Holidays – Why Do Americans Celebrate All the Holidays?

Holidays are a special time of the year set apart by tradition or by government regulation where normal everyday activities, particularly work or school including church, are suspended. In general, holidays are planned to enable people to commemorate or celebrate an occasion or belief of significant cultural or historical importance. Holiday seasons can be of short duration (such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day and so on) or can last for a whole year (such as Halloween, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Some other popular holidays include Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, the Day of the Dead and so on.

Holidays come in all forms and types and serve for many purposes. But whatever purpose they serve, there is one thing that remains constant-it is the joy associated with getting away from it all. And if you are looking forward to a vacation, chances are high that you would like to spend it at some place where you can get away from the routine and find some alone time to rest and rejuvenate yourself. A vacation is a great time for getting away from the hassles of life.

Holidays have been around ever since we started celebrating them. In ancient times, people used the then-new methods of communicating (such as barking of dogs or banging pots and pans on the ground) to communicate with each other and make friends. But no one can deny the vital role played by vacations in our lives today. Without vacations, who would know what Christmas would look like or why President Obama would have opted for a two-term term instead of a four-year one? Holidays have become an integral part of our lives and without it, we lose touch with the spirit in which Christmas is essentially created.

It was in 1850 that America’s Federal government began celebrating its annual American holidays. Ever since, they have gained popularity among Americans of all walks of life and all age groups. In fact, the concept of celebrating American holidays has become so popular that the government has now taken this concept of spreading the joy to every part of the nation. Now, people celebrate not just federal holidays but also state holidays and even local festivals. So, it is not surprising anymore that there are American holidays celebrated not just by Americans but by people from Canada as well.

For example, for July 4th, the United States celebrates Independence Day. The reason for celebrating Independence Day is a fitting tribute to our great historical and international history. A common misconception about the holiday is that it is only a celebration of independence, when in fact it also includes many other historical events and sentiments that occurred during the long history of the country.

There are many different reasons why people celebrate holidays. While some just want to spend the weekend in a relaxed mood, there are others who want to let go of any tension and stress and just enjoy themselves. One of the most popular American holidays observed on a Sunday is Thanksgiving Day, which is the last day of the fiscal year. The reason for such popularity of Thanksgiving Day is the sight of turkey being served to the first responders of the calamity area. There are also other traditions and cultural events that are celebrated on this day such as, sporting events, barbecues, parades, and even a visit from Santa Claus.