American holidays in January

It’s the new year, and do you know what that means?
In the US, there will be lots of holidays in the next 12 months. Everybody loves holidays!
What are the American holidays in January? Let’s look!

New Year’s Day

January 1st, it’s New Year’s Day.

In the US, it’s a tradition to eat cabbage, corned beef or pork, and black eyed peas  The vegetable, not the music group. We eat these foods to have money and good luck for the new year.

There’s more information and some recipes for traditional American New Year’s foods in this article

Of course, it’s nice to wish your American friends “Happy New Year”, but there are some “rules” that you should know. Nothing too serious, I promise. You can learn how to wish Happy New Year with this Speak English with Christina episode.

Epiphany

Jan. 6 is Epiphany. This is not really a huge holiday in the US. Macy’s department store doesn’t have special Epiphany sales, there are no big Epiphany decorations, and well… Epiphany just isn’t very exciting.

The beginning of Carnival season is exciting though. It begins on January 6th.  Carnival season is only celebrated in a small part of the US, along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana, Alabama, and where I’m from, in Mississippi.

We call Epiphany 12th Night. It opens the Mardi Gras season.  There are mardi gras balls every weekend, and also mardi gras parades on certain days. These are very lavish, fancy events, with a Mardi Gras king and queen, lots of sequins lots of dancing, and it’s really just a ton of fun!

Curious to see a real Mardi Gras Ball? Check out this video.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

You know the famous speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. “I have a dream”?

On the 3rd Monday in January, we remember America’s favorite Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. 18 years after his assassination in 1968 in Memphis, he got his own holiday in 1986.

In big cities, there are special events for the day. Americans are also encouraged to do public service projects on this day, like Obama, who went to soup kitchens to serve the poor on Martin Luther King Day.

This video shows Obama helping the poor for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. For me, it’s very inspirational and a reminder that we also need to take time in our busy lives to think of others and help them have a good life.

What about you?
Have you ever celebrated any of these holidays in the US? Would you like to?

Tell us in the comments below!

January is also the month to make New Year’s resolutions and to start doing good habits. Improving your English, for example.

If you want to improve your English in 2017, click here to learn about my Personal Fluency Coaching Program.

I wish you all the best for 2017! Happy New Year to you and let’s make this a great year for your English!

Happy New Year,
Christina

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