Inglês para Iniciantes - American Holidays. Part II

Halloween ( Dia das Bruxas)

When: October 31

Traditions: Children asking for candy in the neighborhood, with costumes of monsters, witches and ghosts. Watching horror movies.

Simbol: Scary pumpkins and decoration. "Trick or Treating"

Food: Pumpking pie, candy apple, bloody finger hot dogs, brain cupcakes and more ( Be criative! )

Legend: According with http://www.halloween-website.com : "

While there are many versions of the origins and old customs of Halloween, some remain consistent by all accounts. Different cultures view Halloween somewhat differently but traditional Halloween practices remain the same.

Halloween culture can be traced back to the Druids, a Celtic culture in Ireland, Britain and Northern Europe. Roots lay in the feast of Samhain, which was annually on October 31st to honor the dead.

Samhain signifies "summers end" or November. Samhain was a harvest festival with huge sacred bonfires, marking the end of the Celtic year and beginning of a new one. Many of the practices involved in this celebration were fed on superstition.

The Celts believed the souls of the dead roamed the streets and villages at night. Since not all spirits were thought to be friendly, gifts and treats were left out to pacify the evil and ensure next years crops would be plentiful. This custom evolved into trick-or-treating"

Martin Luther King Day

When: Third Monday of January

Traditions: Parades around the 50 states, about civic laws, especially for the black people.

Simbol: The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., an African-American clergyman, is considered a great American because of his tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means.

Memorial Day

When: Fourth Monday of May

Tradition: Visiting cemeteries and memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.

Simbol: Civil War

Histoy: Memorial Day, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But after the World War I the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

Valentine's Day ( Dia de São Valentim ou Dia dos Namorados)

When: February 14

Tradition: American give presents, candy or flower to the ones they love

Simbol: Cupid

History: St. Valentine has a priest, and defied the emperor’s orders and secretly married couples to spare the husbands from war. It is for this reason that his feast day is associated with love.