Альмонах " Summer Holidays in the USA "

                           Taste of Chicago

 

6 липня -  Фестиваль «Cмак Чикаго» - 2016 .  Дата свята унікальна для каждого року.

В 2016 році ця дата - 6 липня.  

Фестиваль «Смак Чикаго» (Taste of Chicago) – це кулінарний фестиваль на Середньому Заході, який проходить щорічно в липні в місті Чикаго (штат Ілліноїс, США). Традиційно це свято їжі та музики  триває 5 днів.

 

 

Taste of Chicago is the nation's premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining community. The delicious array of food served at Taste of Chicago is complemented by music and exciting activities for the entire family. Every summer since 1980, Chicago's beautiful Grant Park on the city's magnificent lakefront has been home to the world's largest food festival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      Independence Day

 

4 липня - День незалежності США. День незалежності (Independence Day) вважається днем народження Сполучених Штатів як вільної і  незалежної країни. Більшість американців називають це свято просто по його даті — Четверте липня (Fourth of July).

 

                         

 

Independence Day of the United States, also referred to as Fourth of July or July Fourth in the U.S., is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress declaring that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation, the United States of America, and no longer part of the British Empire. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, and political speeches and ceremonies, in addition to various other public and private events celebrating the history, government, and traditions of the United States. Independence Day is the National Day of the United States

 

Background

 

During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain rule.[5][6] After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

 

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

 

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

 

Historians have long disputed whether Congress actually signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

 

Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but another Founding Father who became a President, James Monroe, died on July 4, 1831, thus becoming the third President in a row who died on the holiday. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872, and, so far, is the only U.S. President to have been born on Independence Day.

 

Observance

 

In 1777, thirteen gunshots were fired in salute, once at morning and once again as evening fell, on July 4 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Philadelphia celebrated the first anniversary in a manner a modern American would find quite familiar: an official dinner for the Continental Congress, toasts, 13-gun salutes, speeches, prayers, music, parades, troop reviews, and fireworks. Ships were decked with red, white, and blue bunting.

In 1778, from his headquarters at Ross Hall, near New Brunswick, New Jersey, General George Washington marked July 4 with a double ration of rum for his soldiers and an artillery salute. Across the Atlantic Ocean, ambassadors John Adams and Benjamin Franklin held a dinner for their fellow Americans in Paris, France.

 

American children of many ethnic backgrounds celebrate noisily in 1902 Puck cartoon

 

In 1779, July 4 fell on a Sunday. The holiday was celebrated on Monday, July 5.

In 1781, the Massachusetts General Court became the first state legislature to recognize July 4 as a state celebration.

In 1783, Moravians in Salem, North Carolina, held a celebration of July 4 with a challenging music program assembled by Johann Friedrich Peter. This work was titled "The Psalm of Joy." This is recognized as the first recorded celebration and is still celebrated there today.

In 1791, the first recorded use of the name "Independence Day" occurred.

In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees.

In 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal holiday.

Customs

 

 An 1825 invitation to an Independence Day celebration

 

Independence Day is a national holiday marked by patriotic displays. Similar to other summer-themed events, Independence Day celebrations often take place outdoors. Independence Day is a federal holiday, so all non-essential federal institutions (like the postal service and federal courts) are closed on that day. Many politicians make it a point on this day to appear at a public event to praise the nation's heritage, laws, history, society, and people.

 

Families often celebrate Independence Day by hosting or attending a picnic or barbecue and take advantage of the day off and, in some years, long weekend to gather with relatives. Decorations (e.g., streamers, balloons, and clothing) are generally colored red, white, and blue, the colors of the American flag. Parades are often in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

 

The night before the Fourth was once the focal point of celebrations, marked by raucous gatherings often incorporating bonfires as their centerpiece. In New England, towns competed to build towering pyramids, assembled from barrels and casks. They were lit at nightfall, to usher in the celebration. The highest were in Salem, Massachusetts (on Gallows Hill, the famous site of the execution of 13 women and 6 men for witchcraft in 1692 during the Salem witch trials, where the tradition of bonfires in celebration had persisted), composed of as many as forty tiers of barrels; these are the tallest bonfires ever recorded. The custom flourished in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is still practiced in some New England towns.

