Cultural Holidays in the U.S.

As you plan for your new life in the US, one thing you can start looking forward to is the way Americans celebrate holidays throughout the year. These moments, big and small, are opportunities to bond with your coworkers, get to know your community, and feel a deeper connection to the place you'll soon call home. Joining me today to go over all things holidays is Heidi, one of our international development advocates. Hi, Heidi.

Hi. Thanks, Melissa. I'm really excited to be here, and I think you're doing great. I love to hear all the things that you're saying. I'm excited to chime in.

Today, we're just gonna walk through some of the most widely recognized holidays in the US. We're gonna start with the official federal holidays, and then we'll move into other popular, just cultural celebrations that may vary depending on where you live.

Okay, well before we dive into today's topic, let's hear from healthcare professionals. Now we do have a poll up as you may see. It says what US holiday are you most excited to experience for the first time?

Your votes in. What US holiday are you most excited to experience for the first time?

Heidi, do you have any favorite holidays?

I really like Halloween. I like all the decorations. I also love Christmas because that typically means we get to see the snow. Looks really pretty.

I mean, the first day of snow is very pretty. Following that, not so much. I have to agree.

It looks pretty.

It is beautiful. And we are supposed to expect some snow tomorrow, I believe, like two inches?

Yes, you're right.

Well, I'm sure a lot of people are looking forward to make some snowmen in the snow. I know that I made it. My first time here in the US when I experienced this, the snow, I made a snowman and a snowball.

Oh, that must have been super exciting too.

It was it was delightful. But I yeah, I definitely do like the Christmas holidays. I love the New Year as well. It's like a great way to start fresh it feels.

Just, you know, going, you know, spending time with family because November, December, January are typically all family type holidays.

And I love that.

I agree. I think that's why a lot of people agree or would agree too just to enjoy the holidays with all of your family.

Yes, ma'am. Now as I'm looking at the votes here, I am seeing that most people are looking forward to Thanksgiving.

It must be the food.

You might be right.

You might be onto something.

All right. Well, thank you everyone for chiming in.

Take it away, Heidi. Tell us about the holidays.

Awesome. Thank you again. I'm excited to talk about the federal holidays first. In the US, there are eleven federal holidays.

So that means that government offices and many employers, including hospitals, do recognize these holidays with special schedules or observances. However, luckily for you, holidays are open twenty four seven, including on holidays or hospitals are open on, woah, twenty four seven on holidays. If you are scheduled to work, you may still have a shift even on a holiday. So make sure that you are checking with your facility or your manager just to understand your holiday schedule.

So now we can start with the federal holidays you'll hear most about. One is gonna be New Year's Day. That's gonna be on January first. This is the first day of the calendar year, and it's typically celebrated with fireworks, countdowns, often a quiet day of rest for some people. You usually stay up late on December thirty first just to welcome in the new year at midnight with your friends or your family or maybe your new coworkers.

On your screen, you should now see some photos of RHUPs that are welcoming in the New Year with their families or their coworkers again just as they celebrate a fresh beginning like Melissa said she enjoys too.

Next, we have Martin Luther King Junior Day.

It's the third Monday in January.

This honors the legacy of Doctor. King and just the American Civil Rights Movement.

Some organizations may host events, volunteer opportunities, or have educational programs. While it's not usually associated with big gatherings, it is still a very important reflection day for everyone.

Next, we have Presidents' Day.

This is going to be the third Monday in February. It is originally established to honor George Washington, but now we all recognize, just every US president. While generally it's low key, some communities do hold small parades, museum events, or historical activities just to mark the occasion.

Next we have Memorial Day. This is going to be the last Monday in May.

It's somber, so a bit sad, but it's meaningful just so we can honor all of our US military personnel who had died while in service.

Many people will visit cemeteries, will have parades, or just reflect with their family.

It's also considered the start of summer, so some may celebrate as well with cookouts, or outdoor events.

Next we have Juneteenth, which is going to be on June nineteenth. It is now recognized as a federal holiday, and Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the US. It's celebrated typically with festivals, community gatherings, educational events, especially in African American communities.

Next, we have Independence Day or July fourth. And this is going to be typically just a joyful and patriotic holiday marking America's independence.

Expect fireworks, parades, concerts, or community cookouts. Many people like to wear red, white, and blue just to gather with their family or coworkers to celebrate.

Yes. Heidi, if I could jump in. Independence Day is like one of those big holidays in the middle of the year.

The fireworks are to die for, if I could say that. Yes, I agree.

Yeah, they're always like little get togethers here and there. I mean, even if you, you know, don't want to stay home, you can always go out to a park and just watch the fireworks with your community.

Sometimes you don't have to even leave your home.

You can just go right in the backyard and you can see them anyways. So that's always fun too.

It is.

Okay. We also have Labor Day. That's going to be the first Monday in September.

Labor Day typically recognizes the American labor movement. It is a time to rest for people with just many, people taking road trips, enjoying outdoor meals, again, another cookout. I think we love those in the US, or you can attend a local fair. It is also an unofficial end just to the summer season.

We also have Veterans Day, which is November eleventh, so just past last month.

This holiday honors all of our US military veterans. Many communities do have parades or host recognition events. Even hospitals may do internal ceremonies just to honor their staff or maybe even their patients who have served.

Next we have Thanksgiving, which everyone was really excited to talk about. So hopefully everyone's tuned in. It's the fourth Thursday in November. It's a major holiday just focused on gratitude, food, and time with your loved ones.

