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Read the article and do the quiz. After that research a little bit about this celebration, how do they celebrate it and what are the most commons presents for this celebration?

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Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on 14 February.

It's the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love.

Who was St Valentine?

Getty Images

The day gets its name from a famous saint, but there are several stories of who he was.

The popular belief about St Valentine is that he was a priest from Rome in the third century AD.

Emperor Claudius II had banned marriage because he thought married men were bad soldiers. Valentine felt this was unfair, so he broke the rules and arranged marriages in secret.

When Claudius found out, Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death.

There, he fell in love with the jailer's daughter and when he was taken to be killed on 14 February he sent her a love letter signed "from your Valentine".
If you cannot see the interactive activity on this page, click here.
How did Valentine's Day start?

Having a particular Valentine's Day is a very old tradition, thought to have originated from a Roman festival.

The Romans had a festival called Lupercalia in the middle of February - officially the start of their springtime.

Getty Images

It's thought that as part of the celebrations, boys drew names of girls from a box. They'd be boyfriend and girlfriend during the festival and sometimes they'd get married.

Later on, the church wanted to turn this festival into a Christian celebration and decided to use it to remember St Valentine too.

Gradually, St Valentine's name started to be used by people to express their feelings to those they loved.

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What is Valentine's Day and how did it start? - CBBC Newsround

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Valentine's Day, or St Valentine's Day, is celebrated every year on 14 February. It's the day when people show their affection for another person or people by sending cards, flowers or chocolates with messages of love. Getty Images The day gets its name from a famous saint, but there are several stories of who he was.

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Watch this Excerpt of the cartoon Sponge Bob, and discuss the differences between this date in Brazil and in the United States of America.

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SpongeBob SquarePants: Valentine’s Day Part 1/4

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Access the site and watch the video The History of Saint Patrick`s Day.

Answer these questions:

Where was he born?

What happened when he was 16 years old?

What did he decide to do when he came back to his birth country?

Tell me about the two myths.

When and where did the first parade take place?

How do people celebrate this day today?

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St. Patrick's Day is a global celebration of Irish culture that takes place annually on March 17, the anniversary of the patron saint of Ireland's death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.

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Take a look at some landmarks that turn green for this date.

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Look at the map, identify Ireland on it and answer the question:

What countries are near Ireland?

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How the European Union started

In the beginning, only 6 countries in Europe started working together:

Soon, more and more countries in Europe joined them
and the European Union was made.

The goals and values of the European Union

All countries that are part of the European Union work together
to make sure that:

Free move

The European Union made it easier for people
to move freely from one country to another.
They can live, study or work
in any country of the European Union they want.
For example, a person from France can choose
to move to Italy and work there.
Or a student from Belgium can go study in a university in Greece.

Things, services and money can also move freely
from one country of the European Union to another.

The European Union in the world

The European Union plays an important role in the world in many ways.
For example:

It sells many things and services to other countries.
Also, it buys things from other countries.
This way it helps the world economy keep going.

It helps millions of people
who live in poorer countries outside the European Union.

It tries to make the world a safer place
where people are treated fairly and laws are respected.

Becoming part of the European Union

To become part of the European Union,
a country must:

Some countries are now working to become part of the European Union.
These countries are:

The Schengen Area

The European Union made the ' Schengen Area '.

Thanks to the Schengen Area, it is now easier for people
to travel for work or tourism.

The Schengen Area was made in 1985.
Today 23 out of the 27 countries of the European Union
are part of the Schengen Area.

These countries are:

Also, 4 countries outside the European Union
are part of the Schengen Area:

Languages of the European Union

That is why the European Union
makes all important information and documents
in all the languages that people speak in its countries:

This way all people in the European Union
can get important information in their own language
and understand it.

The coin of the European Union

Most countries that are part of the European Union use the same coin.

The European flag

This is the flag of the European Union:

The European anthem

Every country has a melody
that better shows its values and culture as a country.
This melody is called ' anthem '.

The European Union has its own anthem too.
In 1985, people who make decisions
in the European Union
chose a melody of a very important composer
to be the anthem of the European Union.

This composer is called Ludwig van Beethoven.

United in diversity

The European Union uses the phrase ' united in diversity'
to show what its values are.

