Holiday Lesson Plans
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- Earth Calendar- The Earth Calendar is an online calendar of holidays and festivals around the world, today, and every day!
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- Holidays on the Net- "Holidays on the Net is a beautifully done collection of multimedia holiday celebrations...More than just works of art, though, each holiday celebration also offers a wealth of information about the holiday, including its history and holiday-related activities."
What Holidays Are Celebrated in American Schools?
Who doesn't love the holiday season, right? They are more than days you get to relax. The real reason is that we can take a day off from our busy lives to sit down and think about why they are celebrated.
Every holiday in the world, be it religious, national, or commemorative in nature, always has a story behind it. When you sit and dig the story up, you will always find yourself wiser than you were before. If we stop celebrating and observing them, traditions will slowly fade away, and we will not have days to rejoice as a collective group of people or society.
Reasons Why Celebrating is Important
Traditions give us a sense of belonging and allow us to express what matters to us. Celebrating these traditions is a way of staying connected with and remembering our history.
Explaining holidays to kids is essential for students as they build a sense of stability in them. There is no denying that everyday life can be stressful, which makes it all the more important to celebrate special moments in the year that give people a sense of control and structure. They help to refresh and rejuvenate students' minds, allowing them to take a break from all the stress that comes with studies.
Here are some reasons why they should be observed and celebrated regularly.
1. People Tend to Be More Charitable
It is common for people to donate and be more charitable during holiday seasons. For example, donating things like toys, clothes, and even money to needy families so that they can also celebrate these events as well. Research suggests that people tend to give more during holidays due to empathetic reasons as it helps them feel more connected and allows them to give back to society.
2. Helps People to Connect and Bond
The best thing about these traditions is that it gives people a chance to reconnect and even fix their quarrels. It is a great time to forgive and forget. Owing to the busy schedules and poor work-life balance, families rarely get the chance to connect. People get so caught up in their work that they rarely get a chance just to slow down and relax. They are the perfect opportunity to let your loved ones know how much you mean to them.
People often take out their best cutlery and crockery to host the best dinners to celebrate holiday occasions. Family and communal meals are a great way to connect and share happy memories of the past. These small celebration helps to strengthen our bond and helps bring generations closer together; including immediate Family, extended family, and friends.
3. Helps Remember Things to be Thankful for
Holidays give people an opportunity to remember, acknowledge and be grateful for the things they are blessed with. As you get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, you at times overlook all the good things around you, all the things you have achieved, and how far you have come. During the celebrations, stepping away from busy schedules helps you appreciate everything around you. Being grateful and expressing that gratitude will take you a long way, helping you achieve inner peace and satisfaction.
4. Traditions Build Identity
During the holiday seasons, you share some similar traditions with your family every year. Each family has their unique way of celebrating, which becomes a part of who they are and how they like remember these events. When children grow up and start their own families, they carry on those traditions and festivities with them by merging the traditions and passing them on to their generations.
5. Bring a Sense of Stability
The consistent nature of holidays brings a sense of stability among communities and families. Every year, all the family members contribute and participate in family and communal traditions. You may share treats with your neighbors or invite them over for dinner. Regardless of where you are in the world and how much you have evolved, these celebrations and traditions remain the same. They will help you stay connected with them, even if you are far away from your family and friends.
Here are some of the most commonly celebrated holidays in American Schools.
1. Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. On this day, families gather together at the dinner table with delicious food and are thankful for all they have.
2. Christmas Break
Christmas is the most favorite time of the year for most students. It is celebrated on the 25th of December with family and friends. It is a nationwide holiday where people decorate Christmas trees and share gifts.
3. Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is known to be the most romantic holiday of the year. It is celebrated on the 14th of February, and it is a day to let someone you love know how special you are to them by giving them gifts, cards, chocolates, etc.
4. Easter
Easter is celebrated on Easter Sunday (the dates vary according to the Equinox). People celebrate it by panting Easter eggs and sharing chocolates that come in the shape of eggs and bunny rabbits which is why children have a great time celebrating it at school.
5. Halloween
Halloween is celebrated on the October 31 every year. People dress up in spooky costumes and prepare pumpkin-flavored treats. Kids enjoy ‘trick or treat' the most during Halloween.
6. Independence Day
Independence Day is celebrated on the July 4th. It marks the celebration of the United States' independence from the British in 1776. People celebrate with parades, fireworks, and dressing in the colors of the national flag.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, National Holidays are our heritage because they commemorate essential milestones in our glorious past. Progress is made every day for the glory of our nation, and these are the days we get to celebrate a part of our history.
We set aside a day every now and then to remember how we got to where we are. We remember those we are to thank for our progress, and we gain inspiration to do our part for the same in the future.