Our health care professionals are often invited just to join with their coworkers, maybe at a family dinner or a potluck at work. The traditional meal includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pie. I don't know about everyone else, but I cannot forget mashed potatoes or even mashed potatoes. So we can't forget those, but super exciting, and I hope that everyone is still excited once they get to experience it.

It's funny you said mashed potatoes because I was just about to ask you what's your favorite part of the Thanksgiving meal.

I was I was ready to tell you.

That is so awesome. I do love, turkey. So we did like a fusion Thanksgiving with me and my parents. I'm not sure if everyone knows, but I am originally from Jamaica.

And so instead of doing a normal like a big or roast turkey, we did curry turkey.

So that was that was a delight to see. And it was it was really good. It was like a nice jam US or Jamaican fusion. So I truly enjoy that and spending time with family. Did you also spend time with family, Heidi?

I did. We have a pretty large family. So we had taken up the entire basement and everyone had a lot of fun. I made a pecan pie for the first time from scratch, so that was a lot of fun too.

That sounds delightful. Well, now we know you're great at that, so I expect to see that in office.

Awesome.

I have to I have to do it for you. Just for you. One pie.

Nice.

We now have Christmas day, which is coming up soon. It's on December twenty fifth.

It's going to be a widely celebrated holiday with both religious and cultural elements. Homes, hospitals, and streets are decorated with lights and trees. Gifts are typically exchanged, and holiday music fills the season.

So on your screen, you should see some just pictures of our HCPs that are pretty heartwarming with their families, enjoying decorations or festive gatherings for the first time with just the spirit of giving. Homes, hospitals, and streets are decorated with lights. Super beautiful. I don't know about everyone else, but I love to just drive through and look at them.

I love that everyone decorates their houses differently. I personally have a tiny house that is perfect to transform into a gingerbread home. So we do that every winter now. So it's lots of fun.

That sounds pretty exciting. Yeah. I I do love the the Christmas lights, you know, everyone going through. And I also love, like, when the communities kind of get together.

So like as you just drive through the neighborhood and you're like, oh, So many different things you can do too.

I love to see the lights that look like the icicles. Do you know what I'm talking about? I love those ones. So pretty.

They are pretty. I also believe so I believe, downtown Cincinnati, they open, like, the skating rink as well. Have you been down there?

I have not been down there yet, but I know that they just moved it as well, I think.

Oh, really? Well, I'll I'll have to go check it out. I've never done ice skating, but I feel like this would be the nice time to do so, especially family.

Time to try. Do something before the new year is up.

I agree. I agree. Alright. What other great holiday do you have for us?

Yeah. So we covered all of the federal holidays. So now we'll take a look at just the widely celebrated, cultural or seasonal holidays. These are not, official days off, but you'll still see them celebrated in neighbors or neighborhoods, schools, or hospitals, communities just across the country.

We'll start with Easter. This can vary. It is either in March or April, but it is a religious holiday for Christians, but also a family event with egg hunts, just special meals. Again, we love a good meal.

Spring themed activities as well. Some hospitals may even host an egg hunt for, the staff or families or local communities.

So on your screen now, you can also see pictures of our HCPs just joining workplace egg hunts.

I talked briefly about Halloween being one of my favorites, but Halloween is on October thirty first. So it is a fun and creative celebration, just for kids and also adults because I know there are many adults here at Health Carousel that also enjoy dressing up for Halloween. But we all dress in a costume and go trick or treating. Hospitals and clinics, are sometimes hosting themed days, which you can dress up at work. On your screen, you should also see some of our HCPs that were able to dress up and participate in their theme days at work. Usually, the decorations can include pumpkins or some ghosts. Some spooky themes might be lighthearted, some might be a bit more scary, but I think it's a lot of fun.

I think Halloween has become popular outside of the United States too. So if they celebrate it outside the country, they'll probably enjoy it when they do join us here in the US.

Well, great, I love.

Some cultural celebrations that you may also experience, are going to be just across the US, in more diverse cities. You can also see celebrations of Diwali, Eid, Lunar New Year, and Kwanzaa. These are not federal holidays that we were just talking about, but they are still meaningful to many Americans, and often bring people together just across the cultures.

Even learning just about these traditions is a great way for you as an HCP to build your community in your new home. Whether you are lighting sparklers on the fourth of July or enjoying a holiday potluck with your coworkers, the US holidays are more than dates on a calendar. We are considering them as invitations to just connect or celebrate and create new traditions, in your new home. Again, we're also at your facility and with your coworkers and hopefully your family as well.

Just a couple main things that I wanna talk about too with our, holidays is that, again, the US holidays are cultural moments, and they really bring people together. You do not have to celebrate everything, but knowing what to expect can sometimes just help you feel prepared, just to celebrate with them if if you chose to, make you feel included and also feel welcome to celebrate with your coworkers. These holidays also offer chances to, again, create community and a connection with everyone around you. So whether it's decorating with your coworkers, attending a local event, or sharing a meal, many of our nurses say that these celebrations have really helped them to feel at home, which can be very important, especially for just arriving in the US and trying all of these new things.

I think that's very helpful. But you can also bring in your own traditions too. The US communities are always increasingly multicultural, So there is always plenty of space for you to share your heritage and also just enjoy sharing that with other people while you're learning about other holidays.

Awesome, Heidi. Thank you so much for sharing with us all things holidays and exploring the different holidays that we have here in the US. We hope this gave our healthcare professionals a glimpse of what they have to look forward to as they prepare for their life in the United States. So no matter, like Heidi said, no matter what you celebrate, we're here to help you feel supported, included, and ready to build meaningful moments along the way.

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