To understand the holidays of America, it is necessary to remember that many emigrants live outside its territory and brought their values and traditions to the culture. In the USA there is no general public holidays, each state appoints them at its own discretion. This is due to the ethnic groups living in a particular territory and to ingrained traditions. However, there are 10 holidays, which are valid in almost all states and fixed by the President and Congress.
Thanksgiving Day
New York in November lives in anticipation of America's favorite holiday - Thanksgiving. It dates back to 1621 from Plymouth. His idea has a deep religious meaning. For the first time, the holiday was intended to cheer up the colonists before the coming winter and thank the Almighty for the previous difficult period. The celebration took place not only among the colonists, but also among the Indians. The holiday was legalized by George Washington in 1789.
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November. There are unshakable traditions of holding it. Early in the morning, a service is held in the temple, which everyone should attend together and thank the Lord for all his gifts. Then the whole extended family gathers at the festive table.
The main tradition on the eve of Thanksgiving is to do charity and help those in need. There must be a turkey on the table, in memory of the four wild birds eaten on the first celebration. In many cities, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated with a fun carnival procession.
The next significant and big holiday in the USA is Christmas. It is accompanied by several days off and holidays for children. Traditionally, celebrations begin on December 25th.
The holiday comes to American homes with garlands of mistletoe, holly and ivy. Stockings for gifts appear above the fireplace, and the front of the building is painted with multi-colored lights. On the streets you can meet Santa Claus, promising gifts and renewal for the next year.
There is still a tradition in the United States of giving girls a kiss under a wreath of mistletoe. Christmas in New York It is celebrated especially brightly and colorfully, despite the fact that many go to relatives for the weekend. The streets are decorated with colorful garlands, everyone tries to contribute to the appearance of the city. Festive services are held in large churches.
In that Holy holiday It is customary to exchange gifts, and they do not have to be expensive. In America it is customary to bring festive table home-cooked dishes. Since Christmas is not only a religious, but also a family holiday, everyone tries to get together, so at the end of December it is celebrated high level migration within the country.
New Year in America
New Year's celebrations continue winter holidays. US traditions are such that Christmas comes first and is celebrated on a grand scale. All gifts are timed specifically for December 25th. Nevertheless, New Year in America also noted. Unlike Christmas, it is celebrated noisily and in public. Nightclubs, restaurants and theaters are open until night, and the music does not stop in the squares.
The arrival of the New Year is announced by loud fanfares, car horns and the sounds of fireworks. Americans are neither alone nor original in these expressions of joy. But there are several primordial traditions that have no analogues throughout the world.
New Year in New York marked by a parade. It begins on January 1 in the world-famous Time Square. Many townspeople and tourists dream of taking part in the festive procession; no fewer people come to look at the colorful costumes. Many television channels provide live coverage in all states. Thus, the number of spectators of the celebration totals more than a million people.
In general, quite beautiful. In addition to decorated Christmas trees, skating rinks and illuminations, you can see the unique design of each small shop or cafe. And this is not the influence of the city administration; everyone tries to show imagination and creativity on their own initiative.
In Philadelphia on New Year's Day, you can take part in a pantomime parade, which dates back to ancient times. It was first started by immigrants from Ireland. I liked the idea so much that it turned into a kind of brand. The parade lasts 10 hours, during which it is impossible to take your eyes off theatrical performance in the presence of the King of Pantomime.
This unforgettable spectacle is accompanied by lively music and the performance of clowns dressed appropriately for the occasion.
The Tournament of Roses in Pasadena can be called traditional. California has a mild climate, and snow is a rarity in the south of the state. In this regard, a huge number of tourists gather for the Tournament of Roses. All central streets become a fragrant exhibition of many compositions, and the center of attention is a theatrical procession and a demonstration of floats strewn with roses.
The colorful spectacle does not end with an ordinary street procession; at the end of the celebration, the city administration holds a football match, which has a romantic name - the Pink Ball. This event attracts numerous fans to their TV screens, and only a few can see it at the stadium.