Being united in diversity means that:

How the European Union works

The European Union has 3 main bodies:

These 3 bodies are very important for the European Union.
They work closely together to make things better in Europe:

The European Commission suggests laws.

The European Parliament
and theCouncil of the European Union
discuss these laws and decide if they want these laws
to happen in Europe.

If they decide that a law must happen in Europe,
all countries of the European Union
must work to make this law happen in them.

Other bodies that are important for the European Union are:

The Court of Justice of the European Union
that makes sure that all laws happen correctly
in the European Union.

the Court of Auditors
that checks if the money of the European Union
is spent in the right way.

There are also other bodies of the European Union
that are doing important work.
For example, there are bodies that:

agree with all the laws and values
of the European Union.

work to make sure these laws and values
are respected.

This may take a very long time to happen.

The melody shows how important it is
that all people are free, live in peace
and stand by each other.
The European Union believes in these values
and that is why it has chosen this melody
to be its anthem.

If you want to listen to the anthem of the European Union, .

check if the European Union works in the right
way and respects the rights of all people.

publish useful information
about the European Union.

choose the people who have the skills
to work for the European Union.

stand for the rights of all people in Europe
like people with disabilities, workers and others.

All these bodies work together to make sure that the European Union works
in the right way for the good of its people.

Click here to find more information
about the European Union in your own language.

If you have questions about the European Union,
you can fill this online form here.

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Easy to read - about the EU | European Union

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Our easy-to-read version of the EU website can be read and understood by everyone, including people with intellectual disabilities. Take a look.

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A photo from a U.S.A. store.

Tell me what do you know about this celebration in a small paragraph 40 - 60 words.

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Explore the site and tell me what you learn from it.

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The Declaration of Independence

We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.

But July 4, 1776 wasn't the day that the Continental Congress decided to declare independence (they did that on July 2, 1776).

It wasn't the day we started the American Revolution either (that had happened back in April 1775).

And it wasn't the day Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence (that was in June 1776). Or the date on which the Declaration was delivered to Great Britain (that didn't happen until November 1776). Or the date it was signed (that was August 2, 1776).

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

The Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. They'd been working on it for a couple of days after the draft was submitted on July 2nd and finally agreed on all of the edits and changes.

July 4, 1776, became the date that was included on the Declaration of Independence, and the fancy handwritten copy that was signed in August (the copy now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.) It's also the date that was printed on the Dunlap Broadsides, the original printed copies of the Declaration that were circulated throughout the new nation. So when people thought of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 was the date they remembered.

In contrast, we celebrate Constitution Day on September 17th of each year, the anniversary of the date the Constitution was signed, not the anniversary of the date it was approved. If we'd followed this same approach for the Declaration of Independence we'd being celebrating Independence Day on August 2nd of each year, the day the Declaration of Independence was signed!

How did the Fourth of July become a national holiday?

For the first 15 or 20 years after the Declaration was written, people didn't celebrate it much on any date. It was too new and too much else was happening in the young nation. By the 1790s, a time of bitter partisan conflicts, the Declaration had become controversial. One party, the Democratic-Republicans, admired Jefferson and the Declaration. But the other party, the Federalists, thought the Declaration was too French and too anti-British, which went against their current policies.

By 1817, John Adams complained in a letter that America seemed uninterested in its past. But that would soon change.

After the War of 1812, the Federalist party began to come apart and the new parties of the 1820s and 1830s all considered themselves inheritors of Jefferson and the Democratic-Republicans. Printed copies of the Declaration began to circulate again, all with the date July 4, 1776, listed at the top. The deaths of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams on July 4, 1826, may even have helped to promote the idea of July 4 as an important date to be celebrated.

Celebrations of the Fourth of July became more common as the years went on and in 1870, almost a hundred years after the Declaration was written, Congress first declared July 4 to be a national holiday as part of a bill to officially recognize several holidays, including Christmas. Further legislation about national holidays, including July 4, was passed in 1939 and 1941.

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united states (u.s.) declaration of independence

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signers of the declaration of independence

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Declaration of Independence Full Text, US Independence Day Facts | Constitution Facts

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Declaration of Independence Facts. Declaration of Independence Activities and Lesson Plans for Educators. Important Dates to Remember. Learn About the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Read the Declaration of Independence and Test Your Knowledge with our Declaration of Independence Quiz.

