MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF UKRAINE

National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”

Department of Applied Linguistics

706

REPORT

“Culture of the USA”

Author: Parasotka Vladyslava

Group No. 723L(1)

Supervisor: M. Heletka

Kharkiv «KhaI» 2020

 CONTENT
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
2. Symbols....................................................................................................................................4
2.1. The flag.............................................................................................................................4
2.2. The coat of arms................................................................................................................6
2.3. The anthem........................................................................................................................8
2.4. The Statue of Liberty........................................................................................................9
2.5. The White House............................................................................................................10
2.6. The United States Capitol...............................................................................................11
2.7. Uncle Sam.......................................................................................................................12
3. Language................................................................................................................................13
3.1. Official and unofficial languages....................................................................................14
3.2. Spanish language............................................................................................................15
3.3. The prospect of multilingualism in the United States.....................................................17
4. Religion..................................................................................................................................18
4.1. Protestantism...................................................................................................................19
5. National holidays....................................................................................................................20
5.1. New Year........................................................................................................................20
5.2. Martin Luther King Day.................................................................................................20
5.3. Presidents Day................................................................................................................21
5.4. Memorial Day.................................................................................................................21
5.5. Independence Day...........................................................................................................21
5.6. Veterans Day...................................................................................................................22
5.7. Labor Day.......................................................................................................................22
5.8. Columbus Day................................................................................................................23
5.9. Thanksgiving Day...........................................................................................................23
5.10. Christmas.....................................................................................................................23
6. Art...........................................................................................................................................24
7. Architecture............................................................................................................................26
8. Music......................................................................................................................................27
9. Literature................................................................................................................................29
10. The American dream..........................................................................................................31
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................32
References.....................................................................................................................................33

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 1. Introduction

The United States of America(the USA) or the United States is a state in

North America. The USA has a federal form of organization, administratively
divided into 50 states and the District of Columbia; there are also a number of
island territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam and others). United States of
America was formed in 1776 by combining the thirteen British colonies declared
their independence.
Being a country of immigrants, the United States is influenced by many
cultures, including various customs, traditions, religions, art, food, and so on.
Almost every region of the world influenced American culture, but first of all these
were the English peoples who colonized the country in the early 1600s. Also, the
cultures of Native Americans, Hispanics, Africans and Asians have had a powerful
influence on the country.
The United States is sometimes called the “melting pot,” in which different
nations have added their own aroma and taste to form one large culture of
America. But nowadays American culture affects the whole world, just as different
cultures around the world had influence on the United States. As the third largest
country in the world, with a population of over 315 million, the United States has
the largest cultural diversity in the world. However, the north, the south, the west
and the east of the country have different traditions and customs. The culture of the
USA is extremely diverse, it includes everything that was created by humanity
during its historical development, which includes traditions, signs, values,
symbols, language, manners, norms, etiquette, customs and rituals.

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 2. Symbols
The most famous symbols of America: the national anthem, star-striped flag
and eagle, depicted on the coat of arms. These symbols are national, but there are
also folk ones. And each of them has its own characteristics.

2.1. The flag

The flag of the United States of America is the national flag of the United
States(Fig 1), also known as the Stars and Stripes, "stars and stripes", or "old
glory". It is the official state symbol of the United States (with the Great Seal and
anthem).
It is a rectangular panel with horizontal, equal, alternating seven red and six
white stripes. In the rectangle of the dark blue color - 50 five-pointed white stars.
13 stripes symbolize 13 British colonies that formed an independent state. The blue
rectangle symbolizes the Union. The number of stars in the blue rectangle
corresponds to the number of states (currently there are 50).
- Blue color represents loyalty, devotion, friendship, justice;
- Red color - zeal, zeal, courage
- White color - moral principles and purity.

Fig. 1 The flag of the USA

The first flag of the United States is considered the Continental Flag (Fig.2),
raised on December 2, 1775 by Lieutenant John Paul Jones on the Alfred ship in
the harbor of Philadelphia. The flag has changed 26 times since then due to the
addition of new territories. The 50-star flag was adopted in 1960 as a result of an
open competition in which the 17-year-old student Robert Heft won. Every
morning, children in school and kindergarten throughout the United States, under
the guidance and with the direct participation of teachers or educators, take the
Pledge of allegiance to the US flag.

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 Fig. 2 The first flag of the USA

The flag is usually hoisted the whole year on most public buildings. Some
uses are year-round, but are becoming more common on civil holidays (Memorial
Day, Veterans Day, Presidential Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day). But there
are special days on which the flag should be lowered (Abraham Lincoln's birthday
and George Washington's birthday, Armed Forces Day, etc.). There is also a
special way in which the flag should be folded into a triangular shape. On
November 7, 2012, residents of Puerto Rico expressed a desire to become part of
the United States as the 51st state. If Parliament and the President support this
decision, another star will appear on the flag.

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 2.2. The coat of arms

The Coat of arms or the Great Seal of the United States (Fig.3) is the national
emblem used to authenticate documents issued by the Government of the United
States of America. The US Secretary of State is considered the official custodian of
the Great Seal. You can see it at the State Department Showroom in Washington.
The front of the seal is often called the emblem of the United States.
A feature of the US Great Seal is the presence of two different sides, while
usually the seals have only one side.

