There are many holidays in the United States with a dazzling array of names, such as Martin Luther King Day, Presidents Day, Flag Day, Veterans Day, etc., etc., which is dazzling. However, there are only a few truly important festivals. In order of date, they are New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
New Year’s Day in the United States is a bit quiet compared to Christmas. This is also understandable. For many Americans, Christmas is the beginning of a new year. After the ecstasy of Christmas, the arrival of the New Year seems a bit unnecessary.
Compared with the deserted New Year, Valentine’s Day on February 14th is much more lively. On this day, everyone will be busy sending cards, distributing chocolates, buying flowers, having dinner with family and friends, and expressing their affection for each other. Of course, the sweetest thing is the couple in love. The happiest person, I think, should be the owner of the flower shop. On Valentine's Day, flowers are sold like crazy.
Easter seems a bit strange to us Chinese, but in the United States, Easter is a very important religious festival, second only to Christmas in importance. Celebrating Easter is, on the one hand, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and thanking him for his sacrifices for mankind. On the other hand, it is to celebrate the arrival of the Spring Festival, when all things begin to recover and thrive after going through the harsh test of winter.
Just as Santa Claus and the Christmas tree are symbols of Christmas, rabbits and eggs are symbols of Easter, symbolizing vitality and fertility. On Easter, cute and exaggerated cartoon bunnies are usually hung in stores. The trees in front of people's houses are dotted with colorful plastic eggs filled with candies, letting them sway gently in the breeze. Families with children take their children to community gathering places early in the morning to taste delicious food and participate in various games. More people go to church and celebrate the festival with many believers.
Interestingly, the date of Easter is not certain. Its date is somewhat complicated, usually falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon after March 20. In the West, Easter can fall on any day from March 23 to April 26. Because this arrangement is so complicated, it is said that it will take 5.7 million years before Easter on the same date can be repeated.
The Independence Day in the United States is equivalent to the National Day in China. On July 4th, local governments often arrange lively National Day parades. Last year, several Chinese friends and I went to watch the excitement. The Fourth of July parade in the United States seemed a little loose but very happy. People of all nationalities, skin colors, ages, and walks of life, wearing the most distinctive costumes of their ethnic groups or the uniforms of their professions, were singing, dancing, or playing and playing on the streets, and they passed by happily. It doesn't matter if there are naughty children who emerge from the crowd, dance with their hands and feet next to the team, and follow them all the way, because the police officers don't care anyway.
Halloween on October 31st in the United States is actually what we Chinese call Ghost Festival. Compared with us Chinese who avoid Ghost Festival, Americans seem to like this holiday very much, especially children. October has not even started yet and they are eagerly looking forward to the arrival of Halloween.
In terms of origin, Halloween is also a religious festival. It means that the vibrant summer has ended and the cold winter, which represents death, is coming. On this day, children will dress up as various weird and scary ghosts and knock on neighbors’ doors to ask for candy. Thinking about it, Americans' happy Halloween also has a positive effect on children's psychological growth. It allows children to treat heavy topics like death with an optimistic attitude.
The fourth Thursday in November is Thanksgiving in the United States. On this day, the most unlucky person is the turkey. Because on this day, almost all families will roast a turkey and share it with the whole family. Of course, there was also the luckiest turkey, who, as is American custom, was spared a pardon from the president.
The original meaning of the establishment of Thanksgiving Day was to thank God for his generosity, which made the earth harvest abundant and people could harvest food. The most popular explanation in the United States is that it was to thank the local indigenous Indians for giving them very important help when the new immigrants first arrived in the New World. Today, Thanksgiving has become an important holiday for American family gatherings.
The most important holiday in the United States is Christmas on December 25th. People know the most clearly about the origin and history of Christmas. From the perspective of Americans, the most poetic Christmas is when the whole family sits around the fire and enjoys delicious food on a snowy day. Unfortunately, such a white Christmas is not easy to come across.
American holidays
1. New Year’s Day: January 1st every year.
2． Martin Luther King Day: The third Monday in January each year.
3. Lincoln’s Birthday: February 1st every year.
4. Washington’s Birthday: The third Monday in February each year.
5. Valentine’s Day: February 14th every year.
6. Good Friday: the Friday of the week before Easter.
7. Easter (Easter/Easter Sunday): The first Sunday after the full moon of the spring equinox.
8． April Fool's Day: April 1st every year.
