I Have a Dream

Third Monday of January each year commemorates birth and achievements of the most influential American civil rights leader - Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Day is a relatively new federal holiday. President Ronald Reagan established it in 1983 but only in 2000 it was officially observed in all 50 states.

King Day of Service

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'". Martin Luther Day is not only for celebration and remembrance. Across America people volunteer in hospitals, shelters and prisons and wherever people need some help. It is a day of volunteering to feed the hungry, rehabilitate housing, tutoring those who can’t read, consoling the broken-hearted and a thousand other projects for building the beloved community of his dream.

TASK: Martin Luther King Days has different names in some states. Find in which states it is called differently and how.

Festival of Lights

The Festival of Lights, more known as Hanukkah starst on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev and lasts for eight days and nights. In this year Hannukah begins on December 24. This festival was instituted by Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. to celebrate the purification of the Temple of Jerusalem.

In Jewish tradition Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday. Hovewer, in the US its closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to Hanukkah. It is celebrated with festive foods, games and gift-giving.

Traditions and rituals

1. Lighting of the Menorah

The lighting of the menorah is the most important tradition. A menorah is a candlestand with nine branches - eight candles represents each day of Hanukkah , nine cadnle is used to light the others. People say blessings when the menorah is lit.

TASK: Find what symbolizes the Menorah.

2. Dreidel

The dreidel is a popular toy symbolizing the Hanukkah period. It is a spinning top with a different Hebrew letter inscribed in each of its four sides.  A letter tells the player how much to put in, or take out, of the pot.  The four letters form an acronym for “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham”.

TASK: Find what acronym: “Nes Gadol Hayah Sham” means.

3. Music

Ma’Oz Tzur is a liturgical poem sung after lightning the menorah each night. 

TASK: Find more songs connected with the Festival of Lights.

Five of the weirdest holidays in America

We all love to celebrate but Americans are masters with creating the most weirdest reason for holidays. I'll present five holidays in America that I consider slightly unusual. 

Take Your Dog to Work Day: June 22

TYDTW Day  was created by Pet Sitters International in 1999 to raise money for charities dedicated to making a difference to the welfare of dogs. The event encourages employers to experience the joys of pets in the workplace for one day to support their local pet community.

You can follow TYDTW Day on facebook. There are many photos and videos from people's work with their pets.

Take Your Plants For A Walk Day: July 27

The idea behind this day is to celebrate plants and provide the opportunity for them to capture the much needed sunlight that they often do not get enough of indoors. This special day was invented by Thomas & Ruth Roy. If you are a plant lover this day is a great opportunity for you and your plant to spend some time together and celebrate!

Festival Of Sleep Day: January 3

If  you have ever dreamt about sleeping a whole day without a guilt trip this holiday may interest you. After the Christmas shopping and present opening deadlines and the New Year celebrations third January prepares for us a little surprise - Festival of Sleep Day!  It is aimed to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep and to promote sleep disorders prevention and management.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day: February 11

Don'r cry over spilled milk day is a day when you should look on the bright side! On that day you should think positive and try not to worry and stress over little things. The origins of Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day aren't known, but the phrase itself is an ancient proverb urging people not to waste time worrying about minor errors. Stay positive!

Talk Like Shakespeare Day: April 23

Talk Like Shakespeare Day was started in 2009 by Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. If you would like to know how to talk like William Shakespeare you can check this page: Tips to Talk Like Shakespeare.

TASK:

Find three more unusual holidays that are celebrated in the USA.

The most crazy Friday in the year

Queues, chaos and quarrels over cut-price goods - this is a perfect description of Black Friday.  Since 1952, the day following Thanksgiving Day has been regarded as the beginning of the Christmas shopping season in the U.S.. Most of major retailers offer promotional sales and keep their shops open from early morning till late night. 

 

Black Friday isn't a safe day, and the following story (one of many) will show you why.