Every city in America celebrates New Year's holidays in its own way, but they invariably become memorable and symbolic. Many Americans believe in the magic of celebration and the opportunity to change something on the first magical night of the coming year.
New Year in the United States of America is celebrated on the night of December 31 to January 1. This holiday is second in popularity to Catholic Christmas (December 25). Unlike Christmas, which is a family celebration, most Americans celebrate New Year's Eve publicly, with friends at parties, carnivals, clubs and casinos.
The most popular place to celebrate the New Year is Times Square in New York. The most spectacular event in the country takes place here - the descent of the Times Square Ball. On December 31 at 23.59 it is lowered from a 23-meter height along the flagpole. The ball reaches its lowest point at midnight, which is considered the beginning of the New Year. This action took place for the first time in 1907. The Americans liked its spectacle, and the descent of the time ball became an annual tradition. The design of this New Year's attribute has changed more than once over the years. In 1907, it was a structure made of metal, wood and incandescent lamps. The modern ball consists of triangular crystal panels and thousands of LEDs.
Other US cities have begun hosting own options ceremonial lowering New Year's ball. Instead of a ball, they use local symbols: images of animals, plants, fruits, cars. Atlanta uses a giant peach, Raleigh uses a brass acorn, Strasburg uses a ping pong ball, and Plymouth uses a slice of cheese.
Traditions and rituals
IN New Year's Eve Americans are summing up the past year: reflecting on what was done and what failed. Everyone tries to make a list of important things to do for the next year: go to college, quit smoking, sign up for a dance, visit another country, change housing, car or job.
A traditional New Year's attribute in the USA is Baby - a child in a diaper. He grows and ages throughout the year. At the end he becomes an old man and transfers his powers to the next newborn. Americans love the image of a baby in a diaper. They often use it in New Year's shows, souvenirs and cards.
In America, it is not customary to give gifts for the New Year. They are presented to loved ones and relatives on Catholic Christmas.
history of the holiday
On the territory of modern America, New Year began to be celebrated in the 17th century, when colonists from Holland arrived in these lands. They introduced their own traditions and rituals. The cult of Indian pagan gods has been crowded out of society for centuries. It was only in the 20th century during carnivals and parades that people began to use their whimsical images in their holiday costumes.
New Year decoration
The New Year is preceded by Catholic Christmas, so the houses, streets and squares of US cities take on a festive look already in early December. Americans decorate store windows with fabulous New Year's compositions that delight the eyes of passers-by and attract buyers. New Year trees are installed in the central squares of cities. The country's main Christmas tree is located in New York at Rockefeller Plaza. They begin to install it in mid-November. Americans look forward to the lighting ceremony of the main Christmas tree, which traditionally takes place on the last day of autumn. This tradition was founded in the 30s of the 20th century. Tens of thousands of citizens and tourists gather in the square to watch this vibrant spectacle.
The day before New Year's holidays Americans also decorate their homes. They install fir trees in the living rooms, decorate the facades of houses with shimmering garlands, hang a Christmas wreath on the door, and put figurines of deer, Santa Claus, and snowmen in the courtyards.
Festive table
For most Americans, New Year's is a public holiday. In the United States, it is not customary to set a sumptuous table of holiday dishes. Those residents of the country who stay at home on New Year's Eve prefer to put various casseroles and light snacks on the table. For dessert they serve sweet puddings and pies. Among alcoholic drinks, Americans prefer champagne, punch, and brandy.
Cities and resorts
New Year's holidays in the USA are celebrated cheerfully and on a grand scale. Carnivals and parades that take place on New Year's Eve will amaze guests with their entertainment.
New York is the center of the country's main festive events and noisy parties. The world-famous ceremony of lowering the ball will leave bright, unforgettable emotions.
In the city of Pasadena (California), since January 1, 1890, a grandiose New Year's event"Rose Parade". The festival features dozens of floats decorated with flowers, orchestras, horsemen, dancers and musicians. After the parade ends, a college football game takes place at the Rose Bowl.
