1.5 Cultural Celebrations

Families and communities celebrate many different holidays and special traditions. These celebrations help people remember important people or events, and are part of a cultural heritage.

What helps people remember important people or events, and are part of a cultural heritage?

• celebrations

• going to work

• going to school

• culture

Traditions can include eating a certain food, such as turkey on Thanksgiving. Other traditions include certain activities, such as watching fireworks on Independence Day. On some holidays, there is a tradition to wear a certain color. On St. Patrick's Day, many people wear the color green.

Traditions include _____

• going to school each day

• eating a certain food, certain activities, or wearing a certain color

• wearing red all day

• staying at home

Some celebrations honor people. Martin Luther King Jr. was an important leader. He worked to get African Americans the same civil rights as other Americans. He wanted to bring about change peacefully, without force. People celebrate his life on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national holiday in January. Many schools and offices close. It is a day for service to others. People have also created statues to honor King.

Who wanted the same civil rights for African Americans and wanted to bring about change peacefully without force?

• Mohandas Gandhi

• Martin Luther King Jr.

• George Washington

• Barack Obama

King followed the ideas of Mohandas Gandhi from India. Gandhi believed that people should not use violence. He worked for change in his home country of India. He used peaceful ways and did not harm people. People in India celebrate Gandhi's birthday on October 2. On that day, people do not go to school or work. Instead, families do special works of service for others.

Who worked for change in his home country of India and used peaceful ways and did not harm people?

• Mohandas Gandhi

• Martin Luther King Jr.

• George Washington

• Pocahontas

Around the world people celebrate their freedom in different ways. People in the United States celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July. Many Americans celebrate this holiday with their family and their friends. They hold parades, fly flags, picnic, and watch fireworks.

Many symbols and landmarks of the United States are part of Independence Day celebrations. A landmark is a building or other structure that is important to a culture. People gather at landmarks such as the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.

What is an example of a landmark of freedom in the United States?

• raising a flag in India

• the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

• playing in the park

• riding a roller-coaster

In India, people celebrate their independence from British rule on August 15. People fly colorful kites and watch the raising of the Indian flag. The prime minister, or government leader, of India speaks about India's accomplishments each year.

On May 5, people in both Mexico and the United States celebrate Mexico's victory against French troops. The victory was a step forward on Mexico's path to freedom. This holiday is called Cinco de Mayo, which means “Fifth of May.” On Cinco de Mayo, people typically watch parades, listen to music, and do or watch dances.

What holiday celebrates Mexico's victory against French Troops?

• 16 de septiembre

• Thanksgiving

• Christmas

• Cinco de Mayo

Ethnic celebrations celebrate cultures. They celebrate important events and traditions. Juneteenth is an ethnic celebration. It celebrates an important event. June 19, 1865, is the day that African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned that slavery had ended. It was a day of great joy. Today, Juneteenth is a holiday in 29 states. Communities celebrate with parades, music, and speeches. Families celebrate with reunions and picnics.

What is an example of an ethnic celebration?

• Cinco de Mayo

• Independence Day

• Juneteenth

• Constitution day

People in many different cultures celebrate a large harvest. A harvest is the crops gathered at the end of the growing season. In the United States, festivals to celebrate corn harvests, cranberry harvests, and even strawberry harvests are part of the cultural heritage of some communities.

What types of harvest festivals do we celebrate in the United States?

• banana harvest

• corn harvest, cranberry harvest, and strawberry harvest

• rice harvest

• turkey harvest

Some holidays began as harvest celebrations but are now celebrated for other reasons. The first Thanksgiving was a harvest celebration. Settlers from England called Pilgrims gathered with American Indians to celebrate their harvest and to give thanks. Today, Thanksgiving is in November. Families and friends gather to eat a special meal and celebrate what they are thankful for.

What US holiday began as a harvest celebration and is now celebrated for other reasons?

• Thanksgiving

• New Years Day

• Easter

• Valentines Day

Kwanzaa is a celebration that was based on a harvest festival held in some countries in Africa. In the United States and in some countries in Central America, African Americans celebrate Kwanzaa to honor important values.

What holiday is celebrated in some countries in Central American and in the United States by African Americans to honor important values?

• Thanksgiving

• Kwanzaa

• Cinco de Mayo

• St. Patrick's Day