The USA has eleven national holidays. On these days, many people do not work and many schools are closed. Click a holiday. Learn: When is it? What do people do?
July 4
Independence Day
“Let’s watch the fireworks!”
The USA has a birthday. People have a barbecue and watch fireworks.
Learn moreNovember
Thanksgiving
“Thank you for the food!”
Families eat a big dinner. They eat turkey and pumpkin pie.
Learn moreDecember 25
Christmas Day
“Look at the tree!”
Families have a tree and gifts. They eat dinner together.
Learn moreHow to work with this page: look at the calendar, use the date calculator, learn the words and do the exercises.
Erklärungen auf Deutsch findest du in den gelben Kästen „Auf Deutsch“ und bei jedem Feiertag unter „Kurz erklärt“.
There are eleven national holidays in the USA. The government calls them “federal holidays”. On these days, government offices, banks and many schools are closed. Each state can also have its own holidays.
Auf Deutsch
In den USA gibt es elf gesetzliche Feiertage des Bundes („federal holidays“, auch „national holidays“ genannt). An diesen Tagen sind Bundesbehörden, Banken und viele Schulen geschlossen. Jeder Bundesstaat kann zusätzlich eigene Feiertage festlegen. Ob Angestellte in privaten Firmen frei haben, entscheidet der Arbeitgeber. Deshalb haben nicht alle Menschen an allen Tagen frei.
Klicke im Kalender auf einen Feiertag. Unter „Kurz erklärt“ steht eine Erklärung auf Deutsch.
These days are very popular, but they are not national holidays. Shops and schools are open.
February 14
People give cards and flowers to people they love.
March or April (the date changes)
Families look for eggs. Children get chocolate.
2nd Sunday in May
Children say thank you to their mothers.
3rd Sunday in June
Children say thank you to their fathers.
October 31
Children wear costumes. They say “Trick or treat!” and get sweets.
Some holidays are on the same date every year. Other holidays are on a Monday or a Thursday, so the date changes every year.
Numbers for dates: 1st = first, 2nd = second, 3rd = third, 4th = fourth. “Last” means the last one in the month.
Auf Deutsch
Choose a year. Then look at the dates and the days of the week.
| Holiday | Rule | Date |
|---|
If a holiday is on a Saturday or a Sunday, government workers often get a day off on the Friday or on the Monday.
Some holidays are the same in the USA and in Germany. Some are different. Look at the table.
| Idea | In the USA | In Germany |
|---|---|---|
| The new year | New Year’s Day, January 1 | Neujahr, January 1 |
| Christmas | Christmas Day, December 25 | December 25 and December 26 |
| Our country’s day | Independence Day, July 4 | Day of German Unity, October 3 |
| Workers | Labor Day, the 1st Monday in September | Tag der Arbeit, May 1 |
| Saying thank you | Thanksgiving, the 4th Thursday in November | There is no national holiday for this. |
Auf Deutsch
Learn these words. Cover the German words and test yourself.
| English | Deutsch | Example |
|---|
Do the exercises in any order. You get help after every answer. Nothing is saved.
Read the clue. Choose the holiday.
Choose the right answer.
Is the sentence true or false?
Where is it a national holiday?
Use the arrows. Start with the first holiday in the year. Then click “Check”.
Early in the year
Late in the year
Choose the right word in every gap. Then click “Check”.
Click “New question”. Ask your partner. Then change roles.
Click “New question”.