Fig.3 The Great Seal of the United States

Front side

On the front side of the Great Seal is a bald eagle, which is the national
symbol of the United States. In one paw he holds 13 arrows, in the other - an olive
branch, symbolizing the fact that the United States of America "wants peace, but is
always ready for war." The olive branch is traditionally depicted with 13 leaves
and 13 olives. The eagle's head is turned towards the olive branch, which means a
greater preference for peace rather than war. In its beak, the eagle holds a scroll
with an inscription of 13 letters in Latin "E pluribus Unum", which translates as
“out of many – one”. Above the eagle's head are 13 stars in a blue cloud. Stars are
located in lines 1-4-3-4-1, forming a regular hexagon. On the chest of an eagle a
heraldic shield with a azure head.

Back side

On the Back side of the Great Seal is an unfinished pyramid, the top of which
is crowned with an eye in a triangle. It consists of thirteen levels, traditionally
symbolizing the 13 states that were originally part of the United States
(Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South

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Carolina, Georgia). On the first level, the date is 1776 in Roman numerals -
MDCCLXXVI. The eye at the top of the pyramid means "Eye of Providence." The
inscription “Annuit cœptis” means “approved the undertakings” and is interpreted
as “He (God) approved our undertakings”. The phrase, located on a scroll under
the pyramid, reads: "Novus ordo seclorum"- "The New Order of Ages".

A special place has the number 13, which is found in almost every element of the
Great Seal:

 13 stars (front side);

 13 stripes on the flag;
 13 arrows in the paw of an eagle;
 13 olive leaves (not according to law, but defined by tradition);
 13 olives on branch (not according to law, but defined by tradition);
 13 brick pyramid levels (not according to law, but defined by tradition);
 13 letters in the inscription "E pluribus unum";
 13 letters in the inscription “Annuit cœptis”, the letter œ counted as two;
 13 vertices in total for two parts of the pyramid (8 at the large lower part and
5 at the soaring upper part);
 13 bunches of grass next to the pyramid.

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 2.3. The anthem
The Star-Spangled Banner ("The banner strewn with stars") - the national
anthem of the USA (Fig 4). The song has four couplets, but only the first of them
is widely known.
The text is taken from Fort McHenry’s poem, written on September 14, 1814
by Francis Scott Key. The author wrote this text after he witnessed the shelling of
Fort McHenryruen in Baltimore by British ships during the Anglo-American War.
The first performance took place in Baltimore on October 29, 1814.
For a long time it was believed that the text was put on a popular British feast
melody. However, in the 1980s, scientists established that the melody had its
author- John Smith, a British music historian.
The song began to be officially used in 1889 in the US Navy, then in the
White House in 1916, and on March 3, 1931, by a resolution of the US Congress,
was declared a national anthem. There was no U.S. national anthem before, Hail
Columbia or My Country and ‘Tis of Thee’ were used instead of it.

Fig.4 The national anthem of the USA

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 2.4. The Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty (full name - Liberty Enlightening the World) is a

colossal neoclassical sculpture located in the USA on Liberty Island (Fig. 5) ,
located in Upper New York Bay about 3 kilometers southwest of south tip of
Manhattan island. It was built as a gift from France to the World Exhibition of
1876 and the centenary of American independence.

Fig.5 The Statue of Liberty

It is a national monument of the United States. Since 1984, it is a UNESCO

World Heritage Site. The Statue of Liberty is the second highest lighthouse in the
country (after the Perry Victory Memorial), it has a light navigation role for sea
vessels, however it is not included in the list of lighthouses of the country.
The statue is a woman dressed in clothes that covers the whole body, except
for the head, arms and feet, she stands on broken shackles. The head of a woman is
crowned with a crown consisting of seven rays, which symbolize the seven seas
and seven continents; in her right hand, raised above her head, she holds a torch; in
her left hand, bent at the elbow, the hand is below shoulder level – a stone tablet
with an inscription consisting of English letters and Roman numerals ("JULY IV
MDCCLXXVI")-"July 4, 1776" - the date of adoption of the Declaration of
Independence of the United States.
The statue is on a granite pedestal, which stands on a concrete base. Inside the
pedestal is a museum dedicated to the history of the statue, at the top there is an
observation deck.

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 2.5. The White House
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States
(Fig.6), located in Washington, DC. Irish architect James Hoban designed the
residence in a neoclassical style. Construction went from 1792 to 1800.

Fig.6 The White House

The White House was the official residence of all US presidents, with the
exception of George Washington, who held this position from 1789 to
1797,because the White House did not exist yet. When the White House was built,
Saturday, November 1, 1800, the first president, who occupied the house was John
Adams. In August 1814, the White House was burned down by the British people,
after which it was reconstructed and restored.
The official name "White House" appeared only in 1901 by order of T.
Roosevelt. Since 1909, the president’s workplace has been located in the Oval
Office in the left wing of the building. In 1948, when the White House building
was in danger of destruction, President Truman began the reconstruction, during
which he moved to Blair House across the road, there he lived and worked from
1949 to 1951. In 1895, the Christmas tree in front of the White House was
decorated with the first street electric garland.
In 1965, Lady Bird renamed the White House East Garden in honor of her
predecessor, Jackie Kennedy. The White House Garden opens to the public twice a
year - Pat Nixon established this tradition in 1972. Also, the white house is
depicted on a banknote of $ 20.

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 2.6. The United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is the seat of the US Congress on Capitol Hill in
Washington, DC (Fig.7). Connects to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln
Memorial, a 1800-meter National Alley. To the east of the parliamentary center
there is the Library of Congress and the seat of the US Supreme Court (until 1935,
Supreme Court sessions were held in the Capitol itself).

