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Unit 4

HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS

CULTURAL POINTS

Americans get a lot less paid vacation time than people in
Europe with about ten days being the average. Some employees
also get "personal days" they can use for whatever reason they
choose. There are also nine legal holidays throughout the year.
Students get a much longer summer vacation, nearly three months
long but they have fewer long breaks throughout the year.
Robins are not a symbol of Christmas to Americans.

LOVE THOSE HOLIDAYS!

Americans have a lot to learn about taking time off. Since
most Americans don't get much more than two weeks of paid vaca-
tion a year, the legal, or public, holidays provide welcome breaks.
Most holidays are observed on a Monday in order to give people
long weekends, regardless of the day on which the actual event
falls. Where you live can affect the number of holidays you have
beyond the basic nine: individual states decide on any other
holidays that will be observed, such as Good Friday and Columbus
Day, which are not holidays in all states, and Mardi Gras, which is
celebrated only in Louisiana.
Many people who work in restaurants and stores, however,
still have to work on holidays, because holidays are a great excuse
for sales and other events. For example, the day after Thanksgiving
marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping season, and huge
end-of-year sales start the day after Christmas. Shopping on these
days is not a good idea if you hate crowds.
Boxing Day is not celebrated in the United States, although
it is observed in Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated in Canada, but
in October.
Two uniquely American holidays are the fourth of July and
Thanksgiving. The Fourth of July celebrates the signing of the