 

Independence Day fireworks are often accompanied by patriotic songs such as the national anthem "The Star-Spangled Banner", "God Bless America", "America the Beautiful", "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", "This Land Is Your Land", "Stars and Stripes Forever", and, regionally, "Yankee Doodle" in northeastern states and "Dixie" in southern states. Some of the lyrics recall images of the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812.

 

 Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

 

Firework shows are held in many states, and many fireworks are sold for personal use or as an alternative to a public show. Safety concerns have led some states to ban fireworks or limit the sizes and types allowed. In addition to safety concerns local and regional weather conditions may dictate whether the sale or use of fireworks in an area will be allowed. Some local or regional firework sales may be limited or prohibited because of dry weather, drought conditions, or other specific concerns. On these occasions the public may be prohibited from purchasing or discharging fireworks, but professional displays (such as may be found at sport events) may still tale place provided that certain safety precautions have been taken. Illicit traffic transfers many fireworks from less restrictive states.

 

A salute of one gun for each state in the United States, called a "salute to the union", is fired on Independence Day at noon by any capable military base.

 

In 2009, New York City had the largest fireworks display in the country, with over 22 tons of pyrotechnics exploded. Other major displays are in Chicago on Lake Michigan; in San Diego over Mission Bay; in Boston on the Charles River; in St. Louis on the Mississippi River; in San Francisco over the San Francisco Bay; and on the National Mall in Washington, D.C..

 

During the annual Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival, Detroit, Michigan hosts one of the world's largest fireworks displays, over the Detroit River, to celebrate Independence Day in conjunction with Windsor, Ontario's celebration of Canada Day.

 

The first week of July is typically one of the busiest American travel periods of the year, as many people utilize the holiday for extended vacation trips

 

 

                    National Hot Dog Day

 

          

 

Щорічно 23 липня в США святкують Національний день хот-дога (National Hot Dog Day) – свято, присвячене традиційному американському блюду.

 

                                             Hot Dog Day

 

      No one knows for sure, where the term "hot dog" came from, but we do know that 1893 was declared the great year of "sausage in roll."

 

      National Hot Dog Day was officially established by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1957.

 

In 1994, The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council was instituted. It was to deal with the issues of quality, advertising and degustation of the hot dog product.

 

      Traditionally, members of the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council conduct competitions dedicated to the art of cooking hot dogs, proclaiming the four basic rules:

 

-Persons older than 18 are not allowed to pour ketchup over their hot dog;

 

-Hot dog in a bun may not be eaten from a plate, but with the hands only;

 

-The condiment lingering on the hands may not be washed but only licked off your fingers;

 

-In no case may a hot dog be put on a fine china dish - it is simply incompatible with the concept of «Hot Dog as the National American dish."

 

      According to the statistics, in recent years the consumption of hot dogs has increased, and the average American eats approximately 60 hot dogs per year.

      At the U.S. Independence Day, Americans consume about 150 million hot dogs. When stretched, this hot-dog chain would cover the distance between Washington and Los Angeles five times over.

 

 

                     Woof! Happy National Hot Dog Day!

 

                                   Hot diggity dog!

 

                          It's National Hot Dog Day!

 

Every July 23rd, the hot dog is honored with lots of information and fun facts about the wonderful wiener which has managed to capture America's hearts for well over a century.

 

Although not an official holiday, National Hot Dog Day is set to recognize one of the country's most popular street foods (with extra mustard, please) when it is observed this year on  Saturday, July 23, 2016.

 

Meanwhile, watch for local diners, national restaurant chains like Sonic, and major league baseball stadiums to join in the fun with National Hot Dog Day specials or free giveaways in celebration.

                   Hot dog fun facts for National Hot Dog Day

 

• The saying "as American as hot dogs, apple pie and baseball" comes from the fact that most hot dogs in America are consumed during baseball games. In fact, it's estimated that baseball fans will consume more than 26 million hot dogs at US baseball stadiums this season.