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Watch the video and answer these questions:

What are some curiosities mentions on the video?

What are the symbols of Independence Day?

Who was one of the group leader that wrote the Independence Day Declaration?

How do people celebrate the date?

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INDEPENDENCE DAY 2025 🇺🇸| History & Facts for Kids | 4th July #usa 🇺🇸

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A video from a parade on July 4th in Lansing MI, 2025.

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A parade on July 4th in Lansing MI, 2025.

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Read the article and summarize how the celebration changed through the years (60 - 80 words).l

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Halloween Timeline: How the Holiday Has Changed Over the Centuries | HISTORY

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Halloween’s origins can be traced to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Over the centuries, Halloween evolved, t…

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Search: How do people in the United States decorate their houses for Halloween?

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Would you buy something from this store to decorate your house?

Share your opinion with your colleague:

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After studying a little bit of Halloween, do this quiz to have fun and learn more about it.

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Watch the video and discuss in groups what do you understand about it.

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Thanksgiving Story for Kids - The First Thanksgiving Cartoon for Children | Kids Academy

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Read the site and compare information from the previous video. What is similar and what is different?

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Why was Thanksgiving proclaimed a day of honor by both Washington and Lincoln? No, it's not about a Pilgrim feast. (Speaking of Pilgrims, whatever happened to them?) Learn more about the meaning of Thanksgiving, plus find history, trivia, quotes, and more.

When Is Thanksgiving 2023?

The United States celebrates Thanksgiving as a national holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. In 2023, Thanksgiving will be observed on Thursday, November 23.

Thanksgiving has been held on the fourth Thursday in November since 1941, which means that the actual date of the holiday shifts each year. The earliest Thanksgiving can occur is November 22; the latest is November 28.

President Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving from the fourth Thursday to the third Thursday in November in 1938. However, this was not a very popular move. (Read more about this story below.)

In Canada, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In 2023, it was observed on Monday, October 9. Read more about Canadian Thanksgiving here!

History of Thanksgiving

Native Americans in North America celebrated harvest festivals for centuries before Thanksgiving was formally established in the United States. Colonial services for these festivals date back to the late 16th century. The autumnal feasts celebrated the harvest of crops after a season of bountiful growth.

In the 1600s, settlers in Massachusetts and Virginia had feasts to thank for surviving, fertile fields, and their faith. The Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, had their infamous Thanksgiving feast in 1621 with the Wampanoag Native Americans.

This three-day feast is considered the "first" Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies. However, there were other recorded ceremonies of thanks on these lands. In 1565, Spanish explorers and the local Timucua people of St. Augustine, Florida, celebrated a mass of thanksgiving. In 1619, British settlers proclaimed a day of thanksgiving when they reached a site known as Berkeley Hundred on the banks of Virginia's James River.

Of course, the idea of "thanksgiving" for the harvest is as old as time, with records from the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Native American cultures, too, have a rich tradition of giving thanks at harvesttime feasts, which began long before Europeans appeared on their soil. And well after the Pilgrims, for more than two centuries, individual colonies and states celebrated days of thanksgiving.

How Did the Pilgrims Come to Settle Here?

Initially, when certain men and women of Scrooby, England, were persecuted for separating themselves from the Church of England, they, as Pilgrims, fled to Leiden, Holland. Upon the execution of separatist leader James of Barneveld there on May 13, 1619, they realized that Holland was no freer than England and prepared to go to America.

On July 20, 1620, after putting their plans into effect, they asked for the parting words of their beloved pastor, John Robinson. The next day, they boarded the ship Speedwell, anchored where the canal from Leiden, then entered the Maas (or Meuse, a river flowing into the North Sea) at Delfshaven, and sailed for Southampton, England.

After misadventures and more farewells, these brave 102 souls departed on the Mayflower on September 6, 1620.

The Mayflower arrived at what is now Provincetown, Massachusetts, at the tip of a curved peninsula later named Cape Cod, on November 21 and, on that day, drew up one of the most significant documents of American history, the Mayflower Compact. The Compact was a constitution formed by the people-the beginning of popular government.

