Holidays: History of Federal Holidays (Video)

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.

A boy holds the front legs of a goat at a livestock market in Yemen's capital Sanaa on July 14, 2021, as people buy provisions in preparation for the Eid al-Adha holiday celebrations. - Known as the "big" festival, Eid Al-Adha is celebrated each year by Muslims sacrificing various animals according to religious traditions, including cows, camels, goats and sheep.

Eid al-Adha

When Is Eid al-Adha 2023? In the United States, Eid al-Adha 2023 is predicted to begin on the evening of June 28 (depending on sightings of the moon), and will end with the culmination of the Hajj a few days later. The Story of Eid al-Adha In the Quran, Ibrahim has a dream in which […]

Eid al-Fitr

The religious festival Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world. In the United States, Eid al-Fitr 2023 begins on the evening of Thursday, April 20 and ends on the evening of Friday, April 21. Also known as the “Lesser Eid,” Eid al-Fitr commemorates […]

1:19 minTV-PG

Women’s History Month

Celebrate the progress and accomplishments of American women with this look at trailblazers throughout history. Are you next?

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1:48 minTV-PG

Flashback: Independence Day 1941

As World War II raged in Europe and North Africa, the United States celebrated its Independence Day in July 1941. It was looking increasingly likely that the U.S. would enter the war, and President Franklin Roosevelt delivered an address that equivocated America’s own struggle for freedom in the 1700s with the struggle faced by her […]

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1:24 minTV-PG

Flashback: Memorial Day – 1936

In the shadow of Hitler’s rise to power, Americans observe Memorial Day in 1936 with a sense that another worldwide conflict might be on the horizon. General John Pershing, who led America’s forces during WWI, argues that peace should be sought at any cost.

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Samhain

Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. In modern times, Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is usually celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.”

Imbolc

Origins of Imbolc The celebration of Imbolc dates back to the pre-Christian era in the British Isles. The earliest mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature were found in the 10th century. Poetry from that time relates the holiday to ewe’s milk, with the implication of purification. It’s been speculated that this ritual stems from the […]

1:55 minTV-PG

Flashback: Easter 1941

1941’s Easter celebrations would be the last before the United States officially entered WWII. It was a time to celebrate peace, even under the specter of global war. This episode of Flashback takes a look at how the U.S. celebrated Easter during a time of conflict.

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4:02 minTV-PG

Veterans Day

Father Emil Kapaun gave his life during the Korean War, but his selfless faith saved and inspired his fellow soldiers. President Obama recognized the Army chaplain with the Medal of Honor in 2013.

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Elston May FestivalA general view on the village green during the Maypole dancing, a feature of the Elston May festival, Bedfordshire, England on May 5, 1955. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

May Day

Origins of May Day: Beltane The Celts of the British Isles believed May 1 to be the most important day of the year, when the festival of Beltane was held. This May Day festival was thought to divide the year in half, between the light and the dark. Symbolic fire was one of the main […]

CANADA - MAY 07: Arbor Day in Mississauga. Mayor Martin Dobkin plants a sunburst loust tree in front of city hall yesterday to inaugurate Arbor Day in Mississauga. Ceremony was just one of many throughout Peel and Halton Regions. Council members watched mayor's efforts. (Photo by Frank Calleja/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

History of Arbor Day

What Is Arbor Day? The origins of Arbor Day date back to the early 1870s in Nebraska City, . A journalist by the name of Julius Sterling Morton moved to the state with his wife, Caroline, in 1854, a little more than 10 years before Nebraska gained its statehood in 1867. The couple purchased 160 […]