Fig.7 The United States Capitol

The foundation stone of the Capitol was laid by George Washington on

September 18, 1793. The construction of the magnificent empire-style building
was carried out by several generations of architects. In November 1800, Congress
convened for the first time in the unfinished Capitol, but in 1814 the British burned
it and restoration work took five years. In 1820-1827, the south and north wings of
the building were finally connected by a passage over which the dome ascended.
Thirty years later, the Capitol was not considered roomy enough, and its expansion
began. Its prototype is traditionally considered St. Peter's Basilica in Rome,
although structurally it is closer to the Mansard Jr. House of Disabled.
At the insistence of Lincoln, who wanted to emphasize the unity of the nation,
the Capitol was completed during the Civil War of the North and South. On
December 2, 1863, the final touch was added to the architectural appearance of the
building - a 6-meter allegorical statue of Liberty was erected on the dome. Inside,
the dome of the Capitol is decorated with the first fresco in the USA depicting the
“Apotheosis of Washington” surrounded by Olympic gods.

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 2.7. Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam (derived from the initial letters of the English words “Un [ited]”
“S [tates]”) is a personified image of the United States of America (Fig.8). Uncle
Sam is often portrayed as an elderly white man with delicate features, an old-
fashioned beard, in a top hat of the colors of the American flag, a blue tailcoat and
striped trousers. This image style became popular in the mid-19th century thanks
to the work of artist Thomas Nast.

Fig.8 Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam was supposedly born as the personification of the United States
during the British-American War of 1812. American folklore claims that the
expression “Uncle Sam” was associated with butcher Sam Wilson, who supplied
provisions to Troy’s New York military base. Wilson signed meat barrels with the
letters U.S., referring to the United States, and the soldiers jokingly said that the
meat came from Uncle Sam. On March 13, 1852, the New York newspaper NY
Lantern Weekly published the first image of Uncle Sam. The traditional image was
mainly created by the artist Thomas Nast in a series of political cartoons published
in the second half of the 19th century. The debate about the origin of Uncle Sam’s
image has not subsided until present days, and new theories periodically appear.
For example, according to one of them, after the American Civil War, the image of
Uncle Sam was deducted from Jefferson Davis, the first and last president of the
Confederation. The image united the people, since the President of the
Confederation was dressed in a star-striped suit, symbolizing the American flag,
which during the war was used by supporters of the Union. The image of Uncle
Sam gained particular fame during the First World War. Then he was depicted on a
poster urging volunteers to join the American army and take part in the war in
Europe. From the poster, Uncle Sam looked and pointed a finger at the viewer, and
the caption under the picture said “I want you for U.S. army”.

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 3. Language

The Languages of the United States of America are many languages with
varying degrees of distribution and status in the United States. The US population
currently stands at over 300 million people (excluding a significant number of
illegal immigrants). Due to its British past, the dominant language in the country is
the English language, brought by the colonialists and early settlers from the British
Isles. According to the data for 2000 (the general census in the USA), English is
native to 82% of the US population, and 97% speaks it to varying degrees.
However, the country does not have an official language at the federal level,
although, due to the growing role of Spanish (for example, on television), many
states have declared English official at the local level. However, a number of
languages (Spanish, French and Hawaiian) are recognized as official in a number
of states and territories. Also, a significant number of immigrants (mainly XX-XXI
centuries) continue to preserve languages and even expand their influence in
enclaves, ethnic neighborhoods, on television, etc.

Language prevalence in the USA

Language US Population Speaking This Language

English about 238 million people

Spanish about 41 million people

Chinese about 3,400,000 people
Tagalog (Filipino) about 1,700,000 people
Vietnamese about 1,500,000 people

Arabic about 1,200,000 people

French about 1,200,000 people
Korean about 1,100,000
German about 900,000 people

Russian about 900,000 people

3.1. Official and unofficial languages

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 The official language of education and record keeping is English. At the local
level, official status along with English are: Hawaiian in Hawaii and Spanish - on
the island of Puerto Rico and in the state of New Mexico. In an earlier period, in
the territory of the modern USA, Russian in Alaska and Dutch in New York were
official. So why is Congress not going to declare any one language state? All
because the people of the United States are a nation of immigrants. That’s why
giving the status of an official language to one would infringe upon the rights of all
citizens who do not speak English well.
To support such citizens, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was written. Although
English is recognized as the official language in 27 states, it nevertheless has to
comply with the provisions of this Act, according to which all important
documents must be written in all languages of those citizens who receive any
privileges from the government. In addition, this document requires all public
economic organizations that receive financial support from the state to maintain
documentation in all languages of their clients.
There are much more native languages than official languages, due to the
great diversity of migrants in the United States. But here, a significant shift is
noticeable, both quantitative and qualitative. At first, Native American languages
gave way to Spanish, French, and English. Then, the Anglophones launched a
struggle against the French and Spanish languages. Soon, in the 19th century, the
presence of the languages of recent immigrants from Europe increased - the
German language, used in primary and secondary school education, Swedish, later
Italian, Polish, and many other European languages, were especially noticeable.
Most of them, however, disappeared in the second generation, since in conditions
of poor communications, lack of television, radio, etc.
Among the languages emerging in recent years in terms of use in the first
place, we can put Chinese. It takes third place among others. The second position
is occupied by Spanish. French is the fourth most prevalent. It found greater
application in Canada. Arabic began to stand out among others in its active use.
The number of people speaking Thai, Portuguese and Vietnamese has increased.
And such previously widespread languages as Swedish, Polish, German, Italian
and Greek, due to the merger of immigrants from these countries with the English-
speaking population, have become less common.

