A.

Introduction
The United States! This fascinating country is a multicultural nation, home to a
wide variety of ethnic groups, traditions, and values. As in every culture, holidays and
festivals in the U.S are the reflection of customs and traditions that unites a nation.
In the strict sense, there are no national holidays in the United States. Each of the
50 states can choose their own variation of observable holidays. It is possible for some
holidays to be observed in one state and not observed in others. In practice, however,
Congress has designated 10 federal holidays. The ten holidays that are proclaimed by
the federal government are as follows: New Years Day, Martin Luther King Day,
Washingtons Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, labour day, Columbus Day,
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas.
Unlike other countries, many U.S. holidays are celebrated on days that are more
convenient and are combined with weekends, rather than being observed in the middle of
the week. As most people don't work on Saturdays and Sundays, many holidays are
observed on Mondays. Of course, not all holidays follow that pattern.
While most public holidays in the US have a political or historical background,
other festivals are rooted in religious beliefs or in the traditions that the many different
ethnic groups in the US brought along to the new world with them.
In the United State, every year, there are many festivals of diverse types, among
them regional festivals, commerce festivals, fairs , food festivals , arts festivals , religious
festivals , folk festivals , and recurring festivals on holidays. Lots of fun activities, special
cultural and art activities were held in the festival, which help to bring people of all
cultures together.
Because the nation has a rich ethnic heritage it is possible to trace some of the
American holidays and festivals to diverse cultural sources and traditions, but most
holidays and festivals have taken on a distinctively American flavor.

I SOME MAJOR HOLIDAYS IN THE US

Independent Day ( the Fourth of July)

Independence day, common known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the
United State commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of independence on July 4,
1776, declaring from the Kingdom of Great Britain (now officially known as the United
Kingdom). Independence Day commonly associated with firework, parades, barbecues,
carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunion, and political speeches
and ceremonies, in addition to various public and private events celebrating the history,
government and traditions of the United State. Independence Day is the national day of
the US.
1

History of independence day in the US

Conflict between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies
convened a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. In a June 7
session in the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall), Richard Henry Lee of
Virginia presented a resolution with the famous words: "Resolved: That these United
Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved
from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them
and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
Lee's words were the impetus for the drafting of a formal Declaration of
Independence, although the resolution was not followed up on immediately. On June 11,
consideration of the resolution was postponed by a vote of seven colonies to five, with
New York abstaining. However, a Committee of Five was appointed to draft a statement
presenting to the world the colonies' case for independence. Members of the Committee
included John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin
Franklin of Pennsylvania, Robert R. Livingston of New York and Thomas Jefferson of
Virginia. The task of drafting the actual document fell on Jefferson.
On July 1, 1776, the Continental Congress reconvened, and on the following day, the
Lee Resolution for independence was adopted by 12 of the 13 colonies, New York not
voting. Discussions of Jefferson's Declaration of Independence resulted in some minor
changes, but the spirit of the document was unchanged. The process of revision continued
through all of July 3 and into the late afternoon of July 4, when the Declaration was
officially adopted. Of the 13 colonies, nine voted in favor of the Declaration, two -Pennsylvania and South Carolina -- voted No, Delaware was undecided and New York
abstained. John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress, signed the Declaration

of Independence. It is said that John Hancock's signed his name "with a great flourish" so
England's "King George can read that without spectacles!"
Today, the original copy of the Declaration is housed in the National Archives in
Washington, D.C., and July 4 has been designated a national holiday to commemorate the
day the United States laid down its claim to be a free and independent nation.
1.2 Activities in Independence Day
Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other
summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors.
Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the
postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point
on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history,
society, and people.
Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or
barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather
with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored
red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades are often in the morning,
while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or
town squares.
The night before the Fourth was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by
raucous gatherings often incorporating bonfires as their centerpiece. In New England,
towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from hogsheads and barrels and
casks. They were lit at nightfall, to usher in the celebration. The highest were in Salem,
Massachusetts (on Gallows Hill, the famous site of the execution of 13 women and 6 men
for witchcraft in 1692 during the Salem with trials, where the tradition of bonfires in
celebration had persisted), composed of as many as forty tiers of barrels; these are the
tallest bonfires ever recorded. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries, and
is still practiced in some New England towns.
Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the
national anthem The star- Spangled Banner, God Bless America, America the
Beautiful, My country, tis the Tree, This Land is your land, Stars and Stripes
forever, and, regionally, Yankee Doodle in northeastern states and Dixie in southern
states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary war or the War of 1812.

