Major US Government Holidays

Holidays are the best times of the year when family and friends get together. A holiday is a fixed day set apart by law or custom where most normal daily activities, particularly work or school including church, are either suspended or completely reduced. In general, such holidays are arranged to let people to celebrate or remember an occasion or tradition of religious or cultural importance. They are also set apart as times for giving thanks or even for gathering with family and loved ones.

There are several important public holidays and observances that are observed around the world every calendar year. Among these are Christmas, Good Friday, Flag Day, National Volunteer Week, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day. Each of these has a significant religious background and meaning. In general, people mark these public holidays with a variety of special activities and festivities. Some popular holidays observed around the world include Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, and St. Patrick’s Day. On the other hand, common public holidays observed in the United States include Thanksgiving, Flag Day, and Veterans Day.

The customs and traditions observed on all the above-mentioned holidays vary according to the nationality of the country. For instance, while most of the holidays described above are celebrated with much gusto all over the world, the customs and observances on New Year’s Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day vary significantly from the others. While on all the holidays, kids get involved in a range of activities, adults are occupied mostly with planning meals and shopping for presents. Both the practices witnessed on New Year’s Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day are different from the others.

The most common holidays celebrated around the world are Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Hanukkah. These holidays are celebrated with great gusto by Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. In general, public celebrations on Christmas and New Year’s Day are accompanied by family parties and friends. The activities on Independence Day are mostly quiet, unlike in the case of the other holidays. While most of the Indians celebrate the Independence Day with a bang, the majority of Americans opt for a quieter affair. Americans observe the Independence Day with great pomp and show, but in general, American Independence Day is a comparatively subdued affair.

The other most widely celebrated national holidays are those of the Americans. Among the main federal holidays, Thanksgiving is perhaps the most well-liked one in the country. Thanksgiving is observed in the autumn, when the harvest ends and the harvest season commences. A number of big meals are prepared during this time. On the other hand, Christmas is the most widely celebrated holiday in the United States, especially in the northern part of the country. The main reason for the widespread adoption of Christmas as the new year’s holiday is the spirit of goodwill that has been prevalent since the inception of the Christian religion.

Although all these popular holidays have their own unique way of celebrating, there are certain general characteristics that every good American public holiday should possess. Holidays are good occasions to get together with loved ones and friends. Moreover, these occasions help Americans to strengthen their bonds of friendship and commerce. As a result, many Americans choose to observe different public holidays throughout the year. There are a number of very popular public holidays that are observed across the United States, such as: