International Conversation Cafe

Lifestyle Topic: Cultural Celebrations & Holidays in Your Country

Every country has a variety of cultural celebrations – some political, some religious, some revolving around famous people, some related to the calendar or cycle of the moon, and some are just sheer tradition.

What are some of the biggest cultural celebrations in your country?

When do you celebrate them? How do you celebrate them and why?

According to the website www.gapyear.com here is a list of the Top 5 Celebrations Around the World:

• Rio Carnival, Brazil. The Rio Carnival is perhaps the biggest and wildest party on Earth. • New Year's Eve in Sydney, Australia. • St Patrick's Day in New York City, USA. • Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, Thailand. • Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.

Have you heard of each of these? Are you surprised that any of them are on the list? Do you think some others may be even bigger?

According to the website www.wonderlist.com here is a list of the Top 10 Most Celebrated Annual Holidays Around the World listed in order of most celebrated worldwide:

#1 New Year #6 Diwali

#2 Christmas #7 Chinese New Year

#3 Eid al-Fitr #8 Easter

#4 Eid al-Adha #9 Basant or Vasanta

#5 Valentine's Day #10 Spring Bank UK

Have you heard of each of these? Are you surprised that any of them are on the list? Or think that others should be listed instead? Before turning the page, what do you think are the biggest holidays in the USA?

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Below is a list of the Top 20 Holidays in the USA. Ten of them are considered federal holidays by the US Government where all government offices and buildings will be closed including banks, post offices, and schools. Many businesses may be closed as well. These federal holidays have an asterisk (*) in front of them. Also, many US holidays may not be celebrated on the actual day but on days that are more convenient. Since most Americans do not work on Saturdays and Sundays some holidays are combined with weekends and celebrated on a Monday instead of the actual day.

Please look over the list and discuss the following questions:

Which of these have you heard of before? Which have you never heard of?

Which of these are also celebrated in your country?

Which ones would you like an American in your group to explain more about?

For those internationals who have been in the USA for a while, which is your favorite and why?

For those internationals who are new to the USA, which ones are you most excited to experience and

celebrate while here in the USA and why?

• *New Year’s Day – January 1 • *Martin Luther King Day –third Monday in January • Valentine’s Day – February 14 • *President’s Day – third Monday in February • St. Patrick’s Day – March 17 • April Fool’s Day – April 1 • Good Friday – the Friday before Easter • Easter – the Sunday following Good Friday (usually in March or April depending on lunar

calendar) • Passover – a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 14th day of the first month of the Jewish calendar • Mother’s Day – second Sunday in May • *Memorial Day -- last Monday in May • Father’s Day – third Sunday in June • *Independence Day – July 4 • *Labor Day – first Monday in September • *Columbus Day – second Monday in October • Halloween – October 31 • *Veteran’s Day – November 11 • *Thanksgiving Day – fourth Thursday in November • *Christmas – December 25 • Kwanzaa – December 26-January 1

Which holiday goes with the pictures below?