| Festivals & Events
Las Posadas
America, December
The Christmas Holiday, Las Posadas, Navidad and Dia
de Tres Magos in Latin American culture is a season
of spiritual renewal,
gathering of family and friends, and colorful fiestas,
including delicious foods and libation.
There are variances in religious rituals according to
the influence of each country's indigenous
Indians, but all share a strong Latin heritage dating
from the arrival of Roman Catholicism to the
American Continent over four hundred years ago.
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Mardi Gras
United States, February
Every year New Orleans celebrates Mardi Gras, attracting
visitors from all over the USA and abroad. There
are parades, dancing in the streets and revellers in masks
and costumes all in a spirit of wild abandon. |
Hallowe'en
United States, October 31
Another holiday celebrated in the USA is Halloween. Children
dress up in, often, ghoulish costumes, as witches, devils
and ghosts and tour the neighbourhood, usually in groups,
knocking on the doors of nearby houses and saying 'trick
or treat'. The owner of the house is then obliged to give
the children some sort of 'treat', usually food or sweets.
Failure to comply can result in the 'trick'. The night
before Halloween is known as Mischief Night, when children
roam their neighbourhoods making a nuisance of themselves
with pranks such as ringing doorbells and running away
or spreading toilet paper along fences and telephone poles.
Both of these nights are somewhat unpopular with adults,
but children have a great time and the
tradition is probably too engrained in American tradition
to be discontinued. |
The 4th of July
United States, 4th of July
In honour of America's victory against the British in
the Revolutionary War, this holiday is celebrated throughout
the country with spectacular fireworks displays. American
fireworks are among the best in the world and some of
the most dazzling shows take place over lakes, rivers
or on the coast, where the sky is lit up without any architectural
obstacles and the light is reflected from the water. |
Thanksgiving
United States, Nov 25 1999.
Thanksgiving takes place on the last Thursday of November
(Nov 26 in 1998, Nov 25 in 1999). It is a festival celebrated
with close family and friends. Blessings are shared and
prayers of thanks are said over a meal of roast turkey,
bread stuffing, roast potatoes and yams. This holiday
originated in the first year after the Pilgrim Fathers
arrived in the New World as a feast to thank the American
Indians for their aid and advice in helping the immigrants
come to grips with a new land. |
Christmas
United States, 25th December
The Americans celebrate Christmas in a big way, both religiously
and as consumers. Northern
regions have the added bonus of wintery weather and snowfall,
and a 'White Christmas' (a fairly common event in the
New England area and other northern States) always adds
to the atmosphere. |
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