 

• During a typical summer, Americans will consume a total of 7 billion hot dogs.

 

 Historians say the "little sausages" first appeared

 in America when 19th century German immigrants

 began selling them from push carts in NYC. The

 nickname "dachshund dogs" later evolved  into the beloved hot dog.

• The most popular hot dog topping among adults? It's mustard, at 87.6%. Among kids, it's ketchup.

 

• More hot dogs are eaten in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the country, beating out it's old rival New York City which now comes in second.

 

• Speaking of the Big Apple, the nation's most famous competitive eating contest takes place each year during Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on the 4th of July in Coney Island.

 

 

                       How to celebrate National Hot Dog Day

 

On National Hot Dog Day, head for the supermarket, the corner diner or restaurant, or your local street vendor to enjoy (what else?) a hot dog with all your favorite toppings in honor of the day.

 

In the backyard, grill up a bunch of hot dogs on the barbecue. Just remember to use tongs when lifting them on or off. A fork pierces the meat and lets the flavorful juices escape which often results in a dry dog.

 

Sitting around the laptop with nothing to do? Check out funny Hot Dog Day e-cards to send to friends and family with your very best wishes for a very Happy National Hot Dog Day.

Finally, if your favorite toppings are limited to mustard or ketchup, get creative on National Hot Dog Day with new and tasty additions.

 

Try out this recipe for homemade pickle relish and you'll probably never buy store-bought again!

 

 

 Homemade Hot Dog Pickle Relish

 

 1 1/2 cups vinegar

 1 teaspoon mustard seeds

 1 teaspoon coriander seeds

 3 tablespoons brown sugar

 8 large dill pickles, diced

 1 small cooked red pepper, diced

 1 small cooked yellow pepper, diced

 1 small onion, diced

 2 tablespoons chopped dill

 salt and pepper to taste

 

1. In a medium saucepan, add vinegar, mustard seeds, and coriander seeds and bring to a slow boil.

 

 2. Cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients, and stir until blended. Cover and refrigerate for several hours to cool before serving.

 

Enjoy!

                   

 

                      Festival of Ballooning

 

 

 

Фестиваль повітряних кульок в Нью-Джерсі – 2016.  

Дата свята унікальна для кожного року.

В 2016 році ця дата - 29 липня. Фестиваль повітряних кульок в Нью-Джерсі (Festival of Ballooning) – це один з найвеличніших фестивалей в Північній  Америці.

 

In 1983, Bill Lewis working with people from, brought approximately ten hot air balloons to the Union 76 Truck Stop on Interstate 78 in New Jersey for the inaugural event. After two years they moved the festival to its current site at Solberg Airport where it grew to 40-50 balloons and 30, 000-40, 000 attendees.

 

In 1993, Howard Freeman and John Korff acquired the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning and signed a long term deal with Solberg Airport. That same year they secured a long term sponsorship agreement with Quick Chek Food Stores. In time, the festival has become the largest event in New Jersey and the largest summertime balloon festival in North America.

 

Korff and Freeman, whose only previous experience with balloons was watching the movie "The Wizard of Oz, " decided to attend the Thunderbird Balloon Classic in Arizona to see what the "hot air" was all about. Both entrepreneurs were immediately impressed by the amount of traffic and the number of people who appeared "spellbound" by the sight of dozens of hot air balloons in the sky.

 

In that time, Freeman and Korff have grown the festival not only into the largest event in New Jersey, but into the largest summertime balloon festival in North America. Now, backed by more than fifty corporate partners, including title sponsor Quick Chek Food Stores, the festival has grown in stature both nationally and internationally. Recently the festival was designated for the fifth time as one of the top one hundred events in North America by the American Bus Association and also was the recipient of the Governor's award for the Best Special Event in New Jersey.