The Philadelphia Pantomime Parade is not inferior in its entertainment and scale. Show performance under open air lasts about ten hours and is available to everyone. It features clowns, jugglers, dancers and musicians dressed in colorful costumes.
Exotic lovers will love the New Year holidays in the Hawaiian Islands. The most popular are the Big Island and Oahu. Tourists who find themselves in the mild and warm Hawaiian climate in winter will feel like they are in paradise. Visitors will be greeted by friendly locals with garlands of flowers. Beautiful nature, sandy coasts of the Pacific Ocean and clear water will not leave vacationers indifferent. Hawaii is a great place for surfing and diving. Restaurants and clubs diversify your holiday with parties. The most popular New Year's event in the Hawaiian Islands is the fire show.
Giving birth, getting divorced, falling in love, getting married, raising children and studying, buying houses, ships, yachts and dresses, making a career and traveling, electing a president and going to protest rallies... - all this must be done in the USA. Or this: I like to do this in the USA. But the New Year should be celebrated in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia... In general, somewhere in the post-Soviet space. But not in the USA, with all my love for this country.
And not even in New York, where the luxurious Christmas tree near the Rockefeller Center beckons with lights, where, supposedly, it’s so fun to wait for the crystal one in Times Square and in general there are a lot of parties - don’t believe it! And if the devil brought you to our glorious country on the night of December 31, then urgently look for a Russian-speaking area - only there you will have at least some sense of the holiday.
It is a well-known fact that the United States celebrates on a grand scale Christmas. By December 25th, everything that even slightly resembles a gift is swept off store shelves (this is the time to sell the slowest selling goods). Christmas trees are sold all around at absolutely astronomical prices - in New York this year the price starts at $130, I have not yet seen anything cheaper. IN shopping centers can’t get through, but in general people are relaxed and happy - a holiday is just around the corner...
Manhattan receives three times as many people as usual during the holidays. And only in Russian-speaking communities there is peace and quiet. In New York, “our people” are in no hurry to even buy a Christmas tree. What for? It's too late on the evening of December 25th at the same Wallmart it will be available for just a dollar or take it for free. Because that’s it - the holiday is over, which means the tree is no longer needed. Moreover, on December 26th they are already starting to be thrown out!
On Christmas night, when American families gather around the table, when children go to bed, anticipating how they will open gifts in the morning, when Santa Claus has long been stocked with cookies, as well as gifts for Rudolph the reindeer, when socks are hung on the window in the absence of a fireplace... “Russians” just go to bed. The exception is those who are married to Americans or work in American companies. If the family lives in the Brighton Beach area, and works there, in general, everything is based on the principle “We don’t go to that America!”, then Christmas night passes for them like any other.
The maximum that “our people” can do on the eve of the holidays is to go to the City to see how Macy's decorated the windows, and browse sales, which, by the way, are not yet sales - the most interesting thing will begin after the holidays, when the goods there's a lot more, but it's already on the nose new season And new holiday- Valentine's Day.
And now Christmas has passed. Children are on vacation, adults also often relax. Everyone is relaxed and in no hurry. But not in the Russian-speaking community, which is just beginning to come to life and prepare for the very important holiday of the year. When Americans have already finished celebrating, we begin to rush to buy gifts, Christmas trees and green peas in jars.
Some people, of course, don’t stand at the stove for hours, but go to a restaurant. By the way, it’s too late to book a table - everything has been reserved and paid for a long time ago. There may still be tickets left for expensive parties for Russian-speaking millionaires, which take place, for example, in Miami.
Four years ago I went to one of these - the minimum ticket price was 500 dollars, the maximum - 5000. They fed guests Russian cuisine, for example, the same “Olivier”, however, with crayfish necks, as in the original recipe. Timati, Yuri Antonov, Teona Kontridze and other stars performed on stage. The party was hosted by Ksenia Sobchak and her husband Maxim Vitorgan. Well, everything was almost like ours. I was a little embarrassed by the New Year's palm trees hung with garlands - what a spectacle, and also the complete absence of snow and fireworks.