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal
use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban
fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from
less restrictive states.
A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a salute to the union,
is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.
While the official observance always falls on July 4th, participation levels may vary
according to which day of the week the 4th falls on. If the holiday falls in the middle of
the week, some fireworks displays and celebrations may take place during the weekend
for convenience, again, varying by region.
The first week of July is typically one of the busiest American travel periods of the
year, as many people utilize the holiday for extended vacation trips.
2. Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is national holiday on the fourth Thursday of
November. It was originally celebrated as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the
harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families
and friends to get together for a special meal. It is a time for many people to give thanks
for what they have.
2.1 The history of Thanksgiving Day
In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition is commonly, but not
universally, traced to a sparsely documented 1621 celebration at Plymouth in present-day
Massachusetts. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good
harvest. Pilgrims and Puritans who began emigrating from England in the 1620s and
1630s carried the tradition of Days of Fasting and Days of Thanksgiving with them to
New England. Several days of Thanksgiving were held in early New England history that
have been identified as the "First Thanksgiving", including Pilgrim holidays in Plymouth
in 1621 and 1623, and a Puritan holiday in Boston in 1631.
According to historian Jeremy Bangs, director of the Leiden American Pilgrim
Museum, the Pilgrims may have been influenced by watching the annual services of
Thanksgiving for the relief of the siege of Leiden in 1574, while they were staying in
Leiden.

Now called Oktober Feesten, Leiden's autumn thanksgiving celebration in 1617 was
the occasion for sectarian disturbance that appears to have accelerated the pilgrims' plans
to emigrate to America.
Later in Massachusetts, religious thanksgiving services were declared by civil leaders
such as Governor Bradford, who planned the colony's thanksgiving celebration and fast
in 1623.The practice of holding an annual harvest festival did not become a regular affair
in New England until the late 1660s.
Thanksgiving proclamations were made mostly by church leaders in New England up
until 1682, and then by both state and church leaders until after the American Revolution.
During the revolutionary period, political influences affected the issuance of
Thanksgiving proclamations. Various proclamations were made by royal governors, John
Hancock, General George Washington, and the Continental Congress, each giving thanks
to God for events favorable to their causes.
As President of the United States, George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide
thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789, "as a day of public
thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many
and signal favours of Almighty God".
Thanksgiving Day can be traced back to the 1621 celebration at the Plymouth Plantation,
where the religious refugees from England known popularly as the Pilgrims invited the
local Native Americans to a harvest feast after a particularly successful growing season.
The previous year's harvests had failed and in the winter of 1620 half of the pilgrims
had starved to death. Luckily for the rest, members of the local Wampanoag tribe taught
the Pilgrims how to grow corn, beans and squash (the Three Sisters); catch fish, and
collect seafood.
Pilgrims held their second Thanksgiving celebration in 1623 to mark the end of a long
drought that had threatened the years harvest and prompted Governor Bradford to call
for a religious fast. Days of fasting and thanksgiving on an annual or occasional basis
became common practice in other New England settlements as well.
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress designated one or more
days of thanksgiving a year, and in 1789 George Washington issued the first
Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he
called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the countrys
war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

In 1817, New York became the first of several states to officially adopt an annual
Thanksgiving holiday; each celebrated it on a different day, however, and the American
South remained largely unfamiliar with the tradition.
In 1827, the noted magazine editor and prolific writer Sarah Josepha Hale launched a
campaign to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday. For 36 years, she published
numerous editorials and sent scores of letters to governors, senators, presidents and other
politicians. Abraham Lincoln finally heeded her request in 1863, at the height of the Civil
War, in a proclamation entreating all Americans to ask God to commend to his tender
care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable
civil strife and to heal the wounds of the nation. He scheduled Thanksgiving for the
final Thursday in November, and it was celebrated on that day every year until 1939,
when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the holiday up a week in an attempt to spur retail
sales during the Great Depression. Roosevelts plan, known derisively as Franksgiving,
was met with passionate opposition, and in 1941 the president reluctantly signed a bill
making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.
In modern times the President of the United States, in addition to issuing a
proclamation, will "pardon" a turkey, which spares the bird's life and ensures that it will
spend the duration of its life roaming freely on farmland.

