evergreens began in ancient times. Branches of fir or spruce
were thought to bring good luck and guarantee the return of spring. Likewise, a branch
of mistletoe was hung over doorways for good luck. Today the custom continues, but
now it is for fun. A man may kiss any girl he catches standing under the mistletoe. The
poinsettia plant is another familiar Christmas decoration. Its star-shaped red leaves are
an ideal symbol of the holiday. It is a distinctly modern and American Christmas
tradition.

DAYS USUALLY OBSERVED

GROUNDHOG DAY (February 2): a popular belief is that if the groundhog (or woodchuck,
a marmot of eastern North America) sees his shadow after he emerges from hibernation on this
day, he returns to his burrow and winter continues six weeks longer.

MARDI GRAS (the last day before Ash Wednesday: sometime between February 3 and March
9): celebrated as a carnival in various cities in the South. The most famous American Mardi
Gras festival is held in New Orleans each year. It is based on a French Catholic tradition.

ST. VALENTINE'S DAY (February 14): festival of a martyr beheaded at Rome under
Emperor Claudius. Association of this day with lovers has no connection with the saint and
probably had its origin in an old belief that on this day birds begin to choose their mates. Today
it is a festival of romance and affection. Shortly before February 14, card shops, book stores,
department stores, and drug stores display a wide assortment of greeting cards called
valentines. Most valentines are illustrated with the symbolic red heart; many show a picture of
Cupid with his bow and arrow; some contain tender verses. The plainer ones simply say, "Be
my Valentine". For specific family members, sweethearts and friends, there are valentines in
every imaginable style -- sentimental, restrained, sophisticated, humorous, or insulting.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY (March 17): traditionally celebrated by Irish societies, esp. with
parades, church services, banquets, and "the wearing of the green," the color which symbolizes
the south of Ireland. Green cloth shamrocks (three-leaf clovers which St. Patrick used to
explain the Trinity and which have now come to symbolize the Irish nation) are sold in the
streets and worn by millions on this day. Saint Patrick was a Christian missionary, patron saint
of Ireland, called the "Apostle of Ireland", who in the latter part of the 4th century introduced
Christianity to a pagan nation.

MAY DAY: the first day of May, traditionally celebrated as a spring festival by crowning May
Queen, dancing around a maypole, etc., and in recent times celebrated as Labor Day in most
of the world by demonstrations commemorating labor. This is NOT the American labor Day.

MOTHER'S DAY (2nd Sunday in May): In Hungary, it is the 1st Sunday in May.
FATHER'S DAY (3rd Sunday in June)
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HALLOWEEN (Oct. 31): the evening before All Saints' Day. Informally observed in the US
with masquerading and pumpkin decorations. Traditionally an occasion for children to play
pranks, for example "trick-or-treating": if an adult refuses to supply a treat -- candy, cookies,
fruit, or money -- the children may play a trick. Typical Halloween pranks are soaping
windows, writing on doors with crayons, overturning ash cans, and sticking pins into doorbells
to keep them ringing. The "spooky" part of Halloween (a short way of saying 'All Hallow's
Eve') comes from the Celts. Every years on October 31, the last day of the year on the old
pagan calendar, the Druids (Celtic priests and teachers) built huge bonfires to scare away the
demons of evil and death. They dressed in ugly and frightening costumes so that the demons
would think that they were one of them and do them no harm. Supposedly, on this evening
ghosts rose from their graves and witches drove through the air on broomsticks or black cats.
Also, the souls of dead relatives and friends were expected to return to earth for a visit. The
Druid bonfires were built on hilltops to help guide these spirits back home. From the Druid
religion, then, come the custom of masquerading and the symbols of Halloween: ghosts,
skeletons, devils, witches, black cats, and owls. The jack-o'-lantern is also of Celtic origin. It
was an Irish custom to hollow out turnips and place lighted candles inside them to scare evil
spirits away from the house. In the U.S., the native pumpkin is used to make a jack-o'-lantern.
First the pumpkin is hollowed out; then holes are cut in the shell to make the eyes, nose, and
mouth. A candle is put inside, and the jack-o'-lantern is placed by the window. The Irish also
introduced the "trick-or-treat" custom hundreds of years ago. Groups of farmers would travel
from house to house requesting food for the village's Halloween festivities. They would
promise good luck to generous contributors and threaten those who were stingy.

For further information and trivia you may check the homepage of the US Embassy in Budapest
and the various internet encyclopedias: encarta, wikipedia, etc.

Another website (worldfactsandfigurs.com) offers information on various countries for

comparison.