They then explored the lands along the bay formed by the peninsula. On December 22, after holding the first town meeting in America to decide where to build their homes, the Pilgrims went onshore at a site now called Plymouth Rock. There, on the shore above the rock, they settled. After 400 years, their descendants and those of the Puritans are still sailing along.

What Ever Happened to the Pilgrims?

The following highlights reveal what has transpired for the Pilgrims, their Puritan contemporaries, and the descendants of both.

1621: Over dinner with some of their Native American guests, gave thanks for their welfare

1621: Built a meetinghouse

1634: Forbade wearing gold and silver lace

1639: Started a college (Harvard)

1640: Set up a printing press

1647: Hanged a "witch" (Alse Young-the first person to be executed for witchcraft in the Thirteen Colonies)

1704: Printed the first newspaper, in Boston

1721: Were inoculated for smallpox

1776: Again declared themselves to be free and independent

1792: No doubt purchased the 1793 first edition of Robert B. Thomas's Farmer's Almanac. Today known as The Old Farmer's Almanac, this book is North America's oldest continuously published periodical.

Thanksgiving Becomes a National Holiday

The first national celebration of Thanksgiving was observed in honor of the creation of the new United States Constitution! In 1789, President George Washington issued a proclamation designating November 26 of that year as a "Day of Publick Thanksgivin" to recognize the role of providence in creating the new United States and the new federal Constitution.

Washington was in his first term as president, and a young nation had just emerged successfully from the Revolution. Washington called on the people of the United States to acknowledge God for affording them "an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness." This was the first time Thanksgiving was celebrated under the new Constitution.

Thanksgiving Becomes a Federal Holiday

While Thanksgiving became a yearly tradition in many communities-celebrated on different months and days that suited them-it was not yet a federal government holiday.

Thomas Jefferson and many subsequent presidents felt that a public religious demonstration of piety was not appropriate for a government type of holiday in a country based partly on the separation of church and state. While religious Thanksgiving services continued, no further presidential proclamations marked Thanksgiving until the Civil War of the 1860s.

It wasn't until 1863, during the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

Thanksgiving is observed on the last Thursday in November

President Lincoln proclaimed Thursday, November 26, 1863, as Thanksgiving. Lincoln's proclamation harkened back to Washington's, as he also thanked God following a bloody military confrontation.

In this case, Lincoln was expressing gratitude to God and thanks to the Army for emerging successfully from the Battle of Gettysburg. He enumerated the blessings of the American people. He called upon his countrymen to "set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." As of that year, Thanksgiving was celebrated on the last Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving is briefly moved to the third Thursday in November.

In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt changed Thanksgiving from the last Thursday in November to the second to the last Thursday. It was the tail-end of the Depression, and Roosevelt's goal was to create more shopping days before Christmas and boost the economy. However, many people continued to celebrate Thanksgiving on the last Thursday in November, unhappy that the holiday's date had been meddled with. You could argue, however, that this helped create the shopping craze known as Black Friday.

In 1941, to end any confusion, the president and Congress established Thanksgiving as a United States federal holiday to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, which is how it stands today!

Of course, Thanksgiving was not born of presidential proclamations. Read about Sarah Josepha Hale, the "Godmother of Thanksgiving," who helped turn this historic feast into a national holiday.

How Is Thanksgiving Different in Canada?

Thanksgiving Day in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday in October and has different origins than the American version of the holiday. The first Thanksgiving meal observed in what is now Canada occurred in 1578 when English explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a meal to thank God for granting them safe passage through the wilds of the New World.

Today, Canadians often visit with family and friends to celebrate. The Thanksgiving food traditions tend to be similar to their American neighbors: turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and cranberry sauce are traditional. Add some maple syrup for another Canadian twist! See some Maple Syrup recipes.

Canadian football is on the television, and many Canadians get outside for a nice hike or ramble in the woods since the weather has not yet changed for the worse. Everyone is thankful for the harvest!

Read more about the differences between Canadian and American Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Traditions and Rituals

Today, folks celebrate Thanksgiving for a multitude of reasons. For some, it remains a way to express gratitude for the harvest, for family, or to a higher power; for others, it's a holiday built upon being united as a family (in person or virtually!) and sharing in a special meal.

