Holidays in the USA and Croatia

Saint Nicholas Day is observed on 6 December or on 5 December in Western Christian countries, and on 19 December in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar

St Nicholas was a Christian bishop who helped the needy. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew

It is believed that Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, Turkey.

St Nicholas Day is celebrated in many countries all over the world and including Croatia

On the night of December 5 children clean and polish their boots and leave them outside the door before going to sleep. Next morning they find their shoes filled with candy and small gifts from St Nicholas

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Organizations across the country honor the memory of Pearl Harbor with tributes. Survivors share their stories and join in reunions. The Flag of the United States is flown at half-staff until sunset to honor those who lost their lives serving this nation at Pearl Harbor. In 1994, the United States Congress designated December 7th as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR HOMELAND WAR VICTIMS AND REMEMBRANCE DAY FOR

THE VICTIMS OF VUKOVAR AND ŠKABRNJA

This holiday is the most similar Croatian state holiday to the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. They both remember the victims of an attack or war. This national holiday commemorates the memory of all the military and civilian victims of the Croatian War of Independence. On November 18, 1991, both Vukovar and Škabrnja were attacked and defeated by the JNA (Yugoslav People’s Army) and Serbian army. Many people were killed.

There is a big gathering and a commemorative program in Vukovar every year. A parade called “Kolona sjećanja” passes through the city and ends at the Memorial cemetery. Across the country, there is a tradition of lighting lanterns in memory of the victims of Vukovar and Škabrnja.&nbsp;

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Families and friends get together for a meal, which traditionally includes a roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy, and pumpkin pie. In some cities and towns, there are parades during the Thanksgiving weekend. In most areas, these festivities also mark the opening of the Christmas shopping season.

In Croatia we celebrate "Dan Pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti" and "Dan zahvalnosti za plodove zemlje". 

Holidays and observances in the USA and Croatia

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The holiday is important because it emphasizes education on African American history and how others can be better to their community, it acknowledges a period in the US history that shaped and continues to influence society today.

There isn’t a holiday in Croatia like Juneteenth, but we did have a similar historical event — on the 27th of January 1416, the Republic of Dubrovnik banned slavery and the decision came into effect the very next day. That day could at least be celebrated as an Observance, so people can hold festivities in honor of Croatia's (and mostly Dubrovnik’s) history.&nbsp;

The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

The Valentine’s Day tradition of giving a box of candy was started in the 19th century by Richard Cadbury, a scion of a British chocolate manufacturing family. With a new technique recently established at the company to create more varieties of chocolate, Cadbury pounced on the opportunity to sell the chocolates as part of the beloved holiday.&nbsp;

Valentines Day in Croatia This holiday is often celebrated in Croatia too. It’s similar to the rest of the world. We express our love for eachother. Loved ones buy eachother flowers, chocolates and cards and write meaningful letters and they spend time with each other. Valentine’s Day became popular in the nineties of the last century and there were many traditions and superstitions connected to it, such as that people were convinced that if, on Valentine’s Day, they see their crush that they would get married in the fall or winter. The most important simbols of Valentine’s Day are red hearts, red roses and turtledoves.&nbsp;

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the USA, it is celebrated on the fourth thursday of November.

The earliest date that Thanksgiving can occur on is November 22 and the latest is  November&nbsp;28.

Before the formal establishment of Thanksgiving, harvest festivals had been celebrated for centuries by Native Americans. The most widely known early Thanksgiving&nbsp;is that of the Pilgrims in Plimoth, Massachusetts, who shared an autumn harvest feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans in&nbsp;1621. It is considered as the first Thanksgiving in the US. The first national celebration of Thanksgiving was in honor of the creation of the new United States Constitution. In1863 President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each&nbsp;November.

NATIONAL PEARL HARBOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day honors all those who lost their lives when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. More than 3,500 Americans lost their lives or were wounded. It is a national holiday memorated across the whole US. The Japanese attack damaged several battleships,&nbsp;permanently sinking both&nbsp;the USS Arizona and USS Oklahoma. Still, others capsized, taking crew members with them. As a result, the attack forced the U.S. into the WWII. For many of the crew of the USS Utah, USS Arizona, and USS Oklahoma, Pearl Harbor is their final resting place. The memorials at Pearl Harbor serve as a place of honor to those service members lost during the attack.