It happened four years ago in Texas. A man tried to cut in line and he decided that the best way is too punch another shopper in the face. The punched shopper pulled a gun - as he claimed in self defence. The most crazy thing is that the store manager gave the man with the gun a voucher and asked him to leave. Shopping resumed just 10 minutes after the incident occurred.

You can watch this video and look how people go crazy during Black Friday.

TASK:

Find out  why do we call it Black Friday. How did Black Friday get its name?

Turkey day - Thanksgiving traditions

Each year on the fourth Thursday in November, Americans gather for a day of feasting, football and family. Thankhsgiving is the most popoular holiday in the USA. In fact, more people in the USA celebrate Thanksgiving than they do Christmas -  it can be related to the fact that Thanksgiving is a secular holiday that officially separates church and state.

The story of Thanksgivings begins in 1621, when  the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast. 

THANKSGIVING TRADITIONS 

The Feast

Thanksgiving is the time when people share a sumptuous meal with family and friends. Many families gather together to prepare a bountiful feast. Of course, the most traditional meal is turkey, whether roasted, baked or deep-fried. Other traditional foods include stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie. 

 Many people in Thanksgiving Day volunteer at a soup kitchen -  a place where food is offered to the hungry for free.

Parades

Parades are an integral part of Thanksgiving in cities across the US. More than 3 million spectators gather on streets of New York for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and another 44 million gather around their television sets across the country to admire the magic of the parade's oversized balloons. 

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (New York)

McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade (Chicago)

America's Thanksgiving Parade (Detroit)

American football

The National Football League (NFL) on Thanksgiving Day is a traditional series of games played during the Thanksgiving in the United States.The traditional American Thanksgiving football game was usually between the Detroit Lions and the Green Bay Packers, but as football has became more popular, there are now more games on Thanksgiving day.

TASKS:

1. Who and in which year made Thanksgiving a national holiday?

2. Which state was the first to make Thanksgiving a yearly occasion before it became a national holiday?

3. What food do more than 90 percent of Americans eat on Thanksgiving?

Let's fall in love in a moustache in November - Movember

If you’re seeing more moustaches than usual, you’re not imagining it. During November all men are invited to grow a moustache to raise awareness of men's health issues. The goal of Movember is to change the face of men's health.

Movember moustaches were first grown in Australia back in 2003 and since that time its men’s health messages have spread across the globe. Among the countries that taking part in the campaing is the USA.

Movember Foundation runs events to raise awareness and funds for health problems such as prostate cancer and depression. You can participate in a Movember costume party or in the A Benefit Concert for the Movember Foundation . For more events check out https://us.movember.com/events/.

Over the last 13 years Movember Foundation has raised £443 million for men’s health.

QUIZ: Can you name that famous people moustache?

1.

2.

3. 

Halloween

31 October in USA is a day when all children and adults dress up as scary creatures and trick-or-treating or attend to costume parties. This very festive celebration is called Halloween and it originated from Celtic harvest festivals. Many of old traditions survived till today but also Americans have created some new Halloween activities.

Trick-or-treating

Children go from house to house in scary costumes and ask for candies saying"trick-or-treat?" If someone dare not to give a treat, childrens can perform a mischief on the homeowners or their house. Of course in the most occasions children left with a bucket full of candies and cookies. 

 

Carving pumpkins

Carving pumpkins is one of the most popular activity during Halloween. You can make beautiful  Jack O'Lanternss and decorate your house or organize a campetition with your friends who will make the most scary pumpkin. You can use the patterns below or create your own. 

 

 

 Apple bobbing

This game is very often played during Halloween parties. Apples are placed in a large basin filled with water and player have to catch an apple with their teeths. Use of arms is forbidden! 

 

Horror films

Many adults spend their Halloween evening on watching scary movies. You can prepare loads of halloween snacks and organize with your friends a marathon of horror films.  Check some films suggested on our blog: Dracula, The Silence of the Lamb

Here some puzzles for you!

TASKS:

1. Who started the tradition of apple bobbing?

2. Which country celebrates 'The day of the Dead' instead of Halloween?

3. From where originated  Jack O'Lanterns?