3.2. Spanish language

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 English is called the state language by default, because this is the most
common language in the United States. But, he has a competitor - Spanish, which,
slightly lagging behind English, ranks second in terms of prevalence thanks to 40
million Hispanic Americans. Most notable is the presence of Spanish in the United
States. This is due to the entry into the United States in the 1840s of territories with
a Hispanic population - this is the whole South-West of the modern United States
(the former territory of Mexico), the proximity of Mexico - the largest Spanish-
speaking country in the world and the main supplier of migrants (especially
illegal), and others Latin American countries, the associated position of Puerto
Rico, where Spanish is the mother tongue of the majority of the population.
Spanish is widely spoken in California, Texas, Arizona, and in all major cities. A
large number of radio stations and channels are broadcast in Spanish (Direct TV
offers more than 30 channels in Spanish). The leader of the media in Spanish in the
United States is Univision.
The history of Spanish in the United States dates back to the sixteenth
century, when in 1513 the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon first set foot
on the land of Florida in search of a source of eternal youth. In 1565, Pedro
Menendez de Aviles founded the settlement (San Agustin), now St. Augustine,
which is by far the oldest continuously populated city in the United States. The
first grammar of the Spanish language appeared in Georgia in 1658. As a result of
the defeat in the American-Mexican War (1846–1848), Mexico loses almost half
of its territory, transferring to the United States territories that eventually became
the states of Texas, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, California,
Nevada, and Utah (Fig. 9). Residents of these territories become American
citizens. However, the Guadalupe-Hidalgo peace treaty did not mention the status
of the Spanish language in the annexed territories in any way among the outcomes
of the war. This happened for the first time during the writing of the California
Constitution, which stated: “All laws, decrees, administrative acts emanating from
the three branches of government should be published both in English and
Spanish”.
However, in 1879, the text of the new constitution was proclaimed in
California, from which the official status of the Spanish language disappeared. A
century later, in a 1986 referendum, most California residents spoke in favor of
English as the only official language in the state. Nevertheless, the Spanish
language is the second most common, and despite its informal status, Spanish is
clerical, in this language, as in English, you can contact the government.

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Fig.9 Mexico's territorial concessions under the Guadalupe-Hidalgo Treaty in 1848

Before the annexation of the former Mexican territories, Spanish in the United
States was spoken on the border with Mexico, namely in the south of the modern
state of Colorado, in the north of New Mexico since the 17th century.
The appearance of the first Spanish-speaking inhabitants in Texas is also
associated with the American-Mexican War; however, the Spanish language in this
state also does not have official status, like English.
According to estimates by the US Bureau of Statistics, in 2009 the country
was home to 48,419,324 people who indicated Spanish as their native language,
which makes up 15.8% of the population. In US educational institutions, Spanish
is the second most popular language (after English); about 60% of students choose
it as a foreign language.
Spanish is widely used on television (4 channels are publicly available in the
United States; in addition, there are more than 70 cable TV channels, including
those broadcasting from other Spanish-speaking countries), radio and in
newspapers.
This state of affairs is also reflected in the work of local translation agencies.
According to statistics, the most popular area of translation in America is the
translation from English into Spanish.

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 3.3. The prospect of multilingualism in the United States
Despite the increased support for English, which is promoted by the modern
government, as the only official language at all levels and in all spheres of life in
American society, the proportion of those who consider it native is declining every
year: in 1980, there were 89%, in 1990 - 86%, in 2000 - 82%, now, probably,
already less than 80%. Accordingly, the proportion of speakers of other languages
(especially Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Russian) is growing: 11% in 1980, 14% in
1990, 18% in 2000, 3-4% of the population (including about 10% of illegal
immigrants) ) and does not speak English at all. In some states, especially the
southern and coastal, this process has more pronounced forms. So, in California
and the Hawaiian Islands, English is native only to 58% of the population, Spanish
has become much more widely used, especially in the border regions.
The current situation is connected, first of all, with the history of this state. It
is worth considering that since 1776 the United States has been a multinational
country. Even then, it did not seem strange to anyone that about twenty different
languages were considered common. And for the right to dominate the country
competed in such languages as English, German, Spanish and French. To date, the
United States speaks 322 languages, 24 of which are in use in all states and the
District of Columbia. The largest number of languages is in circulation in
California - 207, and the smallest in Wyoming - 56.

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 4. Religion
The first amendment to the US Constitution, adopted December 15, 1791,
proclaims the separation of the church from the state, which the founders
understood as a ban on the establishment of state religion, such as took place in the
UK. Most of the US population is made up of believers, most of whom are
Christians.
According to a 2002 study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, the United
States is the only developed country where most people surveyed expressed their
commitment to worship, noting that religion plays a “very important role” in their
lives.
The US government does not maintain official religion statistics. According
to the “CIA World Fact Book” for 2018:
 46.5% - Protestants
 20.8% - Catholics
 1.6% - Mormons
 0.9% - members of other Christian faiths
 1.9% -Jews
 0.9% - Muslims
 0.8% - Jehovah's Witnesses
 0.7% - Buddhists
 0.7% - Hindus
 1.8% - others
 22.8% - not belonging to any religious group

The state in the United States provides indirect financial support to religious
organizations. For example, in 2006, 2.5 thousand military officers and chaplains
(out of more than 120 denominations) served in the US Army, who received
salaries from state funds. The text of the oath of the US military ends with the
words: "God help me!"

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 4.1. Protestantism

Protestantism in the USA is the largest Christian movement in the country.

