U.S. holidays

[mrblanche]

I'm guessing that our non-U.S. members are a little puzzled over our holidays.

Columbus Day? He missed China by a long ways. What most of us don't recognize is that he missed North America, too. He discovered the Caribbean Islands. He was the first cruise ship to visit those islands.

I mean...Hollowe'en? Sure, it came from old European traditions, but we've certainly put our own spin on it. "Free candy? They're giving out free candy? How do I get in on this?" And pumpkins. And, of course, black cats.

Next, Thanksgiving. We eat stuff most Europeans think is cattle feed or inedible (Pumpkins, again. Corn. Sweet potatoes. Turkey.) Then we sit and watch parades and football. Then we go Christmas shopping.

And Christmas. Charles Dickens (who more or less invented the way the holiday is celebrated in England and the U.S.) would turn over in his grave, and wish he had a stake of holly through his heart. (Did you know his Christmas story essentially saved his career and his fortune?)

And we won't mention New Years eve.

So...have I missed any?

[otto]

hmm.....Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day, President's Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day and Independence Day.

[strange_wings]

Do you remember back in school? Geography usually included some teaching about a region's culture (not just resources). Do you know other countries teach this, too?

If anyone is online reading your post you can probably be sure they're well aware of the big holidays here, if they don't celebrate them in much the same form themselves (at least in Europe). Many of the same foods have worked their way into other countries - just like some have here. Though a lot of holiday foods are still mostly unknown here.
I had a friend who was thrilled that julmust was on shelves again - I bet we only have two or three active members who even know what this is. (sounds gross...) Who knows what mämmi is? (NorthernGlow - no helping them if you read this! )

If anything we here in the US are fairly ignorant of foreign holidays and culture specific ways they're celebrated.

As for Columbus Day, that's pretty much unimportant unless one has a government job.

[ut0pia]

Halloween is celebrated in Bulgaria, but there is no trick or treating going on- we just dressed up in costumes and went to parties..but it is one of those holidays like cinco de mayo in the US, it is really just a reason to party- it doesn't come from our culture...which reminds me you also forgot St. Patrick's day and Mardi Gras...They are some of my favorite holidays
Thanks to Hollywood movies, Thanksgiving and the 4th of July are also well known, but not celebrated over there..
And then Christmas and Easter are Christian holidays- not American...

[Catkiki]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

As for Columbus Day, that's pretty much unimportant unless one has a government job.

LOL Tell that to my bosses. Even though I don't have a government job per se, we are contracted by the US Dept of Education. But we have to work that day.

[Yosemite]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

As for Columbus Day, that's pretty much unimportant unless one has a government job.

We have the same thing with Remembrance Day - Government jobs, banks and schools close but the rest of us work with just a 2 minute silence at 11 am.

[Rosiemac]

Originally Posted by mrblanche

Charles Dickens (who more or less invented the way the holiday is celebrated in England and the U.S.) would turn over in his grave, and wish he had a stake of holly through his heart. (Did you know his Christmas story essentially saved his career and his fortune?)

And heres the very house where he wrote A Christmas Carol. I was in London 3 weeks ago and his house is now a museum with it's original furniture

[strange_wings]

utopia - I forgot all about movies and tv shows. I have friends that mostly taught themselves English from watching them. They definitely know our holidays, though a few small details may still be confusing since some stuff gets distorted a bit in film.

Originally Posted by Yosemite

We have the same thing with Remembrance Day - Government jobs, banks and schools close but the rest of us work with just a 2 minute silence at 11 am.

We actually have several days like this - most of the ones that otto listed are, for example. For most of us it's just another day and only noticed if we need to go somewhere that is closed.

I suppose one difference would be that in some countries days like that are given off. They get better holidays and time off (for a lot of things) as far as work is concerned.

[WellingtonCats]

We have the whole Halloween thing in our little country too but I have learnt a lot about U.S holidays since joining here.

[Ruthyb]

For some strange reason here in England we tend to celebrate St atricks day more than St Georges day- St Patricks day is just usually a load of men on the p*ss and then a load of trouble !! I will just stick to the usual thanks, mainly christmas-I love christmas.x

[Russian Blue]

Originally Posted by strange_wings

.......Who knows what mämmi is? (NorthernGlow - no helping them if you read this! )

I do. But I'll skip the mämmi and the salmiakki and stick with my pulla!

[mrblanche]

I think my point was as much HOW we celebrate, as WHAT we celebrate!

My sister was born on St. Patrick's Day, and I recall it being a bigger holiday (but not one officially observed) when I was young, 50 years ago.

Every country has its holidays that are peculiar to that country and which make little sense elsewhere. France once celebrated over 100 religious holidays every year, for example.