In 2000, to differentiate the festival from other balloon festivals, major concerts were added to the festival. The first concert presented the legendary band, The Beach Boys. Each subsequent festival included three major concerts. Headliners have included The Doobie Brothers, Hall & Oates, Styx, Foreigner, America, Jonas Brothers and KC & the Sunshine Band.

 

This year's 31st Annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning will attract more than 175, 000 people from all over the United States. In fact, the festival is only 35 miles from New York City, Philadelphia and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; 30 miles from Newark and 25 miles from Trenton.

 

While the Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning is designed to offer fun for people of all ages, Freeman and Korff have also dedicated their efforts, through the festival, to helping the community. A portion of all proceeds from the festival are donated to the Children's Miracle Network, which funds three pediatric hospitals in New Jersey. Last year, more than $175, 000 was raised by the festival for local charities bringing the total contribution for the 19 years of Freeman and Korff's management to over 2 million dollars returned to local and regional non-profits.

 

 

            United States Coast Guard Day

 

  

 

День берегової  охорони в США святкують щорічно 4 серпня. Саме в цей день в 1790 році Конгресом США був даний наказ почати будівництво флоту країни. Основні заходи, присвячені Дню берегової охорони, проходять в містечку Гран-Хэйвен штата Мічиган, де и почалось створення берегової охорони. Там 4 серпня проходить фестиваль військово – морських сил США, в якому приймають участь місцеві жителі, військові резервисти, військові у відставці та гості міста.                        

 

                          

 

                United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Day, 1989

 

               By the President of the United States of America

 

                                   A Proclamation

 

This year marks the 50th anniversary of one of our Nation's most effective voluntary organizations: the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

 

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard. During the past 50 years, its members have helped to ensure the safety of those Americans who participate in water-related activities. Dedicated to promoting safe, efficient vessel operation and increased knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing boating, the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a variety of public education programs. It provides boating safety instruction from kindergarten to the college level, as well as a special course for physically challenged boaters. The Auxiliary also performs courtesy marine examinations of safety equipment on recreational boats.

 

Through its support of the Cooperative Charting Program conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Survey, the Coast Guard Auxiliary assists in the updating of nautical charts. Auxiliary members also assist in search and rescue operations on the high seas or other navigable waters, even at the risk of their own safety.

 

As the popularity of recreational boating and other water-related activity increases, the voluntary efforts of the more than 35,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will become even more important. In recognition of the generosity, concern, and personal sacrifices of the members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Congress, by House Joint Resolution 111, has designated June 23, 1989, as "United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this day.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 23, 1989, as United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Day.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirteenth.

 

                                                                             GEORGE BUSH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                       Smokey Bear Day

 

           9 серпня - День захисту лісу від пожежі в США.

9 серпня в США святкують день з незвичайною назвою — День Димняшки,  Smokey Bear Day. Це - День захисту лесу від пожеж. Димняшка — це симпатичний ведмедик, який попереджає про пожежі в лісі.

 

       

 

                              The Story of Smokey Bear

 

The time? The early 1950’s. The place? A forest in New Mexico. The situation? An American black bear cub surrounded by a raging wildfire climbs to the top of a tree to escape the flames. What happens? He survives—thanks to firefighters who find and rescue him. They name him Smokey and send him to live at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C.

This real life Smokey Bear became the living symbol of the Forest Service’s Smokey Bear campaign that—to this day—works to educate the public about wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear needs your help now more than ever. If our nation’s wildlands (forests, grasslands, and rangelands) are destroyed by fire, Smokey and his animal friends have no home and you can’t enjoy the great outdoors. It can take your lifetime or longer for a forest to recover from a disastrous wildfire.

 

     

 

 

 

                         Elvis Presley Day

 

                 16 серпня - День пам”яті Елвіса Преслі.

16 серпня в південному американському місті Мемфисі (Memphis) проходить традиційний День пам”яти Елвіса Преслі (Elvis Presley Day), співака, музиканта і каратиста. Кожний рік в серпні тисячі прихильників  короля рок-н-роллу з”їзджаються в Мемфіс.

 

                  

 

Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American musician and actor.

Regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century, he is often referred to as "the King of Rock and Roll", or simply, "the King".

 

Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, as a twinless twin, and when he was 13 years old, he and his family relocated to Memphis, Tennessee. His music career began there in 1954, when he recorded a song with producer Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was an early popularizer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who managed the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number-one hit in the United States. He was regarded as the leading figure of rock and roll after a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines that coincided with the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, made him enormously popular—and controversial.

 

In November 1956, he made his film debut in Love Me Tender. In 1958, he was drafted into military service. He resumed his recording career two years later, producing some of his most commercially successful work before devoting much of the 1960s to making Hollywood films and their accompanying soundtrack albums, most of which were critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed televised comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley was featured in the first globally broadcast concert via satellite, Aloha from Hawaii. Several years of prescription drug abuse severely damaged his health, and he died in 1977 at the age of 42.

 

       

                     National Waffle Day

 

 

National Waffle Day is celebrated on August 24 in the United States. There is an International Waffle Day which falls on March 25. National Waffle Day shares August 24 with National Peach Pie Day. Traditionally, waffles are made up of butter, sugar, eggs and flour. The eggs are usually separated, with the whites being beaten until they are stiff. The egg whites are folded into the batter after the remaining ingredients are blended. The mixture is poured into circles and cooked on a griddle or a waffle iron.

 

Waffles are commonly topped with cinnamon, chocolate chips, whipped cream, maple syrup and an assortment of fruit, including bananas, blueberries and strawberries.

 

 

 

 

                            National Waffle Day History

 

The origins of National Waffle Day begin back in 1869, when a man named Cornelius Swarthout from Troy, New York obtained the first U.S. patent for a waffle iron. The device was essentially a griddle with a cover so people could easily flip it over. This helped cook the waffle evenly on both sides. Swarthout's waffle iron worked in conjunction with the coal stoves of the time.

 

Waffles have roots as far back as the ancient Greeks, but were first introduced to the United States by pilgrims in 1620. In 1735, the modern spelling of "waffle" was seen in English print for the first time. 1869 saw the first U.S. patent of a waffle iron by Swarthout. Frank Dorsa would make his Eggo Frozen Waffles available in grocery stores in 1953. The mid-1960s would give rise to the Belgian waffle, made famous by restaurateur Maurice Vermersch.

 

 Celebration

 

Restaurants commonly offer special discounts on waffles during National Waffle Day. Additionally, people cook waffles at home for friends and family. The food holiday is an occasion to celebrate the history, taste and culture of waffles. The are no nationally recognized events organized for National Waffle Day.

 

           

 

                  Women's Equality Day

 

 

                                Women Equality history

 

 

      Today, when Americans celebrate Women's Equality Day, the United States continue to advocate for women's rights around the world.

 

      The holiday was introduced by Bella Abzug and was first celebrated in 1971.

 

      Bella Abzug (July 24, 1920 - March 31, 1998) was an American politician, lawyer, social activist, writer, news commentator and feminist with Russian roots (her parents emigrated to the United States from Russia). In 1970 she became the first Jewish woman elected to U.S. Congress where she worked from 1971 till 1976. She is remembered not only for her political activity, but also because of her large hat both items attracted particular attention to Mrs. Abzug.

      But the history of establishing Women's Equality Day goes back to the middle of the 19th century. In 1848 a group of enthusiasts gathered for a conference on women's rights in Seneca Falls and proclaimed that "all men and women are created equal" and that "creator endowed them with certain unalienable rights."

 

      The gathering turned into a national movement that led to the adoption, in 1920, of the 19th amendment (Woman Suffrage Amendment) to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women full voting rights.

 

      The adoption of this amendment was the climax of a mass movement for civil rights of women, which had lasted for many decades in a row. However, it took many a year to see the implementation of this law into practice, so that all women regardless of color or race could fully enjoy their rights.

 

      It is a well-known fact that in some countries, women are still facing such extreme human rights violations, as female circumcision; many are forced into prostitution or into getting married as a child in premature age.