According to the Pew Research Center, in 2010, 159.85 million Protestants lived in
the United States, which made up 51.5% of the country's population. According to
the same source, by the number of Protestants, the United States is in first place in
the world. The first Protestant worship in the territory of modern USA was held
according to the Anglican rite on August 13, 1587 in the Roanoke colony; since
1607, Anglicans have held regular services in Jamestown.
Since the second half of the 19th century, the United States has gradually
become the world center for the spread of Protestantism and remains so today.
According to data provided by Operation Peace, in 2001, 60,000 American
Protestant missionaries worked throughout the world.
In the mid-20th century, belonging to Protestantism in the United States
signified a privileged position and was an integral part of the common cliche about
white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. The influence of Protestantism on the public life of
the country is evidenced by the fact that out of all 45 American presidents, only
one was not a Protestant (John F. Kennedy was a Catholic).
The share of Protestants in the total US population is unevenly distributed: in
the south of the country, in the states of the so-called. The Bible Belt Protestants
make up 65% of the population, 54% in the Midwest; in the Western and North-
Eastern geographical regions, the share of Protestants is significantly lower - 38%
and 37%, respectively. According to the Pew Research Center, 74% of US
Protestants are white; 16% are African American; 5% are Hispanic; 1% - Asians.
The remaining 3% of American Protestants belong to mixed or other groups. Of all
the Protestants, 54% are women, 46% are men.

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 5. National holidays

America is a country of immigrants. Representatives of various ethnic groups

in the USA celebrate their own days, which are not national holidays. There are no
federal (state) holidays in the USA. Each of the 50 states individually proclaims its
holidays. However, in practice, most states celebrate federal (“official” or “state”)
holidays.
The federal government proclaimed ten holidays:
 New Year- January 1
 Martin Luther King Memorial Day- 3rd Monday of January
 Presidents Day (George Washington's Birthday)- Monday 3rd February
 Memorial Day- last Monday of May
 Independence Day- July 4
 Labor Day- 1st Monday of September
 Columbus Day- 2nd Monday of October
 Veterans Day- November 11
 Thanksgiving- 4th Thursday of November
 Christmas- December 25th

5.1. New Year

In fact, for Americans, New Year is not such a significant holiday and it is
mainly celebrated by immigrants from the CIS countries. This happens, as with us.
But, unlike us, Americans do not gorge on and give each other presents. Americans
sing a song written back in the 18th century, entitled “Auld Lang Syne” (“Good
Old Times”). It’s such a tradition to sing about friends and old times. In some
cities in America, parades are held on January 1. The largest and most beautiful is
the parade, which takes place in New York in Time Square. Thousands of people
gather there, millions more join them, watching the show on TV. A huge crowd
gathers here, waiting for the traditional solemn descent of the famous Ball,
sparkling with thousands of lights.

5.2. Martin Luther King Day

  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a black priest who organized a campaign to
fight for the rights of the black population of America. He waged a nonviolent
struggle with the government for rights of representatives of all races. On August
28, 1963, more than 200,000 people of all races and nationalities gathered in front

20
of the monument to President Lincoln in Washington. But in 1968, the whole
world was stirred by the news of King's assassination. Every year on January 15,
special memorial worship is performed, and every third Monday of January,
starting from 1986, by a resolution passed by the US Congress, this day is
recognized as a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King.

5.3. Presidents Day

It all started with the fact that in 1782 the city of Richmond, Virginia, held the
first celebration of the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the
United States, who was born February 22, 1732. By the beginning of the XIX
century, this day became a real national holiday. It was conducted at magnificent
balls, prominent public figures made their speeches there. In 1850, an unpleasant
event occurred at a ball in Los Angeles, the guests of which were only the highest
members of society. Offended commoners launched a burning core into the hall,
killing and injuring several of the VIPs there. And so, since 1885, February 22 was
declared a nationwide holiday in honor of the birthday of the great George
Washington.

5.4. Memorial Day

Every year on the last Monday of May, Americans honor the memory of the
dead. Initially, flowers were laid on the graves of those who died during the Civil
War. In 1971, President Charles Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
On this day, solemn ceremonies parading the memory of their compatriots are
marching across the country, special events are organized in schools, churches or
memorial services are held. Memorial Day is not only a memorial day for military
personnel, but also for all those who died. People gather in families to remember
loved ones who have left this world. They attend church worship, lay flowers on
the graves. On this day, the President or Vice President of the United States gives a
speech and lay wreaths at the graves of the victims. The military carry an honor
guard; produce a salute from rifles, followed by a minute of silence.

5.5. Independence Day

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed, which was the
result of a war between the inhabitants of 13 British colonies and the English king
21
and parliament, which began in 1775. During the war, the colonists realized that
they were not fighting for a good attitude towards them from England, but for
complete independence from its rule. For the first time in an official document,
colonies became known as the United States of America. Since then, July 4 is a
special day for every resident of America. Picnics, mass patriotic festivities and
celebrations are established throughout the country and American flags are hung
out. In the city of Steward, Alaska, in honor of Independence Day, people walk on
foot to the top of Mount Marathon. In Lititz, Pennsylvania, people make a candle
festival. But in Tecums, Nebraska, several hundred flags are hanging on the
courthouse in honor of every native citizen of the city who served in the U.S.
armed forces.

5.6. Veterans Day

This holiday, originally called Armistice Day, was established in honor of the
Americans who fought in World War I. It falls on November 11 - the day the war
ended (1918), but now it is a memorial day for veterans of all wars in which the
United States participated. Veteran organizations hold marches and other special
events, and the president lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at
Arlington National Cemetery, located on the west bank of the Potomac River,
opposite the central US capital.