The Legend of St. Valentine The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons, where they were often beaten and tortured. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and—most importantly—romantic figure. By the Middle Ages, perhaps thanks to this reputation, Valentine would become one of the most popular saints in England and France.&nbsp;

Some claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine’s feast day in the middle of February in an effort to “Christianize” the pagan celebration of Lupercalia, fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed—as it was deemed “un-Christian”—at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine’s Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love.&nbsp;

Open our Padlet to read students' thoughts on holidays and observances in the USA and Croatia.... Just click on the following link: <a href="https://padlet.com/vlatkaostojic10/ma9xkw047ccril3r">https://padlet.com/vlatkaostojic10/ma9xkw047ccril3r</a>

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Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, All Saints' Eve

Includes: trick-or-treating, craving pumpkins, bonfires, costume parties, apple bobbing, games, pranks, scary stories, haunted houses, horror films

Etymology - people thought that between 31st October and 1st Noveber wiches gather for black sabbath.

Trick-or-treating - children in costumes go from house to house asking for candy or money

Carving pumpkins - jack-o'-lantern ( phenomenon of strange light flickering over peat bogs)

In Croatia Halloween is not celebratet because it is considered pagan holiday.

We have similar holiday, which is always day before the Lent, called Maškare. Kids also go trick-or-treating in costumes to get money and candy. They mostly go in groups, collect the goods together and in the evening, at the end, they split equally what they been given.

In Judisam, Halloween is not celebrated because it violates Leviticus 18:30.

In Islam, people conider that participating in Halloween is more sinful than participate in Christmas and Easter.

Hinduisam has similar holiday as Halloween, but it is mid-September. Some Hindus choose to participate in popular costumes.

JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on, as the name suggests by cleverly blending the words June and nineteenth together, June 19th. It celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. It originates from Galveston, Texas, where Union Army general Gordon Granger, on June 19, 1865, proclaimed the ending of slavery. Most states recognize it either as a ceremonial observance or a state holiday, but some have yet to legally recognize the holiday at all (such as Hawaii, North Dakota, and South Dakota).

-although it's not an official holiday, Super Sunday is an occasion when many families and friends gather together to watch the game -it's most watched United States originating television program of the year, that's why the Super Bowl commercials are very expensive to broadcast -Super Sunday food is usually served&nbsp;buffet&nbsp;style (buffalo wings, pizza, and&nbsp;potato chips) -it's the second-largest food consumption event in the United States after Thanksgiving

Groundhog Day is considered a holiday that takes place every year on February 2nd.

Some German communities in Pennsylvania believed that if a groundhog saw its shadow on the morning of February 2nd, it would return to its burrow and there would be six more weeks of winter. If a groundhog did not see its shadow, then that was considered a sing that spring would arrive early.

&nbsp;February 2nd already had special significance because it was a feast day, called Candlemas. It was believed that if the weather was clear on February 2nd it was a sign that winter would continue for six more weeks. If the weather was cloudy on that day, they believed it meant that spring would arrive early. The shadow was their way of testing how clear the weather was, so they didn't actually believe that the groundhogs knew what the future weather would be.&nbsp;

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What is Tax Day?

TaxDay is the due date for federal individual income tax returns and tax payments. For most taxpayers–in most years–federal income tax returns must be submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) by April15. This date applies to individuals who file taxes based on a calendar year. If you use a fiscalyear, you must file your taxes by the 15th day after the last day of your fiscal year.

Deadlines for state taxes may be different from federal income tax deadlines. If you are required to file a state income tax return, check with your state tax agency to confirm the due dates. If you need more time to prepare your tax return, you may ask for an extension. This can give you an extra six months to file your taxes, but your tax payment is still due on Tax Day.

𝐋 𝐚 𝐛 𝐨 𝐫 𝐃 𝐚 𝐲

I WANT A DAY OFF!

I am almost fully certain that most of us will be employed by the time we become true grown ups. And at the same time, we most certainly may sometimes wish for a day celebrating our hard work. That is, ladies and gentlemen, the fundamental point of Labor Day!

Labor Day, in the&nbsp;USA and Canada,&nbsp;is a holiday whose main goal is to honour workers and recognize their contributions to society. It is celebrated on the 1st Monday of September, and we can compare it to May Day in other countries.

In the USA,&nbsp;Peter J. McGuire, who had founded the United Brotherhood of Carpenters in 1881, is generally given credit for the idea of Labor Day. In 1882 he suggested to the Central Labor Union of&nbsp;NY&nbsp;that there be a celebration honouring American workers. On September 5th 10,000 workers, under the sponsorship of the&nbsp;Knights of Labor, held a&nbsp;parade&nbsp;in New York City. There was no particular significance to the date - McGuire claimed it was chosen because it fell roughly halfway between the&nbsp;4th of July and Thanksgiving.

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. Across the United States and in other places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine.&nbsp;

In addition to the United States, Valentine’s Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Australia...

