I have used a collection of videos and a reading packet in my US history classes to discuss some of the different cultural holidays in the US and what they represent. Because of class pacing, the US Civil War falls somewhere close to the first week of October or Valentines Day, so I have created a micro unit to look at immigration at the end of the 1800s and the different movements to create holidays (St. Patrick’s day, Emancipation Day, Cinco de Mayo, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day). What’s important to know is that many holidays in the US are tied to cultural touchstones and civic advocacy. Sharing these truths with students and the stories behind the days and remembrances is an important part of any Civic minded classroom. You can use the links below to check out some of the resources I use to teach these different holidays and events.

Here are some amazing resources on the history and traditions of US Holidays.

• How a Mexican Holiday Became a Party in the USA National Geographic
• How America Invented St. Patricks Day Time Magazine
• Juneteenth and Emancipation Day National Museum of African American History
• Juneteenth: The History of a Holiday NYTimes
• What is Juneteenth? PBS
• Columbus Day vs Leif Erikson Day National Geographic
• Columbus Day and Indigenous People’s Day National Geographic