9． Labor Day (May Day): May 1 every year
10. Mother’s Day: the second Sunday in May every year.
11. Father’s Day: the third Sunday in June every year.
12. Independence Day: July 4th every year.
13. Grandparents’ Day: the first Sunday after Labor Day in September.
14. Halloween (Halloween): October 31st.
15. Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving): the last Thursday of November every year.
16. Christmas (Christmas Day): December 25th every year
Reference: "Anhui Evening News" "Chronicle of Travel in the United States
Americans treat guests to dinner Etiquette
Americans are outgoing, enthusiastic, straightforward, and informal. Their customs and etiquette have many differences. The United States is a country with a strong sense of time, and all activities are scheduled. It's impolite to be late. Just make a phone call and the other person will happily agree to meet you as soon as possible. Americans also have the habit of being polite, but they are taboo about accepting excessive gifts. Firstly, Americans do not value the value of gifts themselves. Secondly, the law prohibits giving excessive gifts. Handicrafts, artworks, famous wines, etc. brought from hometowns are gifts that Americans like. Except for holidays, they are even invited to American homes as guests. It is generally not necessary to give gifts when eating. American society has the habit of tipping. Tips are required for all service items. Hotel doormen and room service are required to tip at least US$1. When dining in restaurants, a 15% tip is required. < /p>
Americans usually treat guests to dinners for official business purposes in restaurants or clubs. The company pays the expense, and only close relatives and friends are invited to their homes for dinners. American food varies by region and nationality. There are many kinds and different tastes, such as hamburgers, "hot dogs", pies, donuts and Kentucky Fried Chicken, etc., which are all popular in the world. However, the family dinners hosted by Americans are economical, not ostentatious, and not A formal family dinner is usually a long table with a large plate of salad, a large plate of roast chicken or barbecue, a variety of cold dishes, a plate of fried rice, a plate of bread slices, sweets, fruits, cold drinks, wine, etc. The guests and hosts sit around the table, and the host says "please". Everyone picks up a plate and eats the dishes and rice they like. After eating, they can add more to the meal as they like, and talk freely while eating.
Americans. Treat your guests to a meal, a glass of wine, or a weekend in a country house as a way to make friends. You don't necessarily require the other person to reciprocate. If you have the opportunity, just invite the other person to your home for dinner. , guests should express special thanks to the host, especially the hostess
American eating habits
Americans usually drink cocktails before lunch and dinner, but in California In this state, people mostly drink wine.
At the same time, fried mushrooms and fried onion rings are usually served as appetizers, and steak, pork chops and chicken (legs) are the main dishes. , lobsters, shellfish and various fish, even freshwater fish, are collectively referred to as seafood. French fries are a favorite and almost essential food.
In addition, A special note is that if there is any leftover food, it must be packed and taken home to avoid waste.
Americans use both knives and forks when eating, and their dining methods are also very particular. . Therefore, when invited to eat with American friends, you should pay special attention to their dining habits. Under normal circumstances, there is a table knife and two table forks placed on the dining table. The outer table fork is for eating salad, the inner table fork is used for eating staple food and other snacks, and the table knife is used for cutting meat. If you use both hands, you should hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand, and you should not hold the knife for too long at a time.
American breakfast includes: fried or boiled eggs, sausage, fried potato chips, pancakes, jelly, toast, muffins, orange juice and coffee.
If you are dining in an American restaurant for the first time, you should pay attention to the following matters:
1. Choose the right restaurant (such as family-style restaurants, specialty restaurants, buffet-style restaurants, etc.) ;
2. Restaurant business hours (opens from 11:30 am until night);
3. Generally, reservations should be made in advance:
4 . After arriving at the restaurant, you cannot go directly to the table unless the restaurant has a "seat as you please" notice;
5. When paying, don't forget to leave a certain percentage of the tip for the waiter (usually the actual amount 10% to 15% of the total amount).
With the accelerated pace of American life, fast food emerged at the historic moment. Its fast food chains are spread all over the world, among which the McDonald's fast food chain has the greatest influence. The fast food products supplied include: hamburgers, roast beef, steak, ham, sandwiches, KFC chicken, fried potato chips, baked pies, ice cream and various carbonated drinks.
