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New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are usually celebrated by everyone across the United States. People gather together with family or friends to wish one another good luck in the New Year and to reminisce on the highlights of the past year. New Year's Eve is especially gay and festive and most people either go to or host a party. The celebrants blow horns and shake noise-makers at mid-night when the traditional song of "Auld Lang Syne" is sung. During the evening a buffet consisting of fancy hors d'oeuvres such as smoked salmon and caviar, along with sliced ham and roast beef may be served. All items can be prepared in advance to allow the host and hostess time to enjoy their party. A champagne or sparkling cider toast is traditional at the stroke of mid-night.
St. Valentine's Day has its roots in several different legends. One of the earliest popular symbols of the day is Cupid, the Roman God of Love, who is represented by the image of a little boy with a bow and arrow. Whatever its origins, St. Valentine's Day is a day for sweethearts. Occurring in February, Valentine's Day with its romantic theme is especially welcome in the colder regions of the U.S. as a cheerful interlude in a sometimes bleak season. Hearts, flowers, cupids, chocolates and other candies are indicative of this holiday. It is common to send a Valentine Card to one's "sweetheart" - sometimes signed "From a Secret Admirer". Red roses, the flower of love, or boxes of chocolates are often given. Romance is in the air and, though it may not be strictly true that the way to someone's heart is through his/her stomach, good food beautifully presented does create a romantic mood.
February is the month Americans pay honor to two of their most famous Presidents, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Originally these Presidents were remembered on their respective birthdays, February 12 for Lincoln and February 22 for Washington. But in recent years these two holidays have been combined into one, called President's Day, which is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in February.
President's Day is usually marked with special desserts, cherry pie for George Washington and Lincoln Log Cake for Abraham Lincoln. The Cherry Pie has its origin in the story that as a boy George Washington chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree. When his father asked who had committed the deed, George Washington is reported to have said that he >could not tell a lie' and admitted his guilt.
Mardi Gras, which in French means "Fat Tuesday", combines religious tradition with a carnival or festival to welcome Spring. In the Christian religion it used to be the last day meat could be eaten before the Catholic Lenten fast leading up to Easter. But in the United States it has come to mean the carnival season celebrated in New Orleans with street parties, masquerade balls, parades with spectacular floats and costumes and lively jazz music everywhere. Mardi Gras was brought to New Orleans in the early 19th century - when it was still a French colony - by young people from Paris who missed the lively pre-Lenten activities they experienced in Europe. New Orleans still retains its French flair and is known for its Cajun (French-Acadian) and spicy Creole (Afro-Caribbean) cuisine which incorporates a wide variety of the bountiful seafood found in the Mississippi River delta region. Some people say New Orleans has the best food in the U.S.A.
Originally conceived to celebrate the birth of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day in the United States is now an unofficial holiday honoring the heritage of the millions of Irish immigrants who came to the United States. It is said that the Irish descendents in the U.S. now put on a bigger and noisier St. Patrick's Day celebration than do people in Ireland. On this day everyone in America is Irish and the "wearin o' the green", the color of Ireland, is de rigueur. Parades are held in many cities. The biggest and best known parades are in New York City and Boston where there still are large Irish-American populations. The day is typically celebrated with parties with a GREEN theme, i.e. green beer, green frosting on cakes and cookies and with everyone wearing some green article of clothing. The Shamrock, a small three-leaved grass plant is representative of this holiday and is duplicated on cakes and candies for the festivities. St. Patrick's Day, with its symbolic green, also heralds the beginning of spring across the United States.
Easter is the first taste of Spring, the rebirth of flowers and trees - all the spring festivals rolled into one. The many different customs observed during Easter time have their origins in pre-Christian religions as well as in Christianity. All in some way are a "salute to spring", marking renewal or rebirth. The white Easter lily captures the glory of the holiday, which people celebrate according to their different beliefs. Some attend a sunrise service, a religious gathering at dawn followed by an Easter breakfast. In many American homes children wake up on Easter Sunday to find that the Easter Bunny has left them baskets of candy. They might also take part in an Easter Egg Hunt, looking for decorated eggs the Easter Bunny has hidden around the house or yard. These "hunts" are sometimes sponsored by local communities and children look for eggs hidden at a playground or local park. Prizes are given to the children who find the most eggs. A variation of these hunts, an Easter Egg Roll, is held at the White House every year and children under 12 are invited to come and roll decorated eggs across the White House lawn. In many cultures the bunny and the egg are symbols of fertility. People also buy new clothes for Easter and wear them for the first time when they go to church and at family gatherings afterwards. This "parade" of new clothes has led to the custom of "Easter Parades" in many cities, the most famous being the one along Fifth Avenue in New York City. Like most other American holidays, Easter is a time to get together with family and friends over a festive meal.