The last one is especially sad. In the same New York fireworks from private individuals is prohibited. But on the night of December 31, in Russian-speaking areas, of course, they happily forget about this and, as usual, shoot until the morning. Americans do not consider this day so important that it should also be celebrated with fireworks. Yes, sometimes and here and there.
Last year, for some reason, I decided that we would have fireworks on the Brooklyn Bridge in honor of the New Year. And at 11:30 at night I arrived at the bridge with three small children and my husband. A couple of thousand more people came there with us. We froze and began to wait for the colorful madness.
At 12:00 o'clock at night the crowd timidly whistled: Happy new year!
“Happy new year,” we responded sluggishly, deciding to save our main energy for the delight of fireworks. But we waited for the knight near the window in vain - he did not gallop up. That is, in general. Somewhere far on the horizon, either in Queens or on Red Square itself, fireworks were flashing. The moon and stars shone peacefully over our bridge. I understood everything, but continued to stare at the sky, afraid to look down at the children. My son, whom I had difficulty tearing away from the computer, and to whom I promised “ best view in the world,” I figured it all out on my own pretty quickly.
At that moment, when the fireworks stopped flashing even far on the horizon, he looked at me intently and said menacingly: “What is this?” How is that? Why did we come to this stupid bridge if the fireworks are not clear where? And who told us “Children, today you will see the BEST fireworks display of your life????”
I started laughing and could no longer answer. He was disappointed by the lack of fireworks, but I was disappointed by the complete absence of that very day that you wait for all day, on which you pin some stupid hopes, which should be the beginning of a new countdown... And the cars kept driving and driving along the Brooklyn Bridge and the traffic density was the most ordinary - life did not stand still for a second here between 11:30 and 12:30 on the night of December 31 to January 1.
No, there are a lot of parties in the USA this night. And in large cities - New York, LA, Miami, Chicago... you will be offered the most different variants New Year celebrations. In the Big Apple this is, for example, night at Madame Tussauds. Or a party at The Empire Hotel, a ticket for which will cost a very decent amount. Or a party on a ship that sails down the Hudson with a royal four-course dinner and champagne that flows like water.
IN Los Angeles on this day you can take a photo with Santa on the beach, visit a light show - what would Hollywood be without special effects?
But this is not all that! There is no fuss I need on this day in the USA! The smell of tangerines is not invigorating and doesn’t remind me of anything, and I’m the only one who smells them in the whole house. “Olivier” is not a cult salad, and if I translate the plot of “Enjoy Your Bath” to my Americans, they will ridicule Lukashin for his infantilism. Why, when the chimes strike, no one will eat burnt paper with desire! Americans simply kiss each other, thus congratulating each other on the New Year.
All in all, New York at Christmas is amazing and even more - it's beautiful, magnificent, beautiful, just like at any other time of the year. But for the New Year we need to go somewhere to our people. At least for these two days, when “Olivier” is already crawling out of your ears, and at one in the morning you suddenly find yourself in stiletto heels and in a thin dress flying on a piece of cardboard somewhere into a tree and a snowdrift at the same time.
And no, I don’t have nostalgia, I don’t yearn for the country where I was born and raised, I don’t want to go back. I'm just so used to it. I like to start the New Year countdown with a bright night. I like that the whole country, with rare exceptions, starts with a bright night. And individual, albeit very lively parties, alas, do not calm me down. You leave it with sadness, realizing that tomorrow, the first of January, is a normal working day in the country, and that neither your American husband nor your American children will eat Olivier in the morning, wrapped in a blanket, that no one will knock on the door. at your door with a bottle of cold champagne, and won’t offer to continue celebrating...
PS By the way, the Chinese celebrate their New Year on the same scale as we do. And therefore they in the USA suffer from misunderstandings. Although in New York, in honor of their New Year, everyone is given one day off. And yet no. The scope is not the same. It's a pity.
Opinion I The most boring day of the year or why you shouldn’t celebrate New Year in the USA updated: August 20, 2019 by: Marina Sokolovskaya
∗ We are not responsible for the content of columnists' publications. The editors may not agree with the author's opinion. All materials retain the author's style, spelling and punctuation.