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Westerners’ etiquette for attending banquets
Whether you are traveling abroad or on business, if someone invites you to a formal banquet, you need to know some basic etiquette in Western social settings.
Arrival: You'd better arrive on time. You can be late for four or five minutes, but you must not be late for more than a quarter of an hour. Otherwise, you will not be in trouble for others, but yourself. If you go to a wealthy and sophisticated family, the first person you meet when you enter the door may be a male servant who is responsible for helping you hang your clothes or showing you the way, so don't rush to shake his hand first, observe it. Decide again.
Preparation: When you enter the living room, don’t rush to find a seat. On such occasions, Westerners usually have to go around waiting for the host to introduce other guests to them. You can choose a suitable drink from the wine and other drinks brought by the waiter and chat with others while drinking. When the door of the dining room opens, the male host and the female guest of honor will lead everyone into the dining room. The hostess and the male guest of honor should go last, but if the male guest of honor is a big shot, the hostess and he may go last. Front.
Seating: The rules for Western-style dining are very particular. The seats are usually arranged in advance. At this time, the gentleman or lady who comes with you will never be arranged to sit next to you. Europeans and Americans believe that there are many opportunities to chat with acquaintances, and they should take advantage of this opportunity to make more friends. The host and hostess sit above and below the rectangular table respectively. To the right of the hostess is the male guest of honor, and to the right of the male host is the female guest of honor. Other guests sit in alternating positions for men and women. Before serving the table, the man should help the woman on his right to pull out the chair, and then sit down after the woman sits firmly.
After everyone is seated, the host takes the napkin, and you follow suit. Remember: No matter what happens at this time (for example, the host has the habit of praying before meals), you cannot take the napkin before the host takes it.
Meal: The general menu is three to five dishes. The first three dishes should be cold cuts, soup, and fish, and the last two dishes should be main dishes (meat or seafood plus vegetables), desserts, or fruits. Finally, there is coffee and snacks. When eating, don't focus all your energy on the enjoyment of your stomach. Talk to the people around you. After finishing the dessert, if the coffee doesn’t show up, I might ask you to drink it in the living room later. In short, after you see the hostess put the napkin on the table and stand up, you can put down the napkin and leave your seat. At this time, the polite man has to stand up and help the lady pull out the chair. The lady being cared for does not have to have any special thoughts about this previous and subsequent courtesy. This is what he should do.
Farewell: If you don’t want to be too conspicuous, you’d better not be the first to say goodbye, nor the last to leave. You can say goodbye anytime during this period, but once you say goodbye, you should leave happily. .
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Etiquette for entering a foreigner’s office or residence
When visiting a foreigner's office or residence, you should make an appointment and notify in advance, and arrive on time. If no one is waiting to greet you, ring the bell or knock on the door before entering. Only after receiving permission from the owner can you enter. If no one answers, you can wait for a while and then ring or knock on the door again (but do not ring for too long). No one is allowed to enter without permission from the owner.
When you have to go because of urgent matters or without prior agreement, you should try to avoid disturbing the other party late at night; if you have to make an appointment during the break, you should immediately meet the person you are meeting with. Apologize first, say "I'm sorry to bother you" and explain the reason for the interruption.
You can enter the room with the permission of the owner or at the invitation of the owner. Although sometimes the time required to negotiate is very short, you should go indoors and do not stand at the door to talk. Sometimes, if the host does not invite you into the room, you can retreat outside the door and have a conversation outdoors.
When you enter the room, if the time required to speak is short, you do not need to sit down, and you do not need to linger after finishing the work; if the time required is longer, you must be invited by the host to sit down. If there is no prior agreement, the conversation should not be too long.
When you are invited to visit or be a guest at a foreigner’s home, you should arrive at the time proposed or agreed by the host. It is impolite to arrive early or late. If you are late, apologize. Visits are usually scheduled around 10 a.m. or 4 p.m.
It is customary in the West to prepare snacks and drinks for guests. Guests should not refuse, but should taste it and drink the accepted drinks (but if you are really not used to it, don’t force it).
No one is allowed to visit the owner’s courtyard and house without the owner’s invitation or consent. You can visit the house under the leadership of the owner, but even familiar friends are not allowed to touch personal belongings and indoor furnishings other than books, flowers and plants.
