Holidays are days that are set aside from routine activities to honor or recall important occasions or people. The incidents typically have a societal, religious, or political component. While some holidays are observed worldwide, others are unique to particular populations, such as nations or religious organizations.
Religious holidays like Christmas, Easter, and Eid al-Fitr are among the holidays that France and America share. To commemorate the advent of Jesus Christ, Christmas is celebrated in both nations on December 25. The Easter weekend is another Christian holiday commemorating the death and resurrection of Jesus which is observed within a week after the sighting of the full moon in late March to April. Eid al-Fitr is a Muslim holiday to celebrate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan (Abbasi). It is based on the observation of the new moon and therefore does not have a fixed date.
Both the United States and France observe holidays that are not celebrated by the other nation. These are mainly political or cultural holidays. Holidays that are marked only in America include Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day (Department of State US Embassy and Consulate in France). Holidays that are celebrated in France but not in the US include WWII Victory Day on the 8th of May which celebrates the official end of World War II and Bastille Day on the 14th of July which marks the storming Bastille in the 18th century and is similar to Independence Day in the USA (Engineer and Mullin). There also holidays celebrated on different days in the two countries such as Labor Day celebrated on the 1st of May in France and on the first Monday in September in America.
Holidays are essential for us to celebrate events that are pivotal in our national and religious history. They help us appreciate our national heroes and celebrate with people who have similar beliefs.
Works Cited
Abbasi, Wassim. "When is Eid al-Fitr, and why do Muslims Celebrate It?" 23 June 2017. USA Today. 1 December 2017.
Department of State US Embassy and Consulate in France. "Holiday Calender." n.d. United States of America, Department of State US Embassy and Consulate in France. https://fr.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ . 1 December 2017.
Engineer, Cyrus and Gemma Mullin. "When is Bastille Day, what does it mark and why is it such a huge celebration in France?" 14 July 2017. The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3939509/bastille-day-2017-france-celebration-today-google-doodle/ . 1 December 2017.
