People celebrate special days known as festivals or holidays every year in countries throughout the world. Although the purpose of each festival or holiday is different, they tend to have some things in common. Many are filled with traditions, like trick-or-treating on Halloween or decorating a tree at Christmas. Festivals and holidays also bring people together in a variety of ways—from respectful ceremonies to honor the dead on Memorial Day to joyous gatherings in the streets for Mardi Gras. The word festival comes from the word feast. Many early festivals took place around the times of planting and harvesting crops. Food still plays a major role in many of today's festivals and holidays. Turkey is usually the main dish for Thanksgiving. Boxes of chocolates are a favorite gift on Valentine's Day. The word holiday originally meant “holy day.” Many holidays are still religious occasions, including the Christian festival of Easter, the Jewish New Year celebration of Rosh Hashana, and the month-long Muslim holiday of Ramadan. Some holidays and festivals help people to remember important events or leaders in a nation's history. The Fourth of July marks the United States' independence from Great Britain. Presidents' Day honors the contributions of presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Other countries have similar days of national significance. For instance, Bastille Day in France remembers the start of the French Revolution in 1789. Festivals and holidays can help strengthen relationships between people. Neighbors may gather for parades or fireworks. Groups may collect food and clothing for needy members of the community. Family members may spend the day together and exchange gifts. People who live far away from each other may send greeting cards. People who work for the government are given the day off on certain holidays, like Veterans Day in the United States. Many other businesses also choose to give their employees the day off to celebrate. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, people tend to get the next day off. |