Celebrations of Various American Cultures

Blueprint Skill:
Recognize personal, religious, and national celebrations of various American cultures (i.e., Independence Day, Columbus Day, Native American or American Indian Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Veteran's Day, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving).

Independence Day
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the "land of the free and the home of the brave" so they can begin their American Dream.
http://www.holidays.net/independence/story.htm

Independence Day
The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings.
Happy Birthday, America!
http://www.holidays.net/independence/story.htm

Columbus Day
The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City.

Columbus Day
In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as "Columbus Day" and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.

Memorial Day
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Memorial Day
http://www.usmemorialday.org/taps.html

Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims had much to celebrate, they had built homes in the wilderness, they had raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. They had beaten the odds and it was time to celebrate.

Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims, who celebrated the first Thanksgiving in America, were fleeing religious persecution in their native England. In 1609 a group of Pilgrims left England for the religious freedom.

Christmas
Christmas observance is a conglomeration of several other festivals. To early Christians, it commemorates the birth of the Christ Child.

Christmas
Today the practices associated with Christmas are likewise a conglomeration of different traditions from many different origins. Santa Claus, Carols, St. Nicholas, Yule Logs, Candles, Colored Lights, Christmas Cards, Christmas Trees, etc. all have different roots which are now blended into a single new tradition.

In 1914, Red Fox James, a Blackfoot from Montana, traveled on horseback four thousand miles soliciting the aid of governors for a holiday honoring the American Indians. He presented his proposal to a group of governors in Washington DC on December 14, 1914 where it was adopted by 24 states.
Native American Day

In the 1915 annual meeting of the American Indian Association, 1,250 Native Americans gathered in Lawrence, Kansas and sanctioned the plan. At this session, September 28, the fourth Friday in September, was set forth as the designated date
Native American Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
“Free at last, free at last , Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
It took many years for Congress to decide to celebrate the holiday. In the years leading up to the official decree many African-Americans celebrated the birthday themselves with a few states declaring King's birthday a state holiday. The bill was finally passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and was signed into law on November 2, 1983.

Veteran’s Day
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. These memorial services all took place on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I at 11:00 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month), which became known as Armistice Day.

Veteran’s Day
Armistice Day officially became a holiday in the United States in 1926, and a national holiday 12 years later. On June 1, 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.