February Holidays

Valentine’s Day

On Valentine’s Day, you may send cards and gifts to people you love -- especially your husband, wife, or sweetheart (person you are dating). It is not a legal holiday. All government offices, banks, and private businesses are open.

when: Feb. 14th

how celebrated: Valentine’s Day is for the young -- or the young at heart (see “Popular Expressions” below). Many children give valentine cards to their friends, teachers, and parents; the cards usually have red hearts and love poems. Husbands and wives and young people in love often give each other gifts such as candy, jewelry, or flowers; they may go out for dinner or to a concert after work.

Some signs of love you may notice on Valentine’s Day are: love messages sweethearts send each other in the newspaper; romantic music on radio stations; or decorations with red hearts in shop windows. Many couples get engaged to marry on this day.

background: Valentine’s Day is named for two Christian saints named Valentine; people honored them with feasts on February 14th. The saints had nothing to do with love. But people mixed up Valentine’s Day with February 15th -- an old feast day honoring Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage. Much later, in Medieval days, people believed that birds mated on February 14th. Valentine’s Day became a popular U.S. holiday in the 1800s.

Presidents' Day

Presidents’ Day honors two American presidents -- George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln’s birthday comes on February 12th. George Washington’s birthday comes on February 18th. But we celebrate both birthdays together on one day.

Presidents’ Day is a legal holiday. Government offices, schools, and banks are closed. But most businesses are open.

when: the third Monday of the month. This year President’s Day comes on Monday, February 20th.

how celebrated: Presidents’ Day is a good day for shopping because many stores have special sales.

background: George Washington (1732-1799) was the general in charge of the American army in the Revolutionary War. After the war, many Americans wanted Washington to become the king of the new country. But Washington refused; he wanted the country to elect its own leaders. So the Americans elected him the first president of the United States. Today, our Constitution states that the United States government may not give any person or group of people a “title of nobility” such as king or queen.

You may visit Washington’s home in Mt. Vernon, Virginia, near Washington, DC. Mt. Vernon shows a typical plantation, or southern farm, of the time. Many families and slaves lived on plantations in the South until after the Civil War. At Mt. Vernon you can see cabins that look like the slaves' homes. You can also watch movies and see interesting exhibits (like George Washington's teeth) in a museum; the museum is good for children 8 years and older.

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was President during the Civil War, or the War between the North and South. Blacks, or African-Americans, remember Lincoln because he freed the slaves during the War. After the War, Lincoln argued that the North should forgive the South. But many Northerners did not agree.

An actor named John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln just as the war was ending. Lincoln died the next day; his dreams of bringing the North and South together did not come true for more than 100 years.

You may still visit Lincoln’s home and law offices in Springfield, Illinois. Lincoln grew up in a log cabin, or simple wooden home. If you visit Springfield, you will understand more about life in the West during the middle of the nineteenth century. The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC has a huge statue of this president; you may read many of his most famous words on the walls.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. The story of African-Americans is an important part of American history. The purpose of Black History month is to help all Americans learn more about African-American leaders and how they helped our country grow.

Black History Month started in 1976. The month of February was chosen because two important birthdays come in this month. First is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln (see above); many African Americans call Lincoln the “father of liberty” because he freed the slaves during the Civil War.

Frederick Douglass’ birthday also comes in February. Douglass was an African-American who was born a slave; after he became free, he traveled around the country speaking out against slavery. Leaders like Douglass convinced many Americans that slavery was wrong and helped to start the Civil War in 1861.

-----------------------

You may learn more about American holidays in Hello! USA, a survival guide on everyday living in the U.S. The "American Holidays" chapter includes religious holidays for Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Also included are cultural holidays such as Chinese New Year, Martin Luther King Day, St. Patrick's Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

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

-----------------------

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