2.2. Celebrations
One of the most important holidays in the United States is Thanksgiving. This day
involves family getting together from all over the country and world for a time of special
togetherness.
In addition to this family time, there are numerous activities and traditions which go
along to make this day one of the most eventful days of the entire year. All offices are
closed for at least the Thursday of Thanksgiving, and the Friday after Thanksgiving,
known as Black Friday.
Many schools also have the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, in order for students
to travel home to visit their families during this time.
2.2.1. Thanksgiving Day A Time for Family
Of all the holidays on the American calendar, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the
ones with the most connection with family and family time. It is common for family

members who live far away to fly or drive back to their hometown for a large family
gathering. Typically, the main event of Thanksgiving, the dinner, will take place at the
house of the eldest member in the family. That is why many Americans will go the house
of their grandparents.
Once all of the members of the family have arrived, they often spend time at the
house, instead of going out and doing things. Activities that a family might do include
some of the following:

Talking with each other.

It is rare that the entire extended family gets together, so this is an opportune time to
catch up on everything that has happened over the past year.
Sharing photos of the past year. (for those not on facebook the need to catch up on what
been happening can be sped up by showing photos-on i-phones and i-pads). This is
another way to communicate what each family member has been up to the past year or
so. Photos of friends, boyfriends or girlfriends, places of travel, and pets are some of the
most common subjects of photos shown to family during this holiday.

Playing board games.

Some of the most popular games include Monopoly, Checkers, Trivial Pursuit, Janga,
Sequence, and Cranium. These games can be a fun way to get family members who have
not spent much time to talk and enjoy each others company while doing something
together.

Watching movies or TV.

Watching television is a very normal thing for family members gathering for
Thanksgiving to do, and there are annual televised events such as the parades in New
York City or the football games all over the country.

Going outside in the backyard.

Since most family gatherings happen at the largest house, and most large houses in the
United States have a sizable back yard, many activities can be enjoyed in this natural
space.

Playing a sport like football or basketball.

This is another true activity of Thanksgiving. Since both the football and basketball
seasons are well underway in the US, these are the most popular sports that are played
during Thanksgiving. Some families even have annual football matches, pitting one half
of a family against the other. For those who do not feel like getting dirty, a simple game
of tossing the football back and forth is a great way for certain members of the family to
bond and have conversation.
Eating traditional Thanksgiving foods.
Of course, one of the main attractions of Thanksgiving is the large amount of delicious
food served up.

Going shopping on Black Friday.

The last Friday in November is known as Black Friday, and it is the largest shopping
day in the entire year.
2.2.2. Thanksgiving Food
For most Americans, the main attraction of this last Thursday in November is the large
selection of delicious high quality food cooked up by certain members of the family.
While the most famous food associated with Thanksgiving is turkey, there are several
others which may show up at the dinner table:
Cranberry sauce
This is a delicious sauce from cranberries. It is sweet and tangy in flavor. See below
for a recipe to make your own cranberry sauce.
Dinner rolls
These are the classic bread item for Thanksgiving.
Steamed vegetables
Usually there is a range of vegetables available, such as carrots, peas, green beans,
lima beans, and zucchini.
Corn on the cob
Often steamed as well, this dish dates back to the original Thanksgiving between the
English settlers in Massachusetts and the Native Americans of the land.

 Apple pie
A truly a classic American dessert, apple pie is often served with vanilla ice cream and
whipped cream. This is eaten after the meal.
Pumpkin pie
Since pumpkins are in season during this time of year, it is traditional to use all the
excess pumpkins to make pies. Also, the seeds which are extracted are often baked and
seasoned, making a yummy snack food.
Baked potatoes
A classic must have Thanksgiving food! It is often served with butter, sour cream,
chives, bacon bits, cheese, and salt and pepper.
Salad
A mixed salad is a great healthy choice on the dinner table. Lettuce, cabbage, carrots,
tomatoes, green peppers, and other favorite salad items are combined together with salad
dressing.
2.2.3. Tradition of Gifting
Thanksgiving is a time for gifting your family and friends. The day is a time to show
your gratitude and respect to your elders, friends, your siblings and also your colleagues.
Popular gifts include thanksgiving flowers, jewelery, baked cookie hampers, chocolate
gift baskets, candy-wreaths, wine etc.
2.2.4. Black Friday and Festive Spirit
Thanksgiving Day is the official beginning of the Christmas season. USA witnesses
maximum sales volume on the very nest day. The following Friday after thanksgiving is
famously known as 'Black Friday'. This is so, because of the standard accounting practice
of writing profits in black. The ongoing festive spirit, shopping spree, helps the
shopkeepers to register maximum sales and profits. The entire atmosphere during the
time is euphoric, people get in a holiday mood. Families visit restaurants, amusement
parks, gift each other, decorate their house etc.
3. Christmas
3.1. History of Christmas

