Holiday

Independence Day is the day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, celebrated in all states and territories. The observance began the next year in Philadelphia. Today Americans celebrate with parades, barbecues, and fireworks displays.

A federal holiday observed the first Monday in September. Labor Day was first celebrated in New York in 1882 under the sponsorship of the Central Labor Union, following the suggestion of Peter J. McGuire, a member of the Knights of Labor, that the day be set aside in honor of labor. The holiday is a tribute to the U.S. workforce; typically celebrated with parades and backyard parties. Labor Day is...

Halloween is the eve of All Saints' Day, formerly called All Hallows and Hallowmass. Halloween is traditionally associated with customs such as bonfires, masquerading, and the telling of ghost stories, old Celtic practices that mark the beginning of winter. People of all ages wear costumes, eat candy, and attend parties and dances.  Children participate in trick-or-treating, going from door to door in search of candy or other treats.

Armistice Day, a federal holiday, was established in 1926 to commemorate the signing in 1918 of the armistice ending World War I. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all men and women who have served America in its armed forces.

The most widely celebrated holiday of the Christian year, Christmas is observed as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Christmas customs are centuries old. The mistletoe, for example, comes from the Druids, who, in hanging the mistletoe, hoped for peace and good fortune. Comparatively recent is the Christmas tree, first set up in Germany in the 17th century. Colonial Manhattan Islanders introduced the name Santa Claus, a corruption of...