A bountiful feast featuring turkey has become the traditional Thanksgiving fare, with over 90% of Americans eating the bird on this holiday. But did you know that turkey was a rare treat at one time? During the 1830s, an eight- to ten-pound bird cost a day's wages!

Even though turkeys are much more affordable today, they remain a celebratory symbol of bounty. Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin ate roast turkey in foil packets for their first meal on the Moon. Do you think they had mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce?

The turkey may or may not have been offered when the Pilgrims hosted the inaugural feast in 1621. Read about what the Pilgrims ate and why we eat turkey today.

Other common Thanksgiving traditions in the United States include volunteering for those less fortunate by donating food or time to homeless shelters or those in need. Sometimes, communities hold "turkey trot" runs or parades. And the president of the United States and some U.S. governors will often "pardon" one or two Thanksgiving turkeys each year.

See some of our Thanksgiving trivia and fun facts:

Thanksgiving Controversy

Based on historical records, the shared feast between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people was bountiful and peaceful. It was a celebratory feast hosted by Pilgrims who invited their Native American allies in sincere gratitude for a successful harvest after much starvation. It's also a story of cooperation, trust, and peace. Giving thanks was a longstanding and central tradition among both parties.

However, history doesn't exist in isolation. If we pull back, this was not just about a friendly harvest festival but had much to do with political alliances, diplomacy, and the pursuit of peace. If we pull back even further, this is also the story of foreign settlers coming to immigrate to territories widely inhabited by native peoples-a long history of bloody conflict, strife, death, and wartime between Native Americans and European settlers seeking to colonize lands.

History is a rich, interwoven, never-ending book about which we can all learn more. To gain a complete understanding of events, it is important to research the context. The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian has some excellent resources about the meaning of the Thanksgiving holiday for American Indians.

Thanksgiving Weather Folklore

Turkeys perched on trees and refusing to descend indicates snow.

If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest in the coming year.

If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.

Thunder in November indicates a fertile year to come.

If there be ice in November that will bear a duck, there will be nothing thereafter but sleet and muck.

As November 21st, so the winter.

When the winter is early, it will not be late.

The term "Indian summer" refers to warm weather between November 11 and 20. Read more about Indian summers.

Thanksgiving Food: Dinner, Sides, Desserts

Is it your turn to prepare the Thanksgiving meal? Here are a few of our favorite Thanksgiving dinner recipes to give you some inspiration:

Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids & Adults

Perfect for kids and great for decorating the home, these holiday crafts are easy and fun!

Thanksgiving Poems and Quotes

Perhaps these poems and quotes will come in handy for your Thanksgiving card!

Ah! On Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South, come the pilgrim and guest,
What moistens the lip, and what brightens the eye?
What calls back the past like the rich pumpkin pie?
-J. G. Whittier

Over the river and through the wood-
Now grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun!
Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin-pie!
-Lydia Maria Child

Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain,
So open wide the doorway-
Thanksgiving comes again!
-Unknown

"An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day." -Irv Kupcinet, American columnist (1912-2003)

"Radical historians now tell the story of Thanksgiving from the point of view of the turkey." -Mason Cooley, U.S. aphorist

Happy Thanksgiving!

We give thanks to you and our Almanac community, and wish you a Thanksgiving feast that is both filling and full of grace this year!
What Thanksgiving traditions do you follow in your family? Let us know in the comments!

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When is Thanksgiving 2023? Traditions, History, and Recipes

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This year Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November- November 23. What is the true history of Thanksgiving in America-and whatever happened to the Pilgrims? What did George Washington intend it to be about? Get the facts!

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After watching and reading about this celebration, do the quiz in pairs.

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Do you have your Thanksgiving facts straight? Dig into this quiz and find out!

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Photo from a U.S.A store.

Would you buy these candles? What else would you buy to decorate your house for this celebration?

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Love Grows at Christmastime from the movie "Christmas Jars" | by One Voice Children's Choir

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Watch the trailer of the movie and tell what it is about.

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Christmas Jars | Official Trailer | On DVD & Digital now

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Read the site and discuss with your friends what you would like to do at Christmas time that you don't do with your family.