Christmas is known as an annual commemoration of the birth day of Jesus Christ

and a widely observe holiday, celebrated generally on December 25. It was not until June
26, 1870 that Christmas became a federal holiday.
In the first half of the 19th century, Christmas was a very different kind of holiday
than it is today. People did not have a set way of celebrating. Christmas was not even an
official holiday yet.
Therefore, communities around the country honored the day in different ways.
Some observed Christmas as an important Christian religious day, honoring the birth of
Jesus. Others celebrated the day with parties, music, drinking and eating. And, some
communities did not celebrate the day at all.
However, it was during the early 1800s that Americans began to reinvent the
holiday. They started combining ancient Christmas traditions with modern American
influences.
By mid-century, Christian groups began to ignore their religious differences over
the meaning of Christmas and honored the day in special ways. Christmas became an
important time for families to celebrate at home. More and more Christian Americans
also began to follow the European traditions of Christmas trees and giving gifts. This
tradition of setting up a Christmas tree soon spread to many American homes.
Because Christmas became more popular, some states declared the day a state
holiday. Louisiana was the first state to make the move in 1837. By 1860, 14 other states
had followed. It was not until 1870 that President Ulysses Grant made Christmas a
federal holiday. It was not until 1885 that Congress extend the Christmas holiday to the
federal employees outside the District of Columbia area.

3.2.Celebrations

Christmas is not only a religious holy day, but became one of the first federal
holidays in 1870. On this day most businesses and offices remain closed and the greatest
possible number of workers,including government employees, have the day off. Many
places even close early on the day before.
In the days or even weeks before Christmas Day, many people decorate their
homes and gardens with lights, Christmas trees and much more. The Christmas tree plays

an important role in the holiday tradition. It is often topped by a star to represent the
Starof Bethlehem, or by an angel which announces the birth of Christ. Many family trees
have ornaments from more than one generation. Often times the heritage of the families
are represented by the kind of decorations on the trees. Lights are a must and as many as
possible. The tree is often placed so that it can be viewed by passers-by in the street.
Many families also decorate outside of the home with regional traditions and
according to the weather. Some form of lighting are often used on the homes and in the
yards during the holidays. There are snowmen, Santas, manger scenes, snowflakes,
reindeers, and other lighted displays in many neighborhoods. Others outline the
architectural features of their homes in lights.
It is common to organize a special meal, often consisting of turkey and a lot of
other festive foods, for family or friends and exchange gifts with them. Children, in
particular, often receive a lot of gifts from their parents and other relatives and the
mythical figure Santa Claus.
Christmas Eve marks the start of the holiday season at the end of the year. For
many Christians, it is a day to remember the events around the birth of Jesus. Some
people, especial Catholics, attend a midnight mass at church .Traditionally the midnight
mass started at midnight, just as Christmas Eve ended and Christmas Day started.
However, now churches may hold this church service in the late afternoon or early
evening of Christmas Eve.
Many Protestant churches also hold special services on Christmas Eve. These are
often candle-lit and may be very solemn. Some include the presentation of a crib scene
depicting the Many Protestant churches also hold special services on Christmas Eve.
These are often candle-lit and may be very solemn. Some include the presentation of a
crib scene depicting the holy family, with statues or actors representing Mary. Joseph the
baby Jesus, the shepherds and various animals thought to be present in the stable where
Jesus was born.
In the evening, often just before bedtime, many families, particularly those with
children will hang up stockings on the fireplace or the end of their bed. These Christmas
Stocking are often red with a white fluffy trim, although they may be of any design and
are often much bigger than the socks that they represent. Children hope that Santa Claus,
a mythical figure thought to represent an ancient European saint, will enter their home
via the chimney and fill their stocking with gifts, sweets and oranges.
II. Some major festivals in the United States

1. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

1.1. History
The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 as the highlight of a 50th birthday celebration for 770
KOB Radio. Radio station manager Dick McKee asked Sid Cutter, owner of Cutter
Flying Service and the first person to own a hot air balloon in New Mexico, if KOB could
use his new hot-air balloon as part of the festivities. The two began discussing
ballooning, along with conversation and help from Oscar Kratz, and McKee asked what
the largest gathering of hot air balloons to date had been. 19 balloons in England, Cutter
replied. Kratz asked "Can we get 19 here?" Cutter agreed to try. He got commitments
from 21 pilots, but bad weather kept some of them from arriving in time. The first fiesta
ended up as a gathering of 13 balloons on April 8, 1972, sponsored by KOB. The first
event was located in the parking lot of the Coronado Center Shopping Mall with 20,000
spectators and with balloonists from Arizona, California, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota,
Nevada and Texas taking part. McKee, Cutter, and Kratz are the three men who had
originally started the balloon races. The first fiesta incorporated a "Roadrunner-Coyote
Balloon Race" (a "hare-and-hounds" race elsewhere in the world) with 1 balloon being
the "Roadrunner" and the others being "Coyote" balloons (the "Roadrunner" balloon was
actually emblazoned with likenesses of both Warner Bros. characters). The winner of the
race - the "Coyote" that landed closest to the Roadrunner - was Don Piccard of the noted
aerostation dynasty, flying a balloon of his company's design and construction (his wife
also placed in the race). This race has continued as part of the Balloon Fiesta today.
The next year Albuquerque hosted the first World Hot-Air Balloon Championships in
February and the fiesta became an international event. In 1975 Albuquerque was looking
at hosting the World Championships again, but the event was scheduled for October. So
the fiesta was moved to correspond with the championships. To maintain interest in
Albuquerques bid to host the championships, a balloon rally was held in February of that
year. Autumn being a far better flying time than February, the event has remained in early
October to the present day.
The Balloon Fiesta grew each year for decades, and today is the largest balloon
convention in the world. The number of registered balloons reached a peak of 1,019 in
2000, prompting the Balloon Fiesta Board to limit the number to 750 starting in 2001,[3]
citing a desire for "quality over quantity". The limit was changed to 600 in 2009 citing
recent growth in the city and a loss of landing zones. On any given day during the
festival, up to 100,000 spectators may be on the launch field where they are provided the

rare opportunity to observe inflation and take off procedures. Countless more people
gather at landing sites all over the city to watch incoming balloons.
1.2. Location
Taking place every year at the vast 78-acre Balloon Fiesta Park, the site fills every
autumn with something in the area of 100,000 spectators taking advantage of the perfect
pocket of balloon -riding weather known as the Albuquerque Box. Watching the sky fill
with balloons from the ground is truly an awe-inspiring, borderline spiritual sight.
Rise early and arrive at 5:45 am to witness the Dawn Patrol. Once balloon illumination
technology became sufficiently reliable for night riding, balloon pilots began this predawn ride ritual. The sensation of watching dozens of enormous glowing lanterns float up
into the dark night sky, touching down shortly after the sun rises, is a peaceful and
beautiful sight. It also serves a practical purpose, predicting wind speeds and directions
for the remainder of the day.
1.3. Events
Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol began at the Balloon Fiesta in 1978, when two California
balloonists developed position lighting systems that allowed them to fly at night. Dawn
Patrol pilots take off before sunrise and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites.
Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn Patrol because they can watch the balloons and
get an early idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes.
Mass Ascensions
One of the biggest events of the fiesta, where all participating balloons launch in
two waves, filling the sky with hundreds of balloons at once. Launch directors, also
known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic
cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated
manner.
Artistic Vision
Many local artists take advantage of the balloons as favorite subject matter for
their paintings. Balloons often land in Albuquerque neighborhoods. Many residents watch
the balloons from the comfort of their backyards.
Special Shape Rodeo