5.7. Labor Day

In many other countries of the world, Workers' Solidarity Day is celebrated

on May 1, while in America Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday of
September. This day was chosen for a particular reason - it shares a large time gap
between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The constitutional basis of Labor
Day was laid down already in the Bill on Human Rights, which entered into force
on December 15, 1791. The first amendment, among other rights, guaranteed
citizens freedom of assembly. For this right to be realized in the form of first
regional and later nationwide Labor Day, it took almost a century. Today, Labor
Day in the United States is the semi-official end of the summer season, an
additional weekend when most firms and almost all government agencies do not
work. In these holidays summer holidays take place, and you can wear light
trousers to work at the office. Many colleges and some US schools begin the
academic year after Labor Day.

22
 5.8. Columbus Day

On October 12, 1492, the Italian navigator Columbus landed on the shores of
the New World. On this day, Americans celebrate the anniversary of the opening
of their country by attending holiday church services and other events. Some cities
host special services, parades and large ceremonies. Most celebrations are centered
on Italian-American communities. There are special celebrations held in New York
and San Francisco. Columbus Day is a public holiday in many parts of the United
States, but in some states, such as California, Nevada, Hawaii, the day is not
celebrated. Government agencies and schools are generally closed, but commercial
organizations can be open. Above government buildings raise the US flag.

5.9. Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday of November, but many

Americans at the same time take their day off on Friday and get four days off as a
result. This allows them to make long trips to visit relatives or friends.
Thanksgiving feast has become a national tradition - and not only because so many
Americans have succeeded in this land, but also because our victims are still struck
by the sacrifices made by the first settlers for their freedom. Thanksgiving is
celebrated on a very large scale in New York; a grand parade of balloons is held
there. To this day, Thanksgiving festive dinner almost always includes one of those
dishes served at the first festive feast: fried turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes,
pumpkin pie. Before you start your meal, whether in the family or among friends,
it is customary to offer thanks for these gifts, including for the joy of meeting on
the occasion of the holiday.

5.10. Christmas

Officially, Christmas in the United States is celebrated on December 25, but

usually Americans celebrate it for several days. For example, in schools and
colleges for children arrange Christmas holidays, which last until the New Year.
Christmas is a joyful, family holiday. All family members exchange gifts. In
preparation for this holiday, the Americans put a Christmas tree in the largest room
in the house and decorate it with toys and candles. Children are waiting for Santa
Claus, who comes to every house and brings them presents. On Christmas Eve,
children, as usual, hang a stocking by the fireplace, which Santa Claus fills with
gifts at night. This tradition is connected with the legend according to which St.
23
Nicholas gave a poor girls to a purse of gold, putting his gifts in stockings. The
custom of decorating houses for Christmas with holly, ivy and mistletoe came to
the United States from England. Each of these plants is in its own way associated
with the divine principle. Ivy represents immortality. Holly, an evergreen shrub
with glossy sharp leaves, is designed to instill in a person faith in the best and
hope. Its brilliant red berries symbolize the blood of Jesus Christ. The veneration
of mistletoe as a sacred plant became a custom long before the birth of Christ. For
example, druids believed that it was able to cure many diseases and protect against
evil spells. From here came the tradition of hanging mistletoe branches intertwined
with a ribbon over the entrance to the house. It was believed that a man has the
right to kiss a girl who accidentally found herself under a mistletoe branch. This
custom - kissing under the mistletoe during the Christmas and New Year holidays,
has been preserved in the United States to this day.

6. Art
24
 Since the civil war of 1861-1865, a new period has opened in the art of the
United States of America, characterized by the development of realism. Realistic
tendencies have lived in American art since the Revolutionary War. Before the
colonization, American Indian art flourished. At the beginning of the colonial era,
art on the east coast focused on the work of European artists. At the end of the
XVIII century, two American artists, Benjamin West and John Singleton Copley,
became successful European artists. American artists who continued to work in the
USA were also masters of painting, but they were not famous in Europe. After
proclamation of independence in 1776, which marked the official beginning of
American national identity, the new nation needed a reflection of its history in the
visual arts. Most of the paintings of early American painting (from the end of the
18th century to the beginning of the 19th century) are painted on historical topics,
including portraits.
At the beginning of the XIX century, educational institutions for the training
of artists began to be created in the United States. In 1820, the Hudson River
School was established, mastering romantic landscape painting. Since 1850,
European-style academic art has flourished in the country.
One of the first artists to visit British America was John White (1540 - 1606). He
painted watercolors, depicting the life of American Indians living on the east coast
(stored in the British Museum). White traveled to America as a full-time artist and
cartographer of an organized expedition. In the early years of the colonial era, most
artists were officers who painted landscapes. Portrait painters were often self-
taught. One of the first was John Smybert (1688-1751), a professional artist from
London who immigrated to the United States in 1728, intending to become a
professor of art, but instead became a portrait painter in Boston. His friend, Peter
Pelham, was a painter and engraver. In the Spanish territories, art was based on
religion, the main style was Baroque.
At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, major cities in the USA
experienced massive growth. The population of New York increased from 1,5
million in 1890 to about 3,5 in 1900. So there was formed a school with the
unexpected name "School of garbage bins", which was not an ideal community,
did not produce demonstrative manifestos or theoretical platforms, did not see
itself as the only art community and was not bound by common tastes. School
artists were markedly different in political preferences: some were apolitical,
others were interested in politics and tried to intervene in it.