A day that is all about respecting your elders

- celebrated in the USA on the 21st of August - importance: honoring those people who have been on this earth longer than we have and showing how much we appreciate them

- first occurred in 1988 - founded by Ronald Reagan officially; the former president of the USA - the promulgation of 5847 was signed on the 19th of August in 1988. - He announced it saying the following:

"For all that, they have achieved throughout their lives and for all that they continue to do, we owe our gratitude and sincere greetings to our senior citizens. We can show our gratitude and appreciation better by making sure our communities are good places. Age and maturity, places where older people can participate as much as possible and find the encouragement, acceptance, support and services they need to continue living a life of independence and dignity." President Ronald Reagan

When a tax filing due date falls on a weekend or a legal holiday, the deadline is moved up to the next business day. The only national legal holiday that would affect Tax Day is Emancipation Day, which is a holiday in Washington, D.C., that recognizes the abolition of slavery in the U.S. and is celebrated on April 16.

Croatia does not have Tax Day and I do not think we should celebrate it.

there are no 'rules' on how to celebrate senior citizens day; all you have to do is be with your seniors so that they have someone to rely on

- volunteer at organizations that help to support those Senior Citizens who are living on their own - stop by local Adult Care Homes to visit those who may have seen their friends and family pass before them - you can reach out to one of your senior family members - sitting down and listening to the stories they have to tell can give you a unique perspective on the world and yourself - watch a movie or enjoy afternoon tea with your seniors - the most important thing is to show gratitude: say thank you to your seniors for all that they have done for the world

In 1840, a man named James Morris wrote about this practice in his diary; this is the earliest reference to looking at groundhogs on February 2nd.

It wasn't until 1886. that it became well known, when a newspaper called the Punxsutawney Spirit in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania wrote about it. A year later, people gathered to watch a groundhog, among them was the editor of the Punxsutawney Spirit, Clymer Freas who is known as the Father of Groundhog Day.

There isn't such a holiday as Groundhog Day in Croatia and I certainly think there shouldn't be one. Making looking at a groundhog and watching if he'll see his shadow looks like a fun tradition but I think it shouldn't be considered a holiday.

fun facts: -groundhogs are also known as woodchucks -Punxsutawney Phil is the official groundhog that makes the prediction in Punxsutawney

Over the years the significance of Labor Day in the United States changed. For many people it became an end-of-summer celebration and a long weekend for family get-togethers. At the same time, it has continued to be celebrated with parades and speeches, as well as political rallies, and the day is sometimes the official kickoff date for national political campaigns.

We can compare it to Međunarodni praznik rada in Croatia, a.k.a. International Workers' Day or May Day. It is usually celebrated on 1st May(in Croatia) or the first Monday of May(in some other countries). It is an ancient festival of spring and a current traditional spring holiday in many European cultures. Dances, singing, and cake are usually part of the festivities.

Magdalena Višević, 2.b

1. Senior Citizens Day 4 2. Tax Day 6 3. Groundhog Day 8 4. Juneteenth 11 5. Sweetest Day 14 6. Saint Patrick's Day 16 7. Halloween 20 8. St Nicholas Day 9.Thanksgiving Day 10. Valentine's Day&nbsp; 11. Labor Day

-it's the day on which the&nbsp;Super Bowl, the&nbsp;National Football League-NFL's annual championship game, is played -since 2004, the game has been played on the first Sunday in February, although in 2022 will be moved to the second Sunday -the 55th annual event happened on February 7, 2021 -it's among the world's most-watched sporting events

-created in 1966 the game was apart of a&nbsp;merger agreement&nbsp;between the NFL and the rival&nbsp;American Football League&nbsp;(AFL) to have their best teams compete for a championship -until 1969 it was called the&nbsp;AFL–NFL World Championship Game

-on Sunday, February 7, 2021 the&nbsp;Kansas City Chiefs&nbsp;took on the&nbsp;Tampa Bay Buccaneers&nbsp;in Tampa, Florida at Raymond James Stadium -Tampa Bay Buccaneers who's most famous player is Tom Brady, have won the championship - Canadian artist The Weeknd performed at the&nbsp;2021 Super Bowl halftime show

In the beginning, people celebrated Juneteenth by playing baseball, fishing, and organizing rodeos. Since African Americans were prohibited from using public facilities, they often celebrated in churches and near water. It was even common for former slaves and their descendants to make a&nbsp;pilgrimage to Galveston, Texas. Today, the holiday is celebrated throughout all of America. There are local celebrations and Juneteenth has become a multicultural holiday. Some of the traditions are: reading the&nbsp;Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs ("Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing"), and reading the works of African American writers.&nbsp;People hold picnics,&nbsp;rodeos, street fairs, cookouts,&nbsp;family reunions, park parties,&nbsp;historical reenactments,&nbsp;blues&nbsp;festivals and Miss Juneteenth contests.

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