Many non-traditional, uniquely shaped balloons are launched at the same time.
Some of the most famous shapes include a milk cow, a wagon coach, twin bees, and
many others like soda pop cans and animals. This is the most popular part of the event as
families can see how balloons can be all different in shapes and sizes.
Balloon Glows
Large numbers of balloons are illuminated at night by their propane burners. They
stand static and do not take off during these events. The "Glowdeo" is a night glow for
the special shapes balloons.
Special Events and Competitions
Various events like:
- The Fiesta Challenge, a game where balloonists attempt to drop a marker closest to
a target.
- America's Challenge Gas Balloon Race, where special long-distance gas balloons
are inflated and then launched. The winner of the race is the balloon that travels the
farthest. Some balloons in the race have gone as far as Canada and the U.S. East Coast.
- The Flight of the Nations Mass Ascension, where balloonists from each nation
launch, one at a time, to their national anthem and waving their nation's flag.
- Other piloting, skill, and speed competitions.
1.4. Local impact
The convention has also become a major showcase of New Mexican culture and
history and features numerous cultural exhibitions. It is a major event for the city of
Albuquerque, attracting tourists from across the state, the nation, and even the world. The
fiesta is one of Albuquerque's largest tourist attractions and constitutes a major source of
income for the city and local businesses. Typically, tourists and fiesta visitors take
thousands of pictures of the balloons, so it is no surprise that for several years the fiesta
was sponsored by Kodak and was given the title, the Kodak Albuquerque International
Balloon Fiesta, though that title was usually only used in print ads and on official
memorabilia. Kodak no longer sponsors the fiesta, and the official name has returned to
the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.
Despite the economic boost, the balloon fiesta is a major problem for the local
residents. Increased traffic flows, street parking on the west side of the park and increased
accidents caused by balloon "gawkers" hinder the morning commute. Balloonists often

land on private property without permission, causing damage. Balloon accidents, such as
getting entangled in power lines, are common and sometimes fatal. The noise of the
balloon burners frequently upsets dogs and livestock.
1.5. And now
From its modest beginnings in 1972 with 13 balloons launching from a shopping
mall parking lot, the Balloon Fiesta has grown to multiple events launching year-round at
the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park. The signature event remains Balloon
Fiesta-which, with 700 balloons, is the largest ballooning event on earth, the most
photographed event on earth, and the largest annual international event held in the United
States. For more than three decades, the first week in October brings the smell of roasting
chiles and the beautiful, magical moving picture show of hot air balloons sailing silently
through the crisp fall air.
2. National Storytelling Festival
The National Storytelling Festival, produced by the International Storytelling Center, is
the largest and most prestigious storytelling event in the world, and one that ignited the
modern-day storytelling revival in America.
2.1. History
In 1973, a high school journalism teacher and a carload of students heard Grand Ole Opry
regular Jerry Clower spin a tale over the radio about coon hunting in Mississippi. The
teacher, Jimmy Neil Smith, had a sudden inspiration: Why not having a storytelling
festival right here in northeast Tennessee?
On a warm October weekend in 1973 in historic Jonesborough, the first National
Storytelling Festival was held. Hay bales and wagons were the stages, and audience and
tellers together did not number more than 60. It was tiny, but something happened that
weekend that forever changed their culture, this traditional art form, and the little
Tennessee town.
2.2. Location and Time
Located in the natural beauty of Northeast Tennessee in the Southern Appalachian
Mountains, Historic Jonesborough has played host to the three day National Storytelling
Festival for over four decades.

Called the leading event of its kind in America by USA Today, the award-winning
festival begins on the first Friday in October each year.
2.3. Events
- Forensics Challenge
Forensics Challenge Investigate the science of forensics in honor of Sherlock Holmes
weekend. Examine your own fingerprints and try out our strawberry DNA extraction
experiment. The Eastman Discovery Lab will be open by announcement periodically
throughout each day.
- Go Geo!
Discover the connections between Geography and Paleontology in honor of Geography
Awareness Week. Match specimens found at the Gray Fossil Site to other locations they
can be found around the world.
- The Best of Tennessee Craft Exhibit
It showcases the fine craft of Tennessee, providing public visibility and recognition for
the quality and diversity of craft found throughout the state.
- Other events: Tennessee Watercolor Society Exhibition, Exhibit: We Are the
Music Makers: Preserving the Soul of Americas Music
2.4. And Now
Produced by Jonesboroughs International Storytelling Center, the National Storytelling
Festival represents three days of exciting storytelling performances that reflect a wealth
of cultures, traditions, and styles a world of stories in one small, historic town.
The Festival attracts more than 10,000 audience members to Jonesborough---Tennessee's
oldest town---from across the United States and world annually, including school groups
whose students attend as an educational experience. The hay wagon has been replaced by
large, circus-like tents raised throughout the town.
Today, Jonesborough is the home of the National Storytelling Festival, which attracts
more than 10,000 visitors every October. Storytellers come from all over the world to
entertain and educate at this three-day festival. Many tell tales and ancient myths from
their faraway homelands. Others tell stories with local settings. Visitors can wander
through festival tents and listen to a variety of stories -- hilarious tales, age-old myths or
cowboy poetry. Thanks to this festival, there has been a renewed interest in storytelling,
not only as a way of sharing information but also as an art form.

