Holidays - US Department of State

Holidays


A young boy rides on a float during a Martin Luther King Jr. parade in Miami. (© AP Images)

Americans Celebrate Achievements of Martin Luther King Jr.

Americans on each third Monday of January honor the life and achievements of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., (1929–1968), the 1964 Nobel Peace laureate and the individual most associated with the triumphs of the African-American civil rights movement during the 1950s and 1960s. As a political organizer, supremely skilled orator and advocate of nonviolent protest, King was pivotal in persuading his fellow Americans to end the legal segregation that prevailed throughout the South and parts of other regions, and in sparking support for the civil rights legislation that established the legal framework for racial equality in the United States. (complete text)

Times Square a Focus of New Year's Eve Festivities

If the beginning of a new year represents the chance to start anew, it surely is appropriate that millions of Americans associate New Year’s Eve with New York City’s Times Square. In a nation founded on the individual’s opportunity to reinvent himself or herself, its largest city always has been at the forefront of change, and supplied a nexus of energy, ambition and drive. (complete text)

Americans Celebrate Christmas in Diverse Ways

President and Mrs. Bush send holiday greetings to the American people in the annual White House Christmas message. During the U.S. holiday season, the White House traditionally issues statements and holds events honoring the holidays observed by all major faiths in nation. (complete text)

Thanksgiving Day a Time for Reflection, Gratitude

Thanksgiving in the United States is possibly the premier U.S. family celebration, typically celebrated at home and marked with a substantial feast. As the anchor of what is for many a four-day holiday weekend, Thanksgiving provides an occasion for family reunions, marks the beginning of the “holiday season” that continues through Christmas and New Year’s Day and, as its name suggests, affords Americans a shared opportunity to express their gratitude for plentiful food and general abundance. (complete text)

SPECIAL FEATURE painting of U.S. flag

An Overview of U.S. Holidays