Greetings should be given to everyone in the host's family, especially the wife (husband) and children. If there are children present, you should take the initiative to shake hands and hug them to express your love. If you have cats or dogs at home, you should not show fear or disgust, and do not kick or blast them.
When leaving, you should say goodbye to the host politely and thank the host for the reception.
1) Etiquette
In American society, you must “do as the Romans do” and you must understand and abide by the etiquette rules customary in American society.
In terms of dressing, although Americans have an impression of being easy-going and informal, they are still very formal when going to work or attending banquets. There are many rules for dressing, but the main thing is to dress appropriately for the time. , for example, when attending a wedding or a funeral, you should wear black or plain clothes; women should wear skirts in the office and avoid wearing denim trousers.
In terms of riding, the order of the seats in the car, It depends on whether the owner drives or the driver drives. If you take a taxi, the seat on the right side of the back seat should be the largest seat,
The seat on the left side of the back seat should be second, followed by the middle seat, and the driver The seat next to him is the lowest seat. If the driver is a friend, the seat next to him is the most privileged seat, followed by the right, left and middle seats in the back seat. Therefore, it is common for boyfriends and girlfriends to take taxis in China When driving in a car, men always open the car door to let women enter first, move to the left seat, and then sit in the right seat. This is completely inconsistent with formal Western etiquette.
The correct way is to let women sit down. After that, go around to the left door and get in the car by yourself. There are also certain rules for going up and down the stairs. Women and the elderly should go first when going upstairs. The purpose is to ensure the safety of women and the elderly.
In terms of food and drink, It should be noted that the tableware should be used from the outermost pair of knives and forks first. Food should be pressed tightly with a fork and cut into small pieces before being put into the mouth. Do not make any noise when eating food or drinking soup. Use a small spoon for drinking coffee. If you come to stir milk and sugar, remember not to use a spoon to drink coffee, and avoid making noise in the restaurant. If you receive an invitation to a banquet, you should pay attention to the following points:
Do you need to send a reply to Cambodia? , tell the host whether to participate or not. Sometimes you can also notify by phone. If you please mark "regrets only" on the sticker, you only need to notify if you are unable to participate. "rsvp" should send a reply or telephone notification regardless of whether you participate or not.
Pay attention to whether the banquet you attend has any dress code.
Be on time. When attending a cocktail party, you can go within the specified time (such as 5 to 7 o'clock). Of course It is not advisable to arrive too late.
If guests are invited to a banquet, the host should pay attention to the following:
1. Accompany the guests: People who have a good relationship with the host and guests should be invited to accompany them.
2. Food: You should first understand whether the guest has taboo foods, such as whether he is a vegetarian or a Jew who does not eat pork and fish.
3. Seat: the host should sit In the position with your back to the door, the host and guest are on the opposite side. In addition, attention should be paid to class and hierarchy, and the principle is to sit separately for men and women, husband and wife, Chinese and foreigners.
The type of alcohol consumed during meals should depend on the staple food of the day. If you eat fish, drink white wine, and if you eat meat, drink red wine. The red wine should be the same as room temperature
and guests should not be forced to "cheers." As for strong liquors such as whiskey and brandy, drink more after or after meals. Before drinking.
There are so many regulations on international social etiquette, and the above are just a few of them. To behave etiquette in American society, you need to pay more attention to it and learn with humility.
(2) Etiquette
Bowing is a courtesy between subordinates and superiors or between peers. When bowing, you should take off your hat, hold the center of the brim with your right hand to take off the hat, droop your left hand, lean your upper body forward about fifteen degrees, look at the recipient with both eyes, and express greetings at the same time.
The handshake is a common etiquette all over the world. Originating in Europe, it originally meant that there were no weapons in the hand or that it meant kindness.
When shaking hands, the guest must first extend his hand before shaking hands. Gloves are generally not worn when shaking hands, but distinguished men and women may wear gloves. When saluting, avoid crossing your arms and don’t shake hands too tightly with women.
The nodding ceremony is a courtesy between people of the same level or generation. If we meet on the road, we can do it while traveling. If you meet a superior, superior or elder, you should bow instead of nodding.
Raising your hands and paying attention is military etiquette. When saluting, raise your right hand, fingers straight and aligned, fingertips touching the right side of the hat brim, palm slightly outside, arms at shoulder height, eyes fixed on the recipient, and put your hand down after the recipient responds.
