Holidays
Questions and answers
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What is Independence Day?
- A holiday to celebrate U.S. independence (from Britain)
- The country’s birthday
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, announcing that America was free of Britain. Every July 4 the country celebrates that day as its birthday.
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Name three national U.S. holidays.
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
National holidays are also called federal holidays because Congress passed them and the president signed them into law. There are 11, from New Year’s Day on January 1 to Christmas Day on December 25.
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What is Memorial Day?
- A holiday to honor soldiers who died in military service
Memorial Day, the last Monday in May, honors the men and women who died serving the United States. It began as Decoration Day after the Civil War, when people decorated the graves of the dead with flowers and flags.
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What is Veterans Day?
- A holiday to honor people in the (U.S.) military
- A holiday to honor people who have served (in the U.S. military)
Veterans Day, November 11, honors everyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, living or dead. It started as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, and Congress renamed it in 1954.
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