National Celebrations in the USA

Chicago

There is a huge city in the northeastern part of the USA near Lake Michigan.

In America, there are many large cities, but I would like to tell about Chicago.

Chicago is the third-largest city in the United States and one of the country's leading industrial, commercial, financial and transport centres. It extends some 47 km along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, occupying flatland traversed by two short rivers: the Chicago River and the Calumet River.

The city's rapid growth was due to its location, with ready access to markets and raw materials; it has one of the world's busiest airports — O'Hare International Airport.

Chicago is America's most important haulage centre and is a significant port for both domestic and international trade. Great Lakes freighters and river barges deliver such commodities as iron ore, coal, chemicals, oil and grain.

The Chicago metropolitan area has the highest number of manufacturing employees in the United States. City's largest employers are the electrical goods industry, followed by the steel, machinery, fabricated metals, foods, printing and publishing, chemicals and transport equipment industries.

Chicago has one of the world's most beautiful lakefronts.

The world's first skyscraper was constructed in Chicago, in 1885. The central part of the city has several of the world's tallest buildings, including the Sears Tower, which at 110 storey high is the tallest in the United States. Construction of tall office buildings continues.

Chicago is a major centre of higher education, with numerous colleges and universities. The prestigious University of Chicago founded in 1890 was the site of the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction. It happened in 1942.

San Francisco

San Francisco is a special place, very different from most American cities. It lies on a small finger of land with the Pacific Ocean on one side and a huge harbour on the other. San Francisco's population is only about 700 000 but it is the biggest business centre in the west of the USA. It is also America's most international city with newspapers in thirty different languages. The city is known as "the Paris of the West".

Most people enjoy the climate in San Francisco. It's never too hot and never really cold. The sea winds are healthy and they make you hungry. And it's good to be hungry in San Francisco because the food is fabulous with more than 2600 restaurants serving food from all over the world.

There are at least three small cities in San Francisco: "Little Italy", with its pizzerias and restaurants, "Chinatown" with wonderful shops and exciting food and "Japan-town". And everywhere you go you will see boats out on the sea, smell fresh and salt and feel the sea wind on your face.

If you live in San Francisco you get plenty of exercise, because it's a city of hills. Perhaps that's why the famous cablecars are so popular. And of course the views from the hills are spectacular.

European discovery and exploration of the San Francisco Bay area and its' islands began in 1542. In 1579, Sir Francis Drake and his crew arrived in Golden Hind and spent five weeks repairing the ship and meeting with the natives. The Spanish found the entrance to the bay in 1769, and by 1776, the first colonizing party arrived to found the San Francisco and Mission Dolores.

In 1869, the first train arrived in San Francisco and in 1870 San Francisco became the tenth largest city in the United States. A large Chinese population of labourers recruited in the 1840s and 1850's settled there. Irish immigrants settled into the Mission area and French, Italian, German, Russian, Australian, Jewish and many other nationalities contributed to the city's development and growing.

San Francisco was a tiny settlement before the Gold Rush of 1849. The Gold Rush brought wild crowds of people to the city and surroundings.

After the rush was over, many prospectors returned from the gold fields and settled in the city, realizing that fortunes could be made just as well there. Mercantile establishments, small industries, and shipping to the Orient brought prosperity to the newcomers. San Francisco attracted a colourful array of characters. Famous writers such as Jack London and Mark Twain were there.

The 1906 Earthquake and fire devastated the city. But with its spirit, the city rebuilt itself—into a grander city than even before. And it was no surprise that there is the Golden Gate Bridge—one of the world's longest suspension bridges — over icy-cold, shark infested bay. It has the highest bridge towers ever made.

San Francisco hosts over 16 million people every year. Everyone knows about the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Chinatown.

San Francisco is a popular location any time of the year. Summer is the prime tourist season, so prices are higher, lines are longer. One can go to most of the popular destinations: Union Square, North Beach, Chinatown, Ghirardelli Square and the Financial District.

The US Political System

The USA is a presidential republic. The legislative power of the USA is vested in the Congress of the USA. The Congress was created by Article I of the Constitution, adopted in 1787. It consists of two chambers — the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is made up of 100 members (2 from each state) elected for a term of 4 years. One third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. To be elected a Senator, a person must be at least 30 years old, and have been a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years. The House of Representatives comprises representatives from each state, elected for a two-year term. The number of representatives from each state depends on its population, but each state is represented. To be elected a representative, a person must be at least 25 years old, and have been a citizen of the USA for at least 7 years. The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing commissions in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives. The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President's term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, elected for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads often executive departments; Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense and others.

The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.
The USA is a federal union, and the President is the head of the federal government, which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and state government headed by the congress and managing their local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA. The US national flag — stars and stripes — is red, white and blue. Thirteen stripes represent the original 13 states the 50 stars represent the current number of states in the USA.

 

January:
the 1st of January — New Years Day
the 15th January — Martin Luther King Day
February:
the third Monday — Presidents Day
the 14th of February — St Valentines Day
May:
the fourth Monday — Memorial Day
July:
the 4th of July — Independence Day
September:
the first Monday — Labour Day
October:
the 12th of October — Columbus Day
the 31st of October — Halloween
November:
the 11th of November — Veterans Day
the fourth Thursday — Thanksgiving Day
December:
the 25th of December — Christmas

Americans share three holidays with many countries: Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Easter, which falls on a spring Sunday that varies from year to year, celebrates the Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and the gathering of family. Many Americans follow old traditions of colouring hard-boiled eggs and giving children baskets of candies.

On the next day, Easter Monday, the president of the United States holds an annual Easter egg hunt in White House lawn for young children. Christmas day, December 25, is another Christian holiday, it marks the birth of the Christ Child. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become traditions even for many non-Christian Americans.

New Year's Day, of course, is in January. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year.