1. Holidays March 10, 2014

2. Thanksgiving - fourth Thursday of November → November 28th this year - day of giving thanks for the blessings of the year - began with the Pilgrims, who had a feast to celebrate the blessings of food and give thanks

3. Thanksgiving Traditions - FOOD, mostly turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pie for dessert! - spend time with family and friends - talk about what each person is thankful for

4. Christmas - December 25th every year - commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, a Christian holiday - families decorate with green and red - christmas trees - Santa and his reindeer bring presents!!!

6. Hanukkah - eight days and nights in December, exact timing determined by Hebrew calendar - lighting a menorah to commemorate the miracle of light burning for eight days

7. New Year’s Eve - the calendar year ends on December 31st and the new year begins the next day on January 1st - New Year’s Eve is celebrated nationwide to emphasize the idea of starting fresh - people make resolutions for the coming year

10. Easter • Christian feast holiday • Sunday in late April • Commemorates Jesus rising after being crucified, marking the end of the Passion of Christ • Involves Easter egg hunts and candy

11. The Fourth of July • The anniversary of the day the United States gained independence from their colonizer, Great Britain • Very patriotic holiday, usually celebrated with parades, fireworks, and a lot of red, white, and blue (our nation’s colors)

13. Your Holidays • What are major holidays for you? • Do you celebrate the equivalent of independence day, in Pakistan’s case the day the nation was created in 1947?

14. Homework Draw a picture of your favorite holiday!