Chapter IIIChapter III

Customs and Customs and TraditionsTraditions

•New Year’s Day•Valentine’s Day•Easter•Independence Day•Halloween•Thanksgiving•ChristmasChristmas

New New Year’s Year’s DayDay

1. Date: January 1st

2. Origin

A. The new year has been celebrated since prehistoric times.

B. It has been recognized as a day in which rites were done to  abolish the past so there could be a rejuvenation for the new year.

C. turning over a new leaf

3. The activities on New Year’s Day

A. People usually have a large celebration

the New Year celebrations actually begin with a countdown to the New Year on the evening prior.  It is customary to kiss your sweetheart when the clock strikes midnight as one of the customs of these New Years Eve parties.

B. Some people spend the time of the coming of New Year at a church service.

C. People visit friends, relatives and neighbors, which is called “Open House”.

Valentine’s Valentine’s DayDay

1. Date: February 14th

2. Origin: A. origin of Valentine's day goes bac

k to the Roman Lupercalia, a feast celebrating the God Lupercus. 

B. During that feast, young women would put their names into a box from which young men would draw. 

C. This matchmaking process would then enamor the two youth until the next year. 

D. Associating the matchmaking feast with the martyrdom of Valentine was convenient because the days were almost identical.

God Lupercus

St Valentine Baptizing St Lucilla

3. Activities

A. Sending love notes

People put their love message( Will you be my valentine?) in a heart shaped box of chocolates, or a bunch of flowers tied with red ribbons.

B. People hold a sweethearts’ Ball

C. The symbol is a picture with a Heart and Cupid armed with bow and arrow.

EasterEaster

1. Date: the first Sunday after the full moon in Spring

2. OriginA. The name Easter derives from the

ancient Norse festival of Spring Sun which celebrated the awakening of the new life and the death of the winter.

B. Later, it commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb where he had lain for three days following his Crucifixion.

Crucifixion

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

3. Activities

A. Dyeing eggs

The egg symbolized the tomb from which Christ rose.

B. People have lamb and ham as their main meat on Easter Sunday.

Christian lamb is the symbol of the sacrifice of Christ and pig, the symbol of good luck

IndepeIndependence ndence

DayDay

1. Date: July 4th

2. Origin

A. On July 4th 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence and began the Independence Revolution.

B. Since America was founded, the celebration of their national day has become significant and ceremonious.

3. Activities

A. Parading

B. Official speeches

C. Historical monuments visits

D. Outdoor stage shows

E. Various dancing parties

F. Boat races

G. Evening firework displays

Parade on Independence Day

HallowHalloweeneen

1. Date: October 31st2. Origin A. The name Halloween means

the evening before All Hallows or All Saints Day.

B. The history of the "trick" from "trick or treat" probably relates to Mischief Night.  There was an old belief that ghosts and fairies roamed the roads on Halloween night curdling milk and doing other mischievous things. 

C. The practice of dressing up in costume begging for food goes back to the pagan New Year's feast, the people would dress up in costumes representing the dead to drive the spirits out of town.  There are other explanations of the costumes relating to All Saints Day.

D. Today it is a holiday with no religious significance nor serious evil connotations.  It is rather a holiday of fun and treats for children

ThanksThanksgivinggiving

1. Date: the fourth Thursday of Nov.

2. OriginA. The first Thanksgiving was observed in

1621 by a group English settlers, they celebrated a Thanksgiving for their arrival and bounty in the new land and expressed their thanks to God after their harvest.

B. local native Americans joined in the festivities by bringing additional food and playing games with the settlers.

C. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday in on October 3, 1863.

3. Activities

A. Thanksgiving dinner: roast turkey, squash and corn, pumpkin pie and Indian pudding

B. People go back home to enjoy the reunion of their family.

First Thanksgiving

ChristChristmasmas

1. Date: On December 25th

2. Origin

A. To early Christians, it commemorates the birth of the Christ Child.

B. The Romans celebrated the Birthday of the Unconquerable Son just after the winter solstice.

C. As Romans conquered other parts of Europe and propagated Christianity, they assimilated other local holiday practices into the Christmas celebration.   

D. Today the practices associated with Christmas are likewise a conglomeration of different traditions from many different origins. 

E. In 1836, Alabama officially recognized Christmas as a holiday.  By 1890, all other states had done likewise.   

birth of the Christ Child

3. Activities A. Preparing Christmas long before

the holiday comes (decoration of house and the Christmas tree).

B. Christmas dinnerC. Exchanging giftsD. Receiving toys from Santa ClausE. Hanging a sock near the chimneyF. Singing Christmas CarolsG. Christmas treeH. Sending Christmas Cards

Christmas dinner

Santa Claus

sock

Christmas tree

Christmas Cards

The EndThe End