How well do you know American holidays?
American holidays mix history, family traditions and a lot of food. Six questions, from easy to hard, with explanations.
Did you know?
- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's first giant balloon, Felix the Cat, appeared in 1927. Today the balloons are so large that teams of handlers are needed to guide each one through the streets.
- Punxsutawney Phil's weather predictions are right only a fraction of the time, according to comparisons with actual weather records, but the tradition remains hugely popular.
- Americans buy hundreds of millions of pounds of candy for Halloween each year. Candy corn, invented in the 1880s, remains one of the most famous — and most debated — Halloween treats.
Celebrating the American year
American holidays combine national history, community traditions and family gatherings. Some, such as Independence Day, celebrate the nation's founding; others, like Halloween and Groundhog Day, grew from folk customs. Federal holidays give many workers a day off, but communities often add their own local festivals and parades throughout the year.
Independence Day
The Fourth of July is the country's birthday celebration. Towns hold parades, families gather for barbecues and picnics, and fireworks light up the sky at night. Many communities also hold concerts, and red, white and blue decorations appear everywhere.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is one of the most important family holidays in the United States. Many people travel long distances to share a meal with relatives, making it one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Watching American football games on television is another popular tradition.
Halloween
Halloween, on October 31, combines costumes, carved pumpkins called jack-o'-lanterns and trick-or-treating. Its roots include older European autumn festivals, but it took its modern form in the United States. Today adults as well as children join in costume parties and neighborhood celebrations.
Quirky traditions
Some American traditions are playful. Groundhog Day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, draws thousands of visitors to watch a groundhog 'predict' the weather. Other towns celebrate local foods, animals or history with their own unique festivals, from chili cook-offs to frog-jumping contests.
Long weekends
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved several federal holidays to Mondays, creating three-day weekends. These long weekends, such as Labor Day weekend, have become popular times for travel, shopping and outdoor activities across the country.
Regional and cultural celebrations
Many communities celebrate holidays tied to their heritage. Juneteenth, which became a federal holiday in 2021, commemorates the end of slavery in Texas in 1865. Chinese New Year parades fill streets in San Francisco and New York, and Cinco de Mayo festivities celebrate Mexican American culture in many cities.