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Understanding why we celebrate national holidays and how they connect us to history.
Have you ever wondered why we have special days where schools close and everyone celebrates at the same time? It is because our whole country is having one big party to remember our history!
A national holiday is a special day that the whole country celebrates together. These days are like a giant bridge that connects us to people who lived a long time ago. We use these days to remember important people, big events, or to say 'thank you' for our country. Because everyone in the community celebrates at the same time, it helps us feel like we belong to one big family. Some holidays happen on the same date every year, like Independence Day on .
Quick Check
What is a national holiday?
Answer
A special day that the whole country celebrates together to remember history or important events.
One of our oldest holidays is Thanksgiving. It started hundreds of years ago in the year . The Pilgrims, who were new to the land, and the Wampanoag people, who had lived there for a very long time, came together. They shared a giant feast to celebrate the autumn harvest. Today, we celebrate Thanksgiving on the Thursday of November. We eat special foods like turkey and pumpkin pie to remember how important it is to be kind and share with our neighbors.
Let's look at how a family celebrates Thanksgiving: 1. They invite friends and neighbors to their house. 2. Everyone says one thing they are thankful for. 3. They eat a big meal together to remember the first harvest feast of .
Quick Check
Who shared the first Thanksgiving meal together?
Answer
The Wampanoag people and the Pilgrims.
Every year on , we celebrate Independence Day. This is the birthday of the United States! A long time ago, our country decided to become its own nation. To celebrate, communities across the land hold parades, play loud music, and watch bright fireworks in the sky. We wear red, white, and blue because those are the colors of our flag. It is a day to feel proud of our home and the freedom we share.
Imagine your town is planning an Independence Day parade. To make it a success, the community must: 1. Choose a path for the parade to walk through the town. 2. Decorate bikes and wagons with red, white, and blue ribbons. 3. Gather at the park to listen to patriotic music and watch the of July fireworks.
Even though holidays have different stories, the way we celebrate them is often the same. We use traditions, which are special things we do every year. Communities might put up decorations, cook special recipes, or hold large festivals. These activities bring people together. When we celebrate a national holiday, we aren't just having fun—we are keeping our history alive for the next generation!
Think about the differences and similarities between our two holidays: 1. Thanksgiving is about being thankful and happened in the year . 2. Independence Day is the country's birthday on . 3. Both holidays bring the community together to eat, talk, and remember our history.
Which holiday is known as the birthday of the United States?
What is a common way communities celebrate Independence Day?
Thanksgiving is a holiday where we remember to be thankful and share with others.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to remember the names of the two holidays we learned about and one reason why we celebrate each one.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of your favorite holiday tradition. Are there fireworks? Is there a big turkey? Show how your community celebrates!