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The holiday season in the United States is a time like no other. As soon as Thanksgiving ends, the country rushes to prepare for the winter holidays. From Christmas movies to extravagant decorations, people stop at nothing to get in the holiday spirit. Here are 10 of our favorite holiday traditions!

1. Decorate the tree

Whether you get a real tree or a fake one, creating a perfect tree is a classic Christmas activity. Complete with lights, tinsel, baubles and ornaments, Christmas trees are one of the most traditional symbols of the holiday season. Put on some holiday music and gather your family and friends to "deck the halls" as you decorate your tree and get in the Christmas spirit.

2. Bake Christmas cookies

The holiday season is a time to indulge! A favorite tradition in the US is baking and decorating Christmas cookies. It's typical to use cookie cutters to make sugar cookie dough into holiday shapes like trees, stars, or wreaths. Once the cookies are baked, go crazy with red and green icing and sprinkles to really highlight the holiday season.

3. Write a letter to Santa (and the reindeer!)

In the US, tradition holds that Santa Claus travels all over the world on Christmas eve to deliver presents to children everywhere. Guided by his trusty team of flying reindeer (most famously, Rudolph), Santa's sleigh traverses the entire globe all in one night. Many children write letters to Santa to ask for special gifts. The night before Christmas, families leave out letters and cookies for Santa, and carrots for the reindeer. After all, Santa and his team must get hungry with all that traveling!

4. Look at the twinkly lights

During the holiday season, homes across the US are transformed into winter wonderlands. Filled with twinkling lights, nativity scenes, Santa figurines and so much more, it's incredible to look at all the holiday displays. A popular tradition is to walk or drive around the neighborhood to admire all the beautiful decorations. Some neighborhoods in New York and Los Angeles, like Dyker Heights in Brooklyn or Candy Cane Lane in LA, truly pull out all the stops!

5. Build a gingerbread house

Gingerbread is a food that doesn't get much recognition outside the holiday season. But, it shines bright as the star of an important tradition: building gingerbread houses! You can make your own gingerbread from scratch, or buy a kit at the grocery store to make things a little easier. Put your house together and cover it with icing, sprinkles, and gumdrops. You'll end up with a gorgeous creation that tastes good, too!

6. Sing Christmas carols

The holiday songbook has practically endless amounts of Christmas songs, both classic and modern. In the US, the age-old holiday tradition of caroling is still done today, although it might not be as popular. But, if you're in the mood to spread some holiday cheer, round up some musical friends and go door-to-door in your neighborhood, singing your favorite carols.

7. Exchange gifts

Giving gifts is a fun and thoughtful way to celebrate the people you love during the holiday season. There are a variety of popular gift exchanges, like "Secret Santa" or the silly tradition of "white elephant." For Secret Santa, people each choose a name at random and secretly buy gifts for whoever they've chosen. It's always fun to guess who your Secret Santa is when you receive your gift!

8. Wear an ugly sweater

Dressing up for holiday parties is one of the best parts of the season. It's fun to don your very best, complete with sequins and sparkles, hopefully. But, it can be even more fun to show up wearing a hallmark "ugly" Christmas sweater, complete with a silly saying or antiquated embroidery. Hunt for the perfect hideous knit at a thrift store, find one with a festive phrase online, or make your own. Extra points for garland and flashing lights!

9. Watch Christmas movies

When the weather outside is frightful, the best thing to do is settle in with a blanket, a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite Christmas movies. From timeless classics like It's A Wonderful Life to the hilarious journey of Buddy in Elf, there are so many holiday movies worth watching. Many TV channels even have countdowns to Christmas with a different movie every night. Here are some of our top movie picks for the holiday season - and they're great to practice English with, too!

10. Spend time with the people you love

Holiday traditions are the most fun when done with cherished friends and family. Whether baking cookies or caroling, decorating the tree or snuggling up on the couch with a classic holiday movie, being surrounded by your favorite people makes everything better. No matter what holidays you choose to celebrate, the season is a time to give thanks, reflect on the past year, and spend time with loved ones.

Study in New York or Pasadena and celebrate all of these holiday traditions in the US.

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Top 10 holiday traditions in the US ‹ EF Academy Blog ‹ EF Academy Blog

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From Christmas movies to extravagant decorations, people stop at nothing to get in the holiday spirit. Here are 10 of our favorite holiday traditions!