Celebrate U.S. holidays with these primary source collections! And don't miss these holiday blog posts from Teaching with the Library of Congress. January New Year’s Day January 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day third Monday in January January/February Lunar New Years begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar February Valentine's Day March St. Patrick's Day March/April Jewish Passover April April Fools' Day Easter first full moon after the March … [Read more...]
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Celebrating America
What do you see in this image? Jot down notes about what you see. What do you think about the details you noticed? How does this source make you feel? What questions do you have? Read the article from America's Library, Independence Day: Americans Celebrate the Birth of Their Nation, then answer the question at the end about how you celebrate. Why do you think we have fireworks display on July 4th, the day the U.S. celebrates its birth as a country? Do you think it is important for … [Read more...]
Today in History: Independence Day
Today in History–July 4–the Library of Congress features Independence Day, marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on this day in 1776. The first anniversary was a spontaneous celebration, as John Adams recounted in a letter to his daughter Abigail. After the War of 1812, Independence Day celebrations became more common. Learn more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access stories and primary sources related to all-American … [Read more...]
Today in History: Halloween
Today in History–October 31–the Library of Congress features Halloween. On this day many Americans celebrate spookiness and becoming someone else by dressing in costumes. To learn more about the origins of this fun-filled holiday and ideas for finding unique Halloween primary sources, visit the Today in History section then click the links below to access more primary sources related to Halloween, ghosts, and witches. Primary source collections LOC Halloween Chambers of Mystery posters … [Read more...]