When is New Year celebrated in America? and got the best answer
Answer from COSICH[guru]
In the USA, the New Year celebration is closely linked with the celebration of Christmas (December 25, new style). The New Year itself is not such a big holiday for Americans, and it is celebrated mainly by people from other countries (for example, from the CIS). Americans will most likely celebrate New Year's Eve among friends, watching entertainment programs on TV, or in theaters, nightclubs and restaurants.
Although New Year's Day is officially celebrated on January 1st in the United States, celebrations begin on December 31st. According to tradition, everyone sees off until midnight old year, and then they meet the one who has arrived. At exactly midnight, after the ringing of bells, fireworks fly into the air, champagne corks, the howl of sirens and car horns announce the beginning of the New Year. People hug and kiss each other and wish each other happiness. On American tables there is champagne (drinking a glass of fizzy drink at midnight is an established tradition) and snacks - nuts, cheese, cookies. It is not customary to eat or get drunk, and no gifts are given on this night. In the passing year, sentimental Americans sing an old song written back in the 18th century, it is called “Auld Lang Syne” (approximate translation - “Old good times"). It is a good tradition to sing about friends and old times.
Some major cities in the United States hold parades on January 1st. Admittedly, the most fun and numerous of them is the New Year's parade in New York's Time Square.
Answer from 2 answers[guru]
Hello! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: When is New Year celebrated in America?
Answer from Yatyana Kolupaeva[newbie]
New Year's Day in the USA is one of the country's public holidays. It is celebrated on January 1 of each year according to the Gregorian calendar. Despite the fact that the New Year is inferior in popularity to Catholic Christmas, especially in more religious and conservative rural regions, in a number of US cities their own new year traditions. By the way, Christmas and New Year in the United States differ greatly in their spiritual content. Christmas is an important family holiday, filled with religious symbolism, and the New Year's celebration is public and often takes place in the form of a party with friends in a club, casino or city square. Most casinos in the country offer free champagne toasts in their lobbies on New Year's Eve. The English Puritans were introduced to the celebration of the New Year by the more liberal Dutch colonists, the founders of New York, so it is in this city that the New Year celebration is most solemn. Its main meeting place is Times Square, where on New Year's Eve a crowd of more than one hundred thousand awaits the descent of a shiny ball - a symbol of the New Year.
In America? What do they give for this holiday? You will find out the answers to these and other exciting questions if you read this article.
America is the country that gave the world Santa Claus. Therefore, we can safely say that in the USA they honor the New Year and know how to celebrate it brightly. Of course, numerous gifts and various garlands play the main role in creating a fabulous atmosphere. Now let's talk about how the New Year is celebrated in America; the traditions of this country will also be considered. It is impossible to imagine this holiday without Christmas. After all, it is from this day that winter festivities begin.
Preparation period
As in many European countries, Christmas is celebrated on the night of December 25th. This holiday is considered the most important in the USA.
During the pre-holiday period, a magical atmosphere envelops everything around. On such days, the streets are practically drowned in decorations, and people around them exchange gifts with each other. American cities are immersed in a fabulous atmosphere. At the same time, even those who do not identify themselves with any religion celebrate Christmas.
There is one very important tradition among Americans - to decorate their homes to the maximum.
Moreover, sometimes some people even decorate doghouses in order to make the atmosphere around them even more magical and fabulous. Of course, one cannot do without the image of Santa Claus with his assistants - elves, deer and gnomes. In the yard, people put up Christmas trees (previously decorated) and make big snowmen. A mandatory element in the interior is a festive wreath, which is sometimes created using popcorn. It hangs on the door. On the wreath itself there is usually a wish Merry Christmas.
Glowing garlands make you forget about the night during the Christmas and New Year period, because even in the dark it is light outside. The most important illuminated place is Rockefeller Center in New York. This is where the largest Christmas tree is placed. In addition, there is a free skating rink that is open 24 hours a day. Another peculiarity is that on Christmas everyone is on vacation, for this reason local residents stock up on food and gasoline in advance.
