Holiday in America

1. Introduction
　 I visited Minnesota this summer and I heard about five holidays in America from my host family. The reason why I chose this theme is some holidays in America are different from Japanese ones. In advance I examined holidays in America on the Internet in Japan. I could know the origins of the holidays. However, I still didn’t know about holidays in America. When I really heard about them from my host family, I could know a lot of things I had never known. My host family gave some pictures of holidays. I saw them and I could feel an enjoyable atmosphere.

2. Holiday in America
There are five holidays.
(1) Easter
The date of Easter is different every year. People celebrate Easter between in March 22nd and April 25th. Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Before Easter, people make hard boiled eggs. Then, they color them. Easter eggs are usually full of candies. Easter eggs symbolize the beginning of life. My host family usually meet their family because they are not Christian. However, generally people banquet and celebrate Easter with their family. An Easter bunny comes at night. He hides eggs filled with candies in the house. He also leaves an Easter basket filled with sweets and small toys. Children also play games that are called Easter hunt and Egg roll. Easter hunt is a game that children look for hard boiled eggs, and Egg roll is a game that children roll over eggs without breaking the eggs. Egg roll event is held in the White house every year, too.

(2) The 4th of July
The July 4th is an Independent Day of America. Fire works and parades are held all over the U.S. On July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Typical foods are ribs and baked potatoes. During the day, my host family enjoy BBQ. Then, to see the fire works, they find an open space to sit on the blanket and wait. When it gets dark, the fire works in the sky. It is very noisy. Towards the end, the fire works come faster and bigger. The best fire works in Minnesota are in Hockensack.

(3) Halloween
Halloween is celebrated on October 31st. Most children dress up costumes and ring door bell and say “trick or treat” and get candies. People make or buy their children a costume for Halloween. The children will wear only once. It is sometimes very cold in Minnesota. So, the costume must be very big to fit over a winter jacket. But sometimes it is very warm. So, the costume should not be too warm. Planning costume is very difficult because weather is uncertainty. Then, children go to school, but most school will not allow children to ware their costume because other children are afraid. At five o’clock, the children go from door to door trick or treat with their parents. The neighbors love to see all the children in their very difficult costumes. Some children like to be scary, some like to be creative. Most parents stay home and children arrive at their house. My host children went to about 30 houses last year. They give candy to the “trick or treat”. In the old days, parents tricked the children or they gave candy to the children. But, now they only give candy.

(4) Thanksgiving
The American Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. Thanksgiving is a peculiarly America and Canada holiday. It is called Turkey Day. A long time ago, Puritans of the United Kingdom drifted to America after a grueling. Then, they were help from Indians. Thanksgiving originates from that they cooked crops, and they gave thanks for God's help with Indians next year. Typical foods are turkey, mashed potato, gravy, yams, beans and stuffing and more. Desserts are pumpkin pie, apple pie and other sweets. People get together with their family or relative and share daily thanks with them.

(5) Christmas
My host family decorates the whole house. They also decorated the Christmas tree with lights ornaments and garland. There are presents under the tree. Children receive presents from everyone and Santa Claus. Put up a wreath. In Christmas morning, the children run down stairs to see what Santa left. Santa’s presents are usually bigger and better. On Christmas Eve, you leave a plate of cookies and a glass of milk for Santa and carrots for reindeer. During the nights, Santa leave presents fills stocking and eats cookies. Santa comes down the chimney. Santa comes and has a big sack with more presents for each child sits on Santa’s lap and receives another present in Christmas day.　For many people, Christmas is religious. Christmas celebrates Jesus Christ’s birthday. It is irrelevant to my host family because they are not Christians. But, for their family, it is important time because it is a day that my host parents and their relatives give their children many presents. Their children also love to see Santa and my host parents feel the excitement of children.

3. Conclusion
Every holiday seems very fun. My host family likes holiday so much. I heard it from my host family that it was Halloween in America the other day and a lot of fun. It really is the holiday my host family likes most. My host children were both Star Wars people. There are a lot of holidays in America and most American people spend Holidays with their family. I thought American people cherish time to spend with their families and holidays are important days dedicated to time with family. America also has culture of thanks by Thanksgivings. It is very important for us to express feeling of grateful. We can feel family warmth by holiday. Holidays are very important days.

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