In conclusion, the National Storytelling Festival is the oldest and most respected
gathering devoted to the art of storytelling anywhere in America. This unique event has
influenced a national revival of the storytelling art.

III_ Comparison with Vietnam's holidays and festivals

Holiday
News
Year Day

Time

New Year
s Eve

Activities

Symbol

The US
On January 1 ( According to
the Gregorian calendar)

Viet Nam
On January 1 ( according to
Lunar calendar) . Viet Nam
also celebrates new year s
day on 1 st January
( According to the Gregorian
calendar) but it is not
traditional new years day
People usually gather together in public places and count
down the last minute of old year until fireworks. The first
person enters someones home on New Year Day will bring
all the luck for the coming year with them, this person is
known as the first footer.
Americans often go visit
Vietnamese go visit family,
family, relatives and friends or relatives and friends. People
organize food.. However, the
usually give others lucky
first day of a new year is a
money with the best wish.
pretty quiet day for many
This custom is a specific
Americans. They are usually
culture feature. It represents
the ones at home all day.
wealth , lucky and prosperity
Americans like to go to picnic
in the New Years Day.
They love parades, and New
Years Day is one of the most
famous parades of the year
It is Baby New Year. This is a
Apricot blossom in south
white male baby dressed in a
and peach blossom in the
diaper, a hat, and scarf. Other
north
symbols of New Years Day
are spectacular fireworks
exploding over landmarks and

Traditional
food

Independe
nce Day

Time
Activities

Christmas

Time
Activities

clocks striking midnight as the

year begin.
People throughout the South
eating black-eyed peas and
greens. Eating black eyed
peas on New Years Day has
been considered good luck for
at least 1500 years.
On July4, 1776
American considers
independence day as a holiday.
Families often celebrate
Independence Day by hosting
or attending a picnic or
barbecue. And they always
have parade in the morning in
Washington. They have
firework in the evening in
somewhere such as: parks,
fairground, or town squares.
December 25th
Many people decorate their
houses with Christmas trees
and lights and give presents to
family members. Children
hang stockings for Santa Claus
(St. Nicholas) to fill with gifts.
Christmas is a federal holiday.
The African-American holiday
of Kwanzaa is the last week of
December. Candles are lit to
represent the virtues of the
African-American people.

VN has many traditional

foods such as Chung
Cake, Giay Cake
represent the sky and earth.

On September 2, 1945
People have a day off.
However , it is not a long
holiday, so people will not
have many activities. Most
of families hang flat in front
of house. The provinces
Gov will meeting to
organize meeting celebrate
the day, and most people
spent time to go to picnic

On Christmas Eve, the

Christians in Vietnam
usually attend a Midnight
Mass as in the western
world, and then return home
to a spectacular Christmas
dinner with chicken soup,
the well-heeled tuck
replacing the turkey and
Christmas pudding. The
family would gather
together, pray for blessings
and practice the Yuletide
spirit of giving and sharing.
Children in Vietnam are
greatly excited because they
believe in Santa Clause and

put their shoes in front of

their doors on Christmas
Eve, expecting to have their
shoes stuffed in with goodies
from Santas bulging sack on
the morning of 25th
December.
Attitude

Even though coming from different cultures, both Vietnamese and

American have the same positive attitude toward holidays and
festivals because they will have several days-off to relax, visit
friends and relatives to talk about their works as well as wishes of
the future, etc...
For example, the two countries resembles in viewpoint on the New
Year. They share the same opinion that this important time of
transition offers optimism and hope. The New Years Day is a
wonderful occasion for everybody to share their feelings and
express best wishes to theirs families, relatives and friends. In
America culture, New Year is a time to look back to last years
achievements and failure and look forward to a promising new year.
Likewise, Vietnamese people consider the New Year a chance to
remember the mistakes and plan changes. Both of them consider
New Year a special time which holds great potentials for future
brightness.
-

New Year's Day has

different meanings for
different people. For most,
it is marked as the end of
the Christmas holidays
before going back to
work, a natural end to the
festivities and a time to
reflect on last year and to
think about what the next
year will bring. For many,
it is a time to make
positive changes through
"New Year Resolutions".
The celebration of this
holiday begins the night