Kissing the hand is a ritual among the upper classes in Europe and America. When meeting an aristocratic woman or lady, if the woman extends her hand first to make a downward gesture, she will gently lift her palm and kiss her. If the woman does not extend her hand, the hand kiss is not allowed.
The kissing ceremony is a kind of etiquette that expresses intimacy and caress between superiors and subordinates, elders and juniors, friends, and couples.
Usually kissing the recipient on the face or forehead. When people are happy, festive or sad, a kiss is usually performed to express affection or comfort.
The hugging ceremony is a kind of etiquette used to express close feelings between acquaintances and friends in European and American countries. Hugging each other when meeting or bidding farewell expresses closeness and deep feelings. The hug ceremony is usually performed together with the kiss ceremony.
(3) Holidays
1) Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is held on the last Thursday of November every year. Thanksgiving is an ancient festival created by the American people, and it is also a festival for American families to get together.
On Thanksgiving Day, the whole country in the United States is very lively. Costume parades, theatrical performances and sports competitions are held everywhere in cities and towns, and schools and shops are also closed as required. The children also imitated the Indians in those days and put on weird costumes, painted faces or put on masks and went out to the streets to sing and play trumpets. There were a lot of people in the church that day. It is customary for people to say thanksgiving prayers here. Americans have been accustomed to living independently since childhood, dividing their work and going their separate ways. On Thanksgiving Day, they always strive to return from all over the world. The family sits together, chews delicious turkey, and talks about the past, which makes people feel particularly cordial. ,warmth.
2) Christmas
It is the biggest and most lively holiday for Americans. On December 25th every year, the whole country is immersed in a festive atmosphere. From the day after Thanksgiving, Americans start getting busy for Christmas. Every store is crowded with people. Businessmen have to speak eloquently to promote their various goods. Ordinary people are also willing to take this opportunity to discard the old and update.
Christmas Eve is a carnival night. Americans often stay up all night to celebrate. People hang gifts, colorful flowers and lanterns on small fir trees or small pine trees, and a big star is placed on the top of the tree. The adults stood aside to admire the Christmas tree, while the children danced and even held hands and danced cheerfully around the tree. In public places, the image of Santa Claus is everywhere on New Year’s cards. Sometimes one person will dress up as Santa Claus at home and distribute gifts to everyone.
Americans’ celebration of Christmas can be called a carnival. Giving gifts and decorating the home are their most important ways of celebrating. Every family has huge packages of gifts. Children hang their socks by the stove, hoping that Santa Claus will bring gifts and put them in the socks late at night.
In mid-December, every family will choose a satisfying Christmas tree in the market and decorate it with colorful decorations.
Teenagers love to hold parties on Christmas Eve and Christmas night. Many young men who are in love regard attending the Christmas dance for the first time as a major event in their lives!
3) New Year's Day
On the occasion of New Year's Day, Indians in North America like to use the feathers of eagles, owls and other birds to decorate their clothes, shoes and hats to show good luck.
(4) Others
Spitting and littering are strictly prohibited in European and American countries, and violators will be fined. Violators will be punished without exception. Some Westerners also avoid three, especially when lighting a cigarette. Whether you light a cigarette for them with a match or a lighter, when you light a third person, they will often look embarrassed, and some will even refuse politely.
Tip
Porter: Fifty cents per bag. Hotel doorman: Fifty cents for calling a taxi and taking care of you. Hotel dormitory cleaning lady: If you only stay for one night, you probably won’t tip. If you stay longer, you will be given about 2 yuan every three days (high-end hotels should give you a little more). Just put it on the bedside table. Hotel restaurants should give a tip of about 15%, which can be left on the table or the customer can fill in the tip percentage on the bill according to the service conditions of the restaurant. Generally, it can range from 10% to 20%. Tipping is not allowed in cafeterias.
Power supply specifications: US power is 110/120 volts; AC, 60 Hz.
Office hours: Office hours vary from agency to agency, usually: Government: Monday-Friday ,09:00-17:00 Government: Monday-Friday, 09:00-15:00 Company: Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00 Shop: Monday-Saturday, 09:30-18:00 In some areas of the United States, banks open earlier and close later. Department stores are open one night a week as usual.