Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is the nation’s largest national cemetery. Buried there with a special place of honor are members of the armed forces, as well as astronauts, explorers, and other distinguished Americans. President John F. Kennedy is buried in a spot overlooking Washington, D. C., and marked with an eternal flame. In the […]
Category: people in the United States
Christmas Stockings
Long ago, children hung their own stockings, or socks, over the fireplace mantel. Santa entered down the chimney and left candy and presents inside the socks for good children. Bad children received a lump of coal. Today the tradition of hanging up a stocking is carried on, but now many of the stockings are large […]
New Year’s Day
On January first, Americans may relax at home or visit friends, relatives, and neighbors. New Year’s Day get-togethers are often informal, but generally there is plenty to eat and drink as loved ones and friends wish each other the best for the year ahead. Many families and friends watch television together enjoying the Tournament of […]
Christmas Entertainment
Songs, poems, stories, and performances are a regular part of the Christmas season for many families. One well-known poem is “The Night Before Christmas” written by Clement Moore in 1823. American children often listen to this poem before they go to bed on Christmas Eve, in anticipation of Santa’s visit. A favorite Christmas story is […]
George Washington’s Birthday
George Washington, the first president of the United States of America, is often referred to as the “Father of Our Country.” Born February 22, 1732, in Virginia, he grew to be a natural leader—instrumental in winning American independence from Britain in the Revolutionary War and creating a united nation out of a conglomeration of struggling […]