美国假日1. Birthday of Martin Luther King, JrvMartin Luther King Juniors Birthday, the newest official holiday first celebrated in 1986, also occurs in January. This holiday was established to honor Dr. King, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, who was assassinated in 1968 while leading a non-violent campaign to gain civil rights for Black Americans.2. Presidents Day总统日vPresidents Day, the third Monday in February, honors two of the greatest American presidents: George Washington, the first American president, affectionately called “the Father of His Country”, and Abraham Lincoln, the president during the American Civil War (1861-1865). vSometimes the children are taught the importance of honesty through the legend of the young Washington who confessed to cutting down a cherry tree by saying, “I can not tell a lie”. The Gettysburg Address, Lincolns most famous speech which emphasized national unity, is often read or memorized by students. 3. Memorial Day 阵亡将士纪念日阵亡将士纪念日vMemorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May and is a day to honor the dead, especially those who died defending their country. The day is marked by watching parades, listening to speeches, and decorating graves with flags and flowers.4. Independence Day (Four of July)vAmericas National Day is officially called “Independence Day” because the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson and signed by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, stated that the thirteen American colonies were independent from England. The common name of this holiday is “the Fourth of July”. 5. Labor Day 美国劳动节美国劳动节vLabor Day, a day to honor American workers, is celebrated on the first Monday in September.6. ThanksgivingvThanksgiving always occurs on the fourth Thursday in November and is celebrated to give thanks to God for his blessings. 7. St. Patricks Day神帕特里克节神帕特里克节vSt. Patricks Day is celebrated on March 17 to honor the patron saint of Ireland, the homeland of the Irish who immigrated in large number to the USA in the 19th century. Since green represents Irelands verdant （翠绿的）countryside, on this day, people often wear green. 8. Mothers DayvMothers Day, which celebrates the importance of the family, occurs on the second Sunday in May.9. Halloween 万圣节vHalloween originated in pre-Christian Europe where October 31st was All-Hallows-Eve, the night when the ghosts of the dead walked the land. In order to placate （抚慰）these spirits, gifts of food were left on the doorstep outside the house. 10. Easter 复活节复活节vThe date for Easter changes every year, but it is always celebrated on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. Although many people attend church on Easter to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ, this holiday is also rapidly losing its religious character.