7. Architecture
25
 The architecture of the United States of America demonstrates a wide range
of architectural styles and forms, including more than four centuries of history –
independence, Spanish and British rule. Architecture in the United States is as
diverse as its multicultural society, and has been shaped by many internal and
external factors and regional differences. In general, it is characterized by
significant eclecticism and innovativeness.
The oldest surviving original buildings in the territory of the modern United
States were created by the ancestors of pueblo in the Four Corners region. When
Europeans began to settle in North America, they brought along architectural
traditions and construction technologies. The face of future colonial architecture
also depended on the available resources. The most common elements of English
buildings in New England, the Middle Atlantic and the coastal South were wood
and brick. Between 1559 and 1821, Spanish colonial architecture was built in
Florida and the southeastern United States. The Conch style, literally means "shell
style" has spread widely in the west of Florida - in Pensacola. The houses there are
decorated with wrought-iron balconies, which are typical mainly for the Spanish
buildings of the French Quarter in New Orleans (Louisiana), the original French
structures of which burned down in fires in 1788 and 1794. After the war, in the
1860s, the stick style began to gain the popularity (literally “block style”), which
was used mainly for the construction of residential buildings, hotels and railway
depots. Buildings in this style were almost entirely built of wood. The buildings
were crowned with high roofs with a steep slope and richly decorated tongs.
Although comfort has a priority, there was no shortage of exterior decoration in
stick-style buildings. Since 1873, the block style began to fade, gradually flowing
into the style of Queen Ann.
From the end of the North and South War to the beginning of the 20th
century, many related styles, trends and movements in American architecture were
considered in the Victorian context, since they echoed in general terms with the
movements characteristic of the architecture of the British Empire at the end of
Queen Victoria's reign. Many architects who worked at that time mixed different
styles depending on the orders they received. Among the prominent American
architects of this period are Richard Morris Hunt, Frank Furness and Henry
Hobson Richardson.

8. Music
26
 The country's musical culture has developed from the interaction of the
musical traditions of the colonialists from European countries (first of all, Great
Britain, Ireland, Spain, Germany and France), Negro slaves, the Hispanic
population of Mexico and Central America, as well as the indigenous people -
Indians. Each wave of immigrants contributed to the creation of a melting pot from
which numerous styles formed. The music of the United States reflects the
multinational population of the country with various musical styles. The country's
most famous genres are jazz, blues, country, bluegrass, rock, rhythm and blues,
soul, ragtime, hip hop, barbershop, pop, experimental, techno, house, dance,
boogaloo and salsa. In the colonial period, a musical tradition appeared, closely
associated with the European, primarily English. The Puritan morality of the
colonists did not allow secular genres to develop, allowing only the singing of
psalms, which also was sung outside the church, becomes especially popular.
Separately, the contribution of Negro slaves should be noted. Under the influence
of an ancient distinctive musical culture and plantation songs, the first African-
American form appears - the spiritual.
In the second half of the XVIII – beginning of the XIX centuries, professional
musicians who immigrated from Europe - leaders of theatrical troupes, church
organists, and music teachers - still occupied a leading place in the musical life of
America. The locals were given the passive role of a "noble lover" ("genteel
amateur").
At the end of the XVIII century American professional music was formed.
Among the performers, first-class European masters prevailed, and the wealthy
public of large cities acted as the consumer. In the XIX century a number of
symphony orchestras appear. In 1883, the Metropolitan Opera opened in New
York and then its opera houses appeared in Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, and
others.
The “roaring twenties” marked by the rapid development of American
society, jazz, musical, as well as “country music” (the so-called rural music)
appeared. The cradle of jazz was multinational New Orleans, where Louis
Armstrong was born. At first, jazz was predominantly Negro music with legal
improvisation.
By the 30s, the formation of the national American composer school had
ended, the main features of which are free circulation with traditional musical
forms, the predominance of the impulsive beginning and the dynamism of
development in melody.
The jazz of the 40s is dominated by the bop ("b-bop") style, a more
sophisticated style designed for small ensembles.

27
 In the 60s - 70s disco and pop music, which protested against the consumer
society and preached anarchist individualism and the “philosophy of drugs”, are
gaining ground.
1980s pop music turned into art advertised through all kinds of media. An
important role in this was played by the most iconic American artist of the 20th
century - Michael Jackson.
In the 80s a new "black" genre was born, hip-hop - the music of the streets,
poor ghettos and black quarters of New York, which has a narrow social
orientation. The genre really became popular a decade later, with the advent of
artists such as 2Pac and Notorious B.I.G.
Glam rock and glam metal that came from the UK were widespread (in the
USA there are Kiss, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Skid Row, Cinderella,
Guns N 'Roses, etc.). Glam rock performers were characterized by a vivid image,
expressed through the theatrical effect of exotic costumes, and the abundant use of
makeup. Musically, glam rock was heterogeneous, combining different genres. The
basis was technically somewhat simplified hard rock and heavy metal, with a slight
nod to pop music due to the significant use of keyboards, less "heavy" sound and
more attention to the melody of the songs. This style was continued in a more
commercial version, called AOR, which involved not only young musicians, but
also old rock bands.
The 90s can be described as the heyday of a number of areas without the
dominance of any of them. The development of rock continues (Blink 182, Green
Day, The Offspring, Nirvana and The Red Hot Chili Peppers), rap (Dr. Dre, Snoop
Doggy Dogg, 2Pac, The Notorious BIG ") or borderline genres (" Rage Against the
Machine "," Cypress Hill "," Korn "," Limp Bizkit "). Pop music has a new trend -
the so-called boy bands (" Backstreet Boys ", “* NSYNC”, “New Kids on the
Block”).
The 2000s marked the final erasure of the boundaries between genres. In
general, the decade is characterized by a slight weakening of rock positions and the
greatest influence of hip-hop music on neighboring genres - R&B (Rihanna,
Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Akon, Chris Brown), pop (Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift,
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga).
2010s - expansion of Latin American pop music.

