Task 1. Read the text. There are 12 federal holidays in the U.S

There are 12 federal holidays in the U.S. Banks, government offices, and public schools are closed on these days. Stores and restaurants may be open for fewer hours. Public Transportation follows a limited schedule on federal holidays. There are 13 other holidays observed in the U.S.

January 1, New Year’s Day had been the most popular holiday in the colony during Dutch rule. It was a traditional day of visiting and exchanging of gifts. The English took over the Dutch customs and added a turkey shoot. People remain awake until after midnight on December 31 to watch the old year out and the new year in. Many parties are given on this night. The favourite song at parties is “Auld Lang Syne”. The people make noise any way they can.

Groundhog Day is observed on February 2 which indicates early or late coming of spring.

Presidential Inauguration Day is observed on January 20, every four years.

Martin Luther King’s Day is observed on third Monday in January. Martin Luther King was Afro-American civil rights leader.

Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is observed on February 12. The date is not a national holiday. President Lincoln, “Honest Abe” was a great American. He
freed the slaves and fought to save the Union. He was shot on April 14, 1865. Lincoln took his place as the leading martyr of American nation. The progressive people pay tribute to his memory.
February 14, Valentine’s Day is not a national holiday but a happy little festival. The day is time
to send little gifts to those you love. Sometimes, a King or Queen of Hearts are chosen.

Presidents Day is observed on the third Monday in February. February 22 is the birthday of George Washington. It is not a national holiday. The Congress observes the day with speeches. George Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia.

There is a story that little
George chopped down a cherry tree. He knew his father would punish him. But he answered bravely: “Father, I can’t tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry free. “The people like to tell the story. Cherry pie and cherry candy are served on this day. Washington is called the “Father of the Nation”, “first in war, first in peace, first in hearts of his countrymen”.

March 17 is St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is saint patron of Ireland. The day is celebrated by Irish and Irish Americans. The traditional “wearing of the green” and parades make this day a gala event. Bands play and people sing Irish songs.

April 1 is All Fools’ Day. Children like to put a purse on the sidewalk to pull it away with a string if someone tries to pick it up. Newspapers print long articles which turn out to be jokes. People play jokes on their friends.

Easter is a religious holiday. It comes on Sunday between March 22 and April 25. The students have a week of spring vacations. There is Easter Parade tradition in New York. There is a tradition of decoration eggs and preparing candy eggs with Easter Rabbit for children. In Washington, the President opens the grounds to the White House so that children may roll Easter Eggs on the lawn. Passover is observed 8 days in April.

April 22 is Earth Day. The idea of the Earth day originated in the U.S. Congress in 1970. Earth Day is expression of national concern over industrial pollution of the planet.

Mother’s Day comes on the second Sunday in May. It is a day when Americans honour their mothers. It is not a national holiday. It was set by an act of the Congress in 1914. Many people send their mothers a card or a gift, or take them to a restaurant for dinner. It is the custom to wear a red flower if one’s mother is living and a white flower when one’s mother is dead.

Memorial Day is a national holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May. On this day Americans honour the servicemen who gave their lives in past wars. Schools, clubs and churches decorate the cemeteries. They hold memorial services and hang up American flags.

June 14 is Flag Day. The Flag of the United States of America was adopted on June 14, 1776. The Salute to the Flag is one of the daily rituals in American schools. Americans pledge allegiance to their Flag, by standing with the right hand over the heart: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Father’s Day comes on the third Sunday in June. On that day Americans honour their fathers. Many people send their fathers cards. Americans are great letter-writers. One can find printed text for all possible occasions: “All my love and best wishes to the finest Dad in the world on his day. Mother was smart as she could be in picking a dad like you for me, All my love”.

The Fourth of July is the U.S. Independence Day. On June 4, 1776 the Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson /1743-1826/. The Declaration proclaimed the basic rights of the American people to life, liberty and happiness. The Glorious Fourth is celebrated with fireworks and speeches praising Americanism, democracy and free enterprise.

Labor Day comes on the first Monday of September. It is a legal holiday. Stores, offices and banks are closed. There are great parades of workers of all crafts.

Columbus Day is celebrated on the second Monday in October. On October 12, 1492, Columbus dis­covered the first island in America San Salvador.

Halloween comes on October 31. It is not a national holiday. Halloween is the evening before All Saint’s Day. American children dress up in Halloween costumes and go out on the streets to beg. They often wear masks. They go from house to house and say: “Trick or treat!” People give them candy, cookie, and apples. The most common trick is soaping the windows. A favourite Halloween custom is to make a Jack-o’- lantern. The children scrape out a pumpkin and cut the outlines of eyes, nose, and mouth. They light a candle inside to scare their friends. At Halloween parties the guests wear every kind of costume. The hosts decorate the rooms with paper witches and ghosts. The guests tell fortunes or ghost stories. November 1 is All Saint’s Day.

Election Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of November.

November 11 is Veteran’s Day. It is a legal holiday. World War I ended on November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m. This day was called Armistice Day. Now it is called Veteran’s Day. There are usually parades and Boy Scouts and American Legion march. The ceremonies include a short period of silence at 11a.m.

Thanksgiving Day comes on the fourth Thursday in November. It is a national holiday. When the first English colonists landed in 1620, their first year was very hard. In the spring of 1621 the Pilgrims planted a large crop. In the fall they had a good harvest. December 13, 1621 was the day of giving thanks to God. The colonists fired a cannon as a salute at dawn on that first Thanksgiving Day. The pilgrims had a church service of thanksgiving. Then they set long tables outdoors. A great feast and three days of celebra­tion began. Indians were invited as good friends. Indians brought pop-corn and turkeys. Today turkey is still traditional Thanksgiving dish. In 1863 President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday to be observed on the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is a family holiday to be spent at home. The family eats a large traditional dinner. The main course is the turkey. Pumpkin pie is often served in remembrance of the Indians’ gift to the first settlers. After dinner there are traditional games. The churches hold Thanksgiving services.

On December 25, Christmas is celebrated. Most churches have Christmas Eve services. Many Christmas customs are relics of pagan celebrations. Christmas is a family holiday. Schools, colleges and business houses are closed. Everybody tries to come home for Christmas. People send Christmas greetings to their friends. Children sing carols and trim their Christmas tree. Parents hang up little candy canes for the children. The use of mistletoe is a part of Christmas decoration. Kissing under the mistletoe originated in Britain. The custom was for a berry to be removed from the bough every time a girl was kissed under it. When all the berries had been removed the kissing came to an end.

Little children hang up their stockings on Christmas Eve. They believe that Santa Claus comes down the chimney with a big bag of toys. The whole family has a big Christmas dinner. There is a tradi­tional plum-pudding dessert.

Sometimes American families trim trees outside their houses with electric lights. Singers go from house to house singing the “glad tidings”. The stores are decorated in red and green. Santa Clauses wel­come the customers with bell ringing.

Task 2. Discussion: Answer the questions.

1. What is the Glorious Fourth?

2. Do you celebrate Father’s Day?

3. What is Thanksgiving Day?

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