New Years Day is the

time of year that all
families get together,
give memories to our
ancestors, customs and
traditions, visit friends
and relatives in a year
long.
In the Independence
Day, among residents,
many individuals make
good use of their day
off by taking a shot
journey somewhere
nearby or by visiting
Ho Chi Minh

Features

before, when Americans

gather to wish each other
a happy and prosperous
coming year. People
generally have New
Years parties and social
gathering. Many people
come home late from the
previous days New Years
Eva parties.
Independence Day is a
day of picnics and
patriotic parades, a night
of concerts and fireworks.
Many politicians appear at
public events to show
their support for the
history, heritage and
people of their country.
Above all, people in the
United States express and
give thanks for the
freedom and liberties
fought by the first
generation of many of
today's Americans. People
there can plan for some
travels they want, such as
American pot-lucks,
picnics and barbecues,
making short travels,
visiting friends, etc...

Mausoleum or Ba Dinh
Square in order to
ponder over the
historical event taking
place years ago.

Both Vietnamese and American also have their own special

delicious foods, activities and symbols in each holiday and festival.
-

In the New Years Day, in

some towns and cities,
parades are held and
special football games are
played. The birth of the

In the New Years Day,

Vietnamese people give
gifts for our relatives
and fruits and other
food for the 3 days of

first baby in the New Year

is often celebrated with
gifts to his or her parents
and appearances in local
newspapers and on local
news shows because a
common symbol of New
Year's Day is Baby New
Year. This is often a white
male baby dressed in a
diaper, a hat and a sash.
The year he represents is
printed on his sash.
In the Independence Day,
activities associated with
the day include
watermelon or hotdog
eating competitions and
sporting events, such as
baseball games, threelegged races, swimming
activities and tug-of-war
games. The Statue of
Liberty is a national
monument that is
associated with
Independence Day.

Tet and to be placed on

the ancestral altar.
According to Vietnams
traditions Tet was an
agricultural rite,
signaling the end of a
crop. The Vietnamese
consider rice pearls of
heaven. Sticky rice is
perhaps the most
precious because most
offerings to ancestors
and heaven across
Vietnam are made from
sticky rice. And Banh
Chung and Banh Tet,
square and cylinder
sticky rice cakes, are
indispensable Tet
dishes.
In the Mid-Autumn
festival, there are not
only toys of people
King, but also those of
ethnic groups. There
also have craftsmen
making those toys on
the spot. The festival
features elements like
ancestor worship,
lantern carrying and
lion dancing. An altar is
placed in the yard (or in
front) of each home
during the evening of
the full autumn moon
loaded with trays of
moon cakes, pomelos
(large grapefruits),
persimmons, bananas
and more for family

members to enjoy while

gazing at the harvest
moon.

C. Conclusion
As you can see, American is a country of many cultures and many holidays and
festivals. Many of them are uniquely Americans own and many have been borrowed
from other countries. So it is difficult to list accurately and in detail all the holidays and
festivals in the United States. However, learning about a few major holidays and festivals
in the United States also helped us to have a better understanding of a multicultural
nation like the US. For every holiday or festival that was held will hide the special
cultural values of the nation inside it.

BNG NH GI THNH VIN

STT

H Tn

H Th Phng Tho

Nhim v

I.Some major holidays in the United

States
1. Independent Day
1.1. History of Independent Day
1.2. Activities in Independent Day

Nguyn Th Bch Tho

2. Thanksgiving Day
2.1. History of Thanksgiving Day

Nguyn Th Phng
Tho

2.2. Celebrations
3.Christmas
3.1. History of Christmas
3.2.Celebrations

Phm Th Tho

II. Some major festivals in the United

States
1. Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta
1.1. History
1.2. Location

Phm Th Thu

1.3Events
1.4. Local impact

V Th Thu

1.5. And now

2. National Storytelling Festival
2.1. History
2.2. Location and Time
2.3. Events

Nguyn Th Mai Thi

2.4. And now

III.Comparison with Vietnam's holidays
and festivals

Nhm
nh
gi

Ch k

1. time
2. Numbers of holidays and festivals

Phm Th Tho

3. Activities
4.Atitude

L Th Thm

5. Features
CONCLUSION ( introduction +
Conclusion)