Chapter 12 Section 7 - Explore - Independence Day and Other Holidays Celebrated by Americans

announced that all the enslaved African Americans were free

"Juneteenth" is an African American holiday. It celebrates the end of slavery in 1865. It was on June 19 of that year that the Union Army landed in Galveston, Texas. General Gordon Granger _______________. Their descendents today celebrate "Juneteenth" with outdoor activities such as fishing, baseball, rodeos, and barbecuing. Maybe that's because the holiday falls right at the beginning of summer.

federal government workers

Congress makes holidays only for ________________ and people in the District of Columbia (the national capital). Each state can make its own holiday laws.

both died on July 4, 1826

Here's are some interesting facts about Independence Day. Two of the brave Patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence were John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Both men helped to write the Declaration. Both were later elected president. And _____________ —the 50th anniversary of the original Fourth of July.

promises to live a better life in the coming year

In the United States and many other countries, New Year's Day is January 1. For Americans, New Year's is a time for parades, football games, and get-togethers with family and friends. Many people also like to make "New Year's resolutions." These resolutions are ______________________.

lighting candles for eight nights

Jews around the world celebrate Hanukkah. It, too, falls around the time of the winter solstice. Hanukkah means "dedication" in Hebrew. The holiday celebrates the rededication of the ancient Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC during a war. The festivities were said to have lasted eight days, so Jews observe the event by ___________________. They celebrate the holiday with gift-giving and special foods, games, and songs.

ethnic or religious group

Some holidays are not observed by all Americans. They are holidays that are special to one particular ______________.

eight years of war

The United States formally won its independence only after nearly _______________. Still, July 4 is a good choice for the nation's birthday. Once Congress voted for the Declaration of Independence, there was no turning back. On that day, the delegates chose their future—and ours.

sacred days in religious calendars

The word holiday comes from the words "holy day." The first holidays were _________. These days were set aside for prayer and rest from work.

the soldiers who had fought in that war

Veterans Day began after World War I. It was a day for remembering ___________________. The holiday was celebrated on November 11, the date when World War I came to an end.

the signing of the Declaration of Independence

We call the Fourth of July "Independence Day" because it celebrates __________________. But the United States didn't become independent on July 4, 1776.

the third Monday in January

After King's death, many Americans remembered him by celebrating his birthday, January 15. Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Day on _________.

a truce, or agreement to stop fighting

Back then, Veterans Day was called Armistice Day. An armistice is ________________. After World War II, Congress changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day.

Presidents' Day

Beginning in 1971, Congress combined these celebrations into one holiday. _______________ now honors all past presidents. Many Americans still call this holiday Washington's Birthday.

celebrates the birth of Jesus

Christians around the world observe Christmas on December 25. It's a joyous holiday that _______________. In the United States and many other countries, it is celebrated with feasting, parties, music, gift-giving, and a tree decorated with lights.

the second Monday in October

Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937. Today we celebrate it on __________________.

Italians in New York City

Columbus Day began as an Italian American holiday.Although he sailed under the Spanish flag, Christopher Columbus was Italian by birth. Columbus first set foot in the Americas on October 12, 1492. In 1866, __________________________ began celebrating this date with dinners, parades, and dances. Columbus Day is still a day of proud celebrations for Italian Americans.

official national holidays

Countries also name special days to honor important events and people. But did you know that the United States does not have _______? The reason is that we have a federal system of government.

be loyal to the United States

Each day, you honor our country at school when you recite the Pledge of Allegiance. By saying the pledge, you are promising to _________________. The pledge reminds us that we live in a nation of freedom and justice.

Fourth of July

Every year, you gather with other Americans to celebrate the ___________ with parades, speeches, and fireworks. It is our nation's greatest holiday!

Jewish New Year

For example, the _______________ starts in September or October. The Chinese New Year can fall anywhere from late January to the middle of February.

shot to death in 1968

King's courage and magnificent speeches won millions of Americans to his cause. Sadly, he was _________________.

lighting candles for seven nights, from December 26 to New Year's Day

Kwanzaa is a much newer holiday, created in 1966. The name comes from a phrase that means "first fruits" in Swahili, a language of East and Central Africa. Inspired by African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa celebrates family, community, and culture. African Americans observe Kwanzaa by _____________. Each candle represents a different ideal, such as unity and creativity. Like other winter holidays, Kwanzaa is observed with music, dancing, and feasting.

all working men and women

Labor Day honors _________________ in the United States. Workers in New York City came up with the idea for this holiday in 1882.

remembering the soldiers who died

Memorial Day means "a day for remembering." Americans first set aside a Memorial Day after the Civil War. It was a day for ____________ in that terrible conflict.

Columbus Day is known as Native American Day

Of course, American Indians came to North America thousands of years before Columbus. In South Dakota, ____________. Many other places have set aside a separate day to honor American Indians.

honored July 4 as Independence Day

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of the Declaration of Independence. Ever since, Americans have _________ —the birthday of the United States.

the start of the new year

People around the world have celebrated __________ since ancient times. But they don't all celebrate New Year's Day on the same day! That's because they use different calendars.

Christian holy days

People of all faiths have their holy days. Two American holidays are ___________ —Christmas and Easter.

leave flags and flowers on the graves of soldiers

Today, Memorial Day honors those who have died in all of the nation's wars. On this day, many Americans visit cemeteries to ________________.

a feast of thanksgiving with the Native Americans

Thanksgiving Day is our oldest holiday. The first Thanksgiving took place in 1621. In that year, Puritans held _____________ who had helped them survive their first year in America.

Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr

The only American with his own holiday is the _______________. King helped to lead the struggle for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s. He told his supporters to protest peacefully even when they were attacked by police and angry mobs.

the first Monday in September a federal holiday

The workers' idea soon spread across the country. In the next few years, more than 20 states adopted Labor Day. In 1894, Congress made _______________.

dead soldiers whose names are unknown

Today, November 11 is a day for remembering and thanking the men and women who have fought in all of the nation's wars. Veterans' groups hold parades on this day. Usually the president visits Arlington National Cemetery. There he or she places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns. This site honors all ______________________.

giving thanks for all the good things in life

Today, Thanksgiving Day is a time of ______________. Most Americans celebrate the day by feasting on turkey—a food that goes all the way back to the first Thanksgiving. Americans often travel long distances to be with their families on this special day.

George Washington and Abraham Lincoln

Two of the greatest American presidents were born in February—____________________. For many years, Americans celebrated both Washington's Birthday and Lincoln's Birthday.