Mother's Day was designated a national holiday in the U.S. in 1914. On this day American children of all ages try to show in some tangible way how much they appreciate what their mothers have done for them. Many children do this by serving their mothers breakfast in bed. It is also common for young children to give mother something that they have made themselves. For older children flowers and candy are the more common gift. The "official" flower for Mother's Day is the red carnation but bouquets of other spring flowers or a flowering plant are also popular. Mother's Day is the busiest day of the year for American restaurants as it is "forbidden=@for Mom to cook on her day!
The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has an official day to honor fathers. On this day across the country fathers are typically given presents, treated to a special dinner and made to feel important and appreciated. The origins of Father's Day are unclear but it was declared a national holiday in 1924 as a day to honor and recognize father's role in the family. Since this holiday coincides with the beginning of summer and outdoor barbecues, Dad's special meal often features something cooked on an open grill.
June is the month for graduates of all sizes and ages. Graduation marks the end of one step in the student's education and his or her moving on or "graduating" to the next. Graduations are thus very hopeful occasions, with the promise of new beginnings and future success. Parties with family and friends are a regular feature in the graduation festivities and the new graduate is "toasted", congratulated and presented with appropriate gifts to mark the occasion. A seasonal summer buffet is often served since graduations occur at the beginning of the summer season.
Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue!
This most American of holidays brings out the patriotism of all U.S. citizens as they enjoy parades, barbecues, games and fireworks displays. The Fourth of July period is also one of the most popular times for family reunions and vacations. Many Americans celebrate "The Fourth" with large "block" or "company" parties attended by family, friends and associates.
The Fourth of July is officially known as "Independence Day" as it was the day in 1776 that members of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia signed the Declaration of Independence, stating the intention of the American colonies to separate from English rule. At that time, John Adams, one of the members of the Congress and later second President of the United States, declared that in the future the Fourth of July would be "celebrated by pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other".
Since everyone loves a day off from work and July boasts the best weather of the year, most local communities host parades and day-long picnics with regional foods and specialties. The parades have patriotic and local themes with community members dressed up like the members of the Continental Congress, along with beauty queens and politicians all marching to music from a local high school band. Other activities might include a band concert in the park, a friendly game of baseball, three-legged races and watermelon and pie eating contests. At dusk everyone assembles to watch the fireworks display. Wherever Americans are around the world, they always get together for a traditional Fourth of July celebration.
Some alternative regional favorite menus for the Fourth of July come from New England and the Chesapeake Bay region. Each takes full advantage of the seafood specialities unique to these regions and have become traditional summer recipes for many Americans.
August is the last month of the summer vacation season and the perfect time for a picnic at the beach or in the mountains away from the heat and rush of the city. One doesn't think of going to the beach or the mountains without a picnic basket and it must include foods that travel "cool" and well.
September in America ushers in "Indian Summer", the beginning of the school year and the start of the football season. High school, college and professional football games are weekend rituals and draw avid supporters to the stadiums or to the TV screen throughout the season. Many people make a party out of going to the game and gather together for "Tailgate" picnics, setting up a buffet of food and drinks on the tailgates of their station wagons or vans at the stadium. This picnic can be duplicated at home to serve while the host and guests watch their favorite team on television.
All American school children learn the story of Columbus and how he discovered America. An Italian, Christopher Columbus thought he could find a new sea route to the treasures of India and Asia. Unable to find supporters in Italy, he convinced Queen Isabella of Spain to finance his expedition. Sailing westward from Spain with three ships, he landed unexpectedly in the new world of America on October 12, 1492. Thinking he had landed in India he called the natives "Indians" and claimed the lands for Spain. The continent was later named America after another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci, who firmly established that Columbus had discovered a whole new continent and not just islands off the coast of Asia. One of the first ceremonies honoring Columbus for his discovery was held in New York City in 1792. The District of Columbia, the site of the U.S. capital city of Washington is named after Columbus.
The idea of a Columbus Day holiday was first proposed by Italian-Americans in New York City in October 1866 to express pride in their Italian heritage. Italian-American organizations and societies in other cities picked up on this idea and Columbus Day has become a day of parades, banquets and dances remembering the discovery of America and Columbus' Italian heritage. Today it is celebrated by all Americans with their favorite Italian food specialties.