Santa Claus from America
Many people know this grandfather thanks to the famous advertising from the Coca-Cola company. This commercial created a fabulous atmosphere.
Therefore, he was loved not only by children, but also by adults. In addition, advertising canonized appearance Santa Claus. This old man appeared before us in red pants and a jacket of the same color. The boots of the American Santa Claus were black and patent leather. Santa Claus also has a red cap on his head. Note that the obligatory attributes of an American grandfather are a good-natured smile and a snow-white beard.
Children always leave special red (although sometimes other colors) socks for Santa Claus. They hang them above the fireplace. After all, Santa Claus, as you know, sneaks into the house not through the door, but through the chimney.
How do children usually introduce Santa? American Santa Claus sits on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. Next to him faithful companions- elves or gnomes. Many children leave sweets under the Christmas tree for Santa Claus as a sign of gratitude.
Present
There is a tendency in America to buy Christmas gifts early rather than last. This becomes possible thanks to advance updating of the assortment in stores.
For many Americans, buying gifts is an important part of their lives. They give gifts to everyone: friends, colleagues, people to whom they are grateful. The end of the festive dinner at Christmas is marked by the opening of the gifts that were piled under the tree during the week. Santa Claus gives presents to children at night.
Traditions
It is popular among American citizens to give to charity during the holidays. Then they provide assistance to hospitals, shelters and those simply in need. Despite advanced technologies, congratulations are often sent by postcard. Let us note that the tradition of children dressed as angels singing Christmas carols also continues to exist. In almost all families, it is customary to read a prayer of gratitude before eating.
Food
This state, like any other country, has its own traditional dishes that should be on the table. Such dishes include: potato pies, stuffed turkey, bean and cabbage soup, homemade sausage.
New Year in America. Traditions
The main symbol of the celebration is considered to be Baby - a child in a diaper. He lives his entire life in a year, subsequently giving his rights to another child.
What date is New Year's in America? Of course, the first of January. The residents of this country have many traditions associated with the New Year celebration. One rather practical custom for the people of America is to draw up assignments for the next year. During the planning process, they write down goals that need to be achieved in these same 365 days. This list can include anything, from the goal of quitting smoking, spending less money on things, and some more global options, such as buying a house, renovating, getting married, etc.
How is New Year celebrated in America? Let's figure it out now. Unlike Christmas, which is considered family holiday, New Year is spent more often in clubs and on the street than at home with relatives.
Usually this celebration is accompanied by dancing and fireworks. Everyone should also drink a glass of champagne. A very popular holiday music is the Scottish tune “The Good Old Days.”
So how do they celebrate New Year in America? It is believed that the celebration should begin on December 31st. Since this day is the end of the old year. This event definitely needs to be celebrated. And the next day, January 1st, is also no less important. He is also celebrated. During this period you can see parades. The most grandiose one is held in Time Square, which is located in New York.
Practicality
On average, Americans spend from fifty to $800 on gifts. This could be a cute trinket, accessories, a box of chocolates, or wine or luxury cigarettes.
Note that for practical reasons, New Year gifts in America are presented along with checks.
This is done so that the recipient can return the item to the store if the gift is not suitable. This, of course, leads to huge queues in stores, which is why certificates for a fixed amount have recently become popular. According to them, a person can choose the right thing for himself.
There are Orthodox stores in the New England region. They specialize specifically in Christmas gifts. These Orthodox shops are open 24 hours a day. Therefore, Americans can prepare for the holidays and purchase gifts at any time.
Time Square became famous New Year's performance. It has gained fame all over the world since the beginning of the last century. It is on December 31, the last day of the year, that a large ball descends from a great height (more than twenty meters). He is in the fall for exactly sixty seconds. At the last ten people start counting down. After their expiration, the ball touches the ground exactly at midnight.
Conclusion
Now you know how the New Year is celebrated in America, what gifts are given during this period. We also looked at the traditions of this holiday. We hope that this information was interesting and useful to you.
