Holidays
Holidays hold a special place in cultures around the world and each carry their own unique history, shaped by centuries of traditions and beliefs. From religious observances such as Yom Kippur and Ramadan to patriotic celebrations such as July Fourth and Presidents' Day, explore the stories behind the holidays.
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Lent, the 46-day period of prayer and fasting that leads up to Easter, was once a preparatory period for new converts.
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer.
The celebration of Irish culture takes place annually on March 17. Learn about the origins and history of St. Patrick’s Day in this article.
Easter celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Learn about the Christian holiday’s history, meaning and traditions.
Lunar New Year
The Chinese New Year
The 15-day-long Chinese New Year celebration originated from an ancient Chinese legend of the monster Nian.
3 Holy Spring Holidays
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The Fourth of July has been a cause for celebration since 1776.
President Grant called it a “day of reflection and gratitude,” and America hosted its first world’s fair.
Eating red foods and promoting activism on Juneteenth pay tribute to the liberation of America’s formerly enslaved people.
The federal holiday commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States.
Enslaved people in Texas didn’t benefit from the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation until June 1865.
Americans have been honoring their dads since the early 20th century.
Long before church services helped introduce Father’s Day to the American public, Catholics were observing St. Joseph’s Day.
For Muslims, the new year preserves a foundational moment of religious history.
A day dedicated to Old Glory picked up steam in the 19th century.
Many rituals that mourn fallen U.S. soldiers originated in European battlefield customs.
Every May, Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
No one can seem to agree on exactly where Memorial Day began.
At the close of the Civil War, people recently freed from slavery in Charleston honored fallen Union soldiers.
Both holidays honor U.S. military personnel, but they arose for different reasons.
Memorial Day has changed signficantly since the first observance after the Civil War.
