February Festivals

St. Paul Winter Carnival. January 23rd — February 3rd, St. Paul Minnesota.

St. Paul is one of the coldest states in the Union (except for Alaska, of course). And one of the coldest weeks often comes at the end of January or the beginning of February. But the people from St. Paul don’t care. That is the week they chose for their big carnival with sled-dog races, parades, ice-fishing contests; and snowmobile races. The carnival is most famous for its ice sculptures. One year an ice sculpture at the carnival was taller than the highest building in the city!

While you are in St. Paul, visit the city of Minneapolis, right next door. Most tourists in Minneapolis visit the Mall of America, the largest shopping mall in the U.S. It has 400 stores and special events going on every day. And it’s all indoors, of course!

St. Paul Winter Carnival, www.wintercarnival.com, www.Mall of America.com

March Festivals

St. Patrick’s Day Parade. March 17th, New York City

St. Patrick’s Day is a big event in New York City. For example, the lights at the top of the Empire State Building in New York City are painted green on this day and a wide green stripe is painted down the middle of 5th Avenue.

New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is 247 years old. In America that is very old. The parade started when New York was still a British colony called New Amsterdam. By American standards that is very old.

Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade still marches up Fifth Ave. every year. The marchers are men and women who serve in the Irish 165th Infantry (originally the Regiment of the 1850s), followed by people who belong to Irish clubs and charity groups in New York City. All, in all, about 150,000 people are in the parade. Over a million people come to watch – even though the parade has no floats, cars, or exhibits.

While you are in New York City, visit the most famous Catholic church in the U.S.-- St. Patrick's. If you want to go for mass on Sunday, the church will probably have enough room, since it can seat about 2,400 people. You may also visit the Irish Arts Center, which presents Irish and Irish-American art, dance, concerts, and plays. www.Irish art center.org

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You may learn more about American culture in Hello! USA, a survival guide on everyday living in the U.S. Look for "Author's Favorites" in the introduction, which tells about "Foods I love" and "Good times I've had" in all parts of the country. This section also includes maps of all the states, major cities and their climates, and the distances between them.

To see the complete Table of Contents and an excerpt, click on the “Books” section on this site; to order, click on the “Order Form” section.

“(Hello! USA) answers every basic thing one must know about how to live, travel, shop, play, and work in the United States.” Mobility Magazine

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Judy Priven is the Founder and President of Hello! America, Inc., which specializes in international relocation publications. Judy is the award-winning author of many books on international relocation and English language skills. For example, the newly revised Hello! USA explains American life and language to international newcomers. StaySafe!!, a 16-page booklet, gives Americans tips on staying safe when traveling internationally. Judy gives seminars on everyday living in the U.S. to international students, corporate employees, and both foreign and returning American diplomats.

© Hello! America, Inc. 2008

Last updated January 29, 2008