Observances & Traditions
From religious and patriotic holidays to celebrations of ethnic pride, explore the history of Easter, New Year's Day, Veterans Day and more annual observances, plus traditions and rituals that take place all year long.
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Native American Heritage Month is a federal observance held each November to honor American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The idea dates back to 1895—and has been controversial ever since.
The Veterans Day holiday honors military veterans on November 11.
The winter solstice is the day of the year with the fewest hours of daylight. Humans may have celebrated the winter solstice as far back as the Stone Age.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year in San Francisco
New Year's celebrations in China are thousands of years old, but across the Pacific, the holiday took on a life of its own.
3 Holidays Honoring U.S. Military Personnel
Armed Forces Day
Celebrated annually on the third Saturday in May, Armed Forces Day thanks those currently serving in the military for their service. It was created in 1949 by then-Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson to replace separate Army, Navy and Air Force Days.
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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.
The Remembrance Day symbolism of the poppy started with a poem written by a World War I brigade surgeon who was struck by the sight of the red flowers growing on a ravaged battlefield.
The Fourth of July has been a cause for celebration since 1776.
The spring holiday recognizes active and former U.S. military members.
Celebrated since the early 20th century, Father’s Day wasn’t a national holiday until 1972.
Carnations have been the official flower of Mother’s Day for more than 100 years.
Ann Reeves Jarvis and Julia Ward Howe, two early advocates for Mother’s Day, urged communities to gather in peace.
The date of Mother’s Day hasn’t changed since the holiday began in 1914.
Mother’s Day has been held every May in the United States since the early 20th century.
