American Holidays, and What They Mean to Me

Ten of these holidays are "Federal Holidays" on which government offices are closed. They are:

New Year's Day
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Washington's Birthday aka: President's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day

Happy New Year! Every year!

This first-day-of-the-year tradition celebrates the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year.

On this day Americans love to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve, while partying with friends. At the stroke of midnight they burst into celebration, kissing strangers, yelling, jumping up and down, clanging pans together, setting off fireworks, and in some countrified areas, shooting off their guns. Anything to let the world know that the new year has suddenly arrived.

This is considered the end of the "Holiday Season" that includes traditional holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah.

First, and most importantly (to me) New Year's Day is my father's birthday. He was born in 1926 in New York, but the family soon moved to Pasadena, California. Now that town name may ring a bell. Every year on January 1 in Pasadena, California, there's a very special event which is televised across our nation -- the Rose Parade! My father grew up thinking that the Rose Parade was a special celebration of his birthday!

I am not much of a New Year's Eve celebrator. When I was young my parents gave parties and there was the usual revelry. I have not continued that tradition -- in fact, many New Years Eves, I went to bed early thinking, "tomorrow is just another day."

The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday is commemorated every year because his life was cut short as he tried to establish equality for all American citizens. He was born on January 15, 1929. This day is a remembrance of the struggles of Americans during the civil rights movement in the 1960s. Even now we must always remember to abandon prejudices and work together for the good of our country.

This commemorates the life of a great humanitarian who gave his life for the well-being of his fellow citizens. He was an activist who spread his passion in a remarkably effective way. As I also am an activist I very much admire the enthusiasm and energy he expended in delivering his message. May he long be remembered!

Government employees in Washington DC and nearby states can suspend their normal work schedule to help relieve congestion on the highways during this important event, but for the rest of us it is work as usual. If the 20th is on a Sunday, the public inauguration takes place the following day though there's still a private inauguration on the 20th.

I figure this is a lot of hoopla to celebrate the inauguration of yet another corrupt politician into the highest office of this country. Can anyone reach that high without being thoroughly corrupted along the way? There's something I like to see. I hope someday it happens.

Washington's Birthday was first declared a federal holiday by an 1879 act of Congress. The Uniform Holidays Act, 1968, shifted the date of the commemoration of Washington's Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Many people now refer to this holiday as "Presidents' Day" and consider it a day honoring all American presidents. However, neither the Uniform Holidays Act nor any subsequent law changed the name of the holiday from Washington's Birthday to Presidents' Day.

Honors the nation's war dead from the Civil War onwards; marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. (traditionally May 30, shifted by the Uniform Holidays Act 1968). I feel sorry for anyone who died in our nation's insane wars, and for anyone who lost a family member or loved one. Our wars are being perpetrated by those with ulterior motives to make money and gain power worldwide. It's a shame so many people still believe American wars are still worth fighting in. I think many if not most American service men and women have finally realized that our wars are using them as sheep to help the wealthy get wealthier while controlling the population by killing hundreds of thousands of people - and pray that someday everyone will refuse to participate. God help those who are being harmed by American aggression worldwide.

Celebrates the Declaration of Independence. This day is also called the Fourth of July. Have you read the Declaration of Independence? If not, stop everything right now and go do it. This document isn't taught in most American schools but is one of the most important documents we should all learn from. A good way to celebrate this holiday is to print out copies of the Declaration of Independence, and hand them out to everyone you see.

Celebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement. Labor Day marks the unofficial end of the summer season. Definitely worth observing... but take care that your work benefits you more than it benefits the rich industrialists who want to use you as sheep, or slave labor. You are made to think that you need material things, expensive things... and because of addiction to these things are forced to trade your sweet time for money. The wealthy get wealthier - while you're wasting your time working for a limited income. I very much recommend self-employment and small business ownership if you want an income that will grow rather than stay stagnant. Don't be some rich business owner's slave.

Honors Christopher Columbus, traditional discoverer of the Americas. In some areas it is also a celebration of Italian culture and heritage. (traditionally October 12); celebrated as American Indian Heritage Day and Fraternal Day in Alabama; celebrated as Native American Day in South Dakota. In Hawaii, it is celebrated as Discoverer's Day, though is not an official state holiday.

OMG. HUGE RED FLAG. Many Native Americans will not celebrate because they consider Columbus' arrival to be the invasion of North America. Sounds about right to me.

Honors all veterans of the United States armed forces. A traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those killed in war. (Commemorates the 1918 armistice, which began at "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.") You can read above - the section on Memorial Day - if you want to know my opinion on the American military.

Thanksgiving celebrates the autumn harvest. Families gather together for a traditional dinner of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, yams, salads, other veggies, bread rolls, and pumpkin pie.

Another HUGE RED FLAG. Native Americans say that thanksgiving harvest feasts started to celebrate the massacre of Native American on our continent. So celebrate if you want to but lets face it. The history of Euro-American aggression against Native Americans is distressing, heart-breaking, and traumatizing. I don't know what can heal us. Maybe another Thanksgiving celebration? Dunno about that . . .

See: Deconstructing the Myths of the First Thanksgiving

Christmas is a magical time of year. It started as a celebration of the Nativity of Jesus, but has become more of a national holiday for people of all beliefs. Some people consider aspects of this religious holiday, such as giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree, to be secular rather than explicitly Christian.

See:
Christmas on a Tight Budget
Pictures of Christmas