28
 9. Literature

American literature, North American literature, US literature is a literature

written in the United States and former colonies, mainly in English. Although its
history is shorter than the literature of European and Asian countries, from the
second half of the XIX century American literature has been widely developed and
has a distinctive meaning. The USA presented world classics such classics as Mark
Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, Ray Bradbury and many others. At
the beginning of the 21st century, more books are published and sold annually in
the United States than in any other country in the world.
The first period of North American literature covers the period from 1607 to
1765. This is the era of colonization, the rule of Puritan ideals, patriarchal pious
morals, theological works and church hymns, as well as historical and political
works. The compilation Bay Psalm Book (1640) was published; poems were
written for various occasions, mainly of a patriotic nature.
The second period of North American literature, from 1760 to 1790, covers
the era of the revolution and is distinguished by the development of journalism and
political literature. The main political writers were simultaneously statesmen:
Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, J.
Mathison, Alexander Hamilton, J. Stray, Thomas Payne.
The third period covers all North American literature of the 19th century. The
preparatory era was the first quarter of a century, when a prosaic style was
developed. Washington's “Sketch-book” (1820) laid the foundation for semi-
philosophical, semi-publicist literature, sometimes humorous, instructive and
moralistic. Here, the national features of the Americans were especially vividly
reflected - their practicality, utilitarian morality and naive, cheerful humor, very
different from the sarcastic, gloomy humor of the British.
In 1900, the first novel by Theodore Dreiser "Sister Kerry" was published.
This novel, like other novels of the time, was associated with naturalism. Along
with the further development of naturalism, to which writers of the “lost
generation” were close (Ernest Hemingway, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude
Stein, John Steinbeck), European modernism came to America.
Starting in the twenties, a short story begins to be perceived by critics as a
specifically American genre; magazines played a large role in its development.
Children's literature continued to develop. The world famous was the classic of
children's literature L. Frank Baum, the author of a series of books about the
magical Land of Oz Among the authors of mass literature; we can name the
creators of detective Dashil Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James Kane, who
became widely known. One of the largest writers in America in the first half of the
29
20th century was William Faulkner, who received the Nobel Prize in 1949. Among
the recognized masters of 20th-century American prose are Catherine Ann Porter
and Eudora Welty.
Science fiction and horror literature were widely developed in the USA, and
fantasy in the second half of the 20th century. The first wave of American science
fiction, which included Edgar Rice Burroughs, Murray Leinster, Edmond
Hamilton, Henry Kuttner, was mostly entertaining and spawned a subgenre of
"space opera", describing the adventures of space explorers.
By the middle of the 20th century, more complicated fiction began to dominate in
the United States. Among world-famous American science fiction writers - Ray
Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Andre Norton, Clifford
Saymak, Robert Sheckley. The literature of these authors is distinguished by their
appeal to complex social and psychological issues, the debunking of utopia, and
allegorism.
In the United States, a science fiction subgenre such as cyberpunk (Philip K.
Dick, William Gibson, Bruce Sterling), which describes the future, changed and
dehumanized under the influence of high technology, was born.
By the 21st century, America remains one of the main centers of science fiction,
thanks to such authors as Dan Simmons, Orson Scott Card, Lois Bujold, David
Weber, Neil Stevenson, Scott Westerfeld, and others.
Most of the 20th century horror genre authors are Americans. The classic of
horror literature of the first half of the century was Howard Lovecraft, creator of
the “Cthulhu Myths”, which absorbed the legacy of American Gothic Poe. In the
second half of the century, the horror genre was perfected by such authors as
Stephen King, Dean Kunz and John Wyndham.

30
 10. The American dream

An integral part of the culture of America is the world-famous "American

dream." The American Dream is an expression often used to denote the life ideals
of the people of the United States, both materially and spiritually. The concept of
the "American dream" is often associated with immigrants who arrived in the
United States in search of a better life. The fact that they were leaving in countries
where, unlike the United States, there was a rather rigid social system that limited
social mobility, determined their commitment to the philosophy of individual
freedom and free enterprise. The concept of the American dream is closely
connected with the concept of "self-made person", a person who, through hard
work, has achieved success in life.
The components of the “American dream” are also the ideal of equality of all
before the law, regardless of ethnic origin and social status, as well as the
veneration of common symbols, patterns and heroes for all Americans. Here it is
the American dream, everyone has equal opportunities, if you work hard and you
can reach any heights. A good example, an illustration of this dream, was in the
late 19th - early 20th century families, whose names are now known to all -
Rockefellers, Morgan, Carnegie and others. They built their multi-million empires
from nothing.
But still, the basis of the American dream is not material wealth; this is a
pleasant bonus. The basis is work, responsibility for oneself, equal rights of all
citizens before the law and equal opportunities. Such an American dream was seen
by the founding fathers. Although the term did not exist itself then.
Now every American person has his own dream, although still there are
common points. It is that which make Americans who they are nowadays. First of
all, still in the New World labor is an honor. By the way, that’s why Americans
don’t understand Russian fairy tales, where the main character, as a rule, doesn’t
get very tense, but gets everything (Emelya with Pike, goldfish). The American
does not just want to have his own house - it is important for him to be this house
and wealth the result of his own work.

31
 Conclusion
American culture is very diverse, rich and exciting. It is incredibly interesting
to learn the subtleties of this country. You can endlessly discuss the culture of
America, and never know the whole country to the end. The USA is a collection of
traditions of governments that played a direct role in the formation of this great
country. Of course, over time, the USA began to move away from the original
cultures, creating its own, but still honors the traditions of Britain, Spain, etc.

32
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34