On My Own Holidays

On January 20, 1986, church bells rang in New York City, world leaders gathered in Atlanta, and thousands paraded in Chicago. It was the first annual celebration of a new national holiday. People all over the United States were remembering Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who dreamed of peace, equality, and freedom for all people.

Easter is celebrated in many different ways around the world. In Sweden, children dress up as Easter witches and go door to door, hoping for candy. Egyptian children have egg-rolling contests. Russian children play an egg-tapping game. And in Colombia, Easter is a time for donkey beauty pageants. Take a trip around the world to see how this very special holiday is celebrated.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year to remind people about the dangers of pollution. Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day in 1970. On that day, people marched, planted trees, and picked up litter. With small tasks young readers can do to help, Earth Day presents a hopeful look at the future of the planet.

When the Pilgrims landed near Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620 they were unprepared for the challenges they would face. Many Pilgrims died until Squanto, a Patuxet Indian, taught them how to survive. To give thanks for a good year, the Pilgrims threw a huge feast, later called Thanksgiving.

Veteran's Day is a day set aside to thank the men and women who risk their lives protecting America. Each year on November 11, we celebrate what they have done for our country. Learn more about the history of this important holiday, such as why it is on November 11 and what Americans do to celebrate.

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting to engage reluctant readers! June 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.

Between Christmas and New Year's Day, many people throughout the United States celebrate another holiday, Kwanzaa. A joyous celebration of African American culture, Kwanzaa was created as a way for African American families to come together to remember and rejoice in their rich heritage. Author A. P. Porter describes how the holiday got its start and how it is celebrated, and also gives an explanation of each of Kwanzaa's seven principles. Porter also provides a practical list of the items needed for readers to make their own Kwanzaa celebration.

The book describes the origins of the Passover story in the story of Moses and the Israelites' escape from Egypt. It also explains how the holiday is celebrated today and includes a discussion of the Seder.

Chinese New Year begins each January or February on the first day of the new year in China's traditional calendar. This 15-day celebration is the most important holiday in Chinese communities all over the world. The celebration includes fireworks, costumes, dancers, parades, gifts of lucky money", family gatherings and feasting, and the Festival of Lanterns. It is a time to remember loved ones that have died, celebrate the past year, and look towards the new year to bring good fortune.

June 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. African American slaves worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.

The story of Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, takes readers back more than two thousand years in history. Understand why Jews gather to light candles for eight nights each year. Discover what a dreidel and menorah are for, and who the Maccabees were. Celebrated each year to remember the destruction and restoration of the temple, a war for freedom, and a miracle, Hanukkah is a special and important holiday for Jews around the world.

June 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.

Filled with tricks and treats, fun and food, Halloween is a day that children look forward to. At one time two separate festivals, the traditions of each gradually blended into the holiday we now celebrate on October 31.

Muslims around the world celebrate the month of Ramadan to honor Allah. During every day in that month, Muslims do not eat food between sunrise and sunset. Then, each night at sunset, they say special prayers and eat a special meal. After almost four weeks of fasting this way, they have a great three-day festival called Eid al-Fitr to celebrate the challenges they met during Ramadan and the coming year.

In Mexico at Christmas time, children carry candles in nine nights of parades. German children listen for Kris Kringle to bring presents on Christmas Eve. Families in Australia like a picnic on the beach. And in Ethiopia, Christmas is the time to play a hockey-like game called genna. Come take a trip around the world to see how this special time of year is celebrated in eight countries.