Halloween originated as a holiday connected with evil spirits, with witches flying on broomsticks, ghosts and black cats, goblins and skeletons. Today, children dressed in costumes and masks eagerly rush house to house shouting "Trick or Treat" and demand candy and other sweets.
Like many other American holidays Halloween has its origins in pre-Christian and Christian customs. October 31 was the eve of the Celtic New Year - when the Celts believed ghosts walked and mingled with the living. When night fell, the townspeople dressed up and tried to resemble the souls of the dead. Hoping the ghosts would leave peacefully before mid-night and the New Year, the people carried food to the edge of town and left it for the spirits. The tradition came to the U.S. with the Irish immigrants in the 1840's.
Black is one of the colors of Halloween, probably because most of the celebrations occur at night. In the weeks before October 31, Americans decorate their windows with silhouettes of witches and black cats. The pumpkin, an orange colored squash, is also a symbol of Halloween and orange is the other color associated with the holiday. Carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns is a popular Halloween custom. Adults also get caught up in the Halloween festivities, hosting costume balls and neighborhood block parties. Halloween is now said to be the second most popular U.S. holiday, after Christmas.
Almost every culture in the world has a celebration of thanks for a plentiful harvest. The American holiday began as a feast of thanksgiving in early colonial days almost 400 years ago. In 1620, over one hundred Pilgrims sailed from England to the New World and landed in what is now Plymouth in the State of Massachusetts. Their first winter was very harsh and nearly half the colonists died. The following spring, the Indians taught the remaining Pilgrims how to grow corn (maize) and other unfamiliar crops, as well as how to hunt and fish.
In the autumn of 1621, bountiful crops of corn, barley, beans and pumpkins were harvested and the colonists held a feast to express their thanks. They invited the local Indian chief and ninety of his braves to join them. The Indians came bringing deer and other wild game for the feast. Other items served included native cranberries and squash. Researchers question whether turkeys were actually served in the original menu, but eels and clams probably were, and possibly even popcorn!
This yearly day of Thanksgiving became traditional in most states and in 1864 President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving an official holiday. Every year since then the U.S. President has made a Thanksgiving Proclamation to the nation.
Thanksgiving is the most "American" of all the holidays and is celebrated by all Americans regardless of their background or religion. It is a time for sharing and reflection. Family members from all generations gather together if geographically possible, and give thanks for all they have. No gifts are exchanged on this holiday, enhancing its non-commercial aspect, and its memory is one of a happy family reunion around a bountiful table. In the spirit of of sharing, civic groups give Thanksgiving baskets to people in need and many organizations offer a free Thanksgiving meal, with turkey and all the trimmings to those who can not afford to prepare their own.
The traditional turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie appear on most tables across the U.S., but the rest of the menu may vary with ethnic and regional preferences. For better or worse, commercialism has crept into this holiday. Families gather round the television to watch the Macy's Day Parade in New York City and the multitude of football games that follow. Snacks and beer are a must for the "couch potatoes". The day after Thanksgiving marks the unofficial first day of shopping for Christmas and the day often yields the highest single day's sales in stores across America.
Christmas is a joyful religious holiday when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. To people all over the world, Christmas is a season for giving and receiving presents. Immigrant settlers in the U.S. brought many different holiday traditions with them. One of the most enduring is that of Father Christmas, which American children have adopted as "Santa Claus", a cheery and portly old gentleman with a white beard, a red suit and a twinkle in his eye. American children believe that Santa and Mrs. Claus live at the North Pole where his elves manufacture and wrap Christmas presents. Then on Christmas Eve, December 24th, Santa hitches his eight reindeer to a sleigh, loads it with the presents and delivers them to children around the world who have been good. While Santa Claus lives only in our minds, his spirit of giving is the major theme of Christmas.
Americans who celebrate Christmas usually have their own unique traditions surrounding this holiday. The wonderful diversity of foods, music and songs, prayers and stories make Christmas the >Holiday of Holidays" in the U.S. Going home for Christmas is the most cherished tradition of the holiday. Everyone joins in to help with the preparations for the festivities -decorating the tree and the house, shopping for and wrapping the presents and cooking all the food. In spite of the commercialism which often accompanies these preparations, the message of sharing with others is still the central meaning of this holiday.