U.S.A. Cultural Information
What is
American culture?
There is no single answer to this question. The reason is because the United States of America is a diverse land. Covering more than 9.6 million square kilometers, the U.S. is home to more than 311 million people.
While there are values that unite Americans, you will find that a large, urban area like Los Angeles, California has a very different culture and way of life than a small town like Oxford, Mississippi. When nearly three thousand miles separate people on the west coast from those on the east coast, there are sure to be differences!
- Research your location in the U.S. to get a feel for the culture, cost, and climate.
- Most people face culture shock upon arrival. This is normal!
- Allow time to adjust and miss family and friends.
- It is COLD in the winter and HOT in the summer!
Learn more about the climate of where you will be living.
Culture Shock
Advice
- The program is what you make of it… Get involved! Ask your supervisors and peers about volunteer opportunities in the community.
- Be independent, but seek help if you need it.
- Keep a journal/diary/scrapbook of your memories. This will be something great to share with your family when you return to your home country. This could be hand written or online via a blog or social media.
- Reach out to fellow international participants via Facebook, Twitter or Instragram using #AAG!
Find Useful
Local Information
You can find information on local events here by clicking on the interactive map states
Federal
HOLIDAYS
There are 11 federal holidays in the U.S. calendar year. In 2023, these holidays will fall on the following dates:
- Jan 1st – New Year’s Day
- Feb 29th – President’s Day
- Jan 16th – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- May 29th – Memorial Day
- June 19th – Juneteenth
- July 4th – Independence Day
- Sept 4th – Labor Day
- Oct 9th – Columbus Day
- Nov 11th – Veteran’s Day
- Nov 23rd – Thanksgiving
- Dec 25th – Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
January 1New Year’s Day is January 1. The celebration of this holiday begins the night before, when Americans gather to wish each other a happy and prosperous coming year. Many Americans make New Year’s resolutions.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Third Monday in JanuaryThe Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. was an African-American clergyman who is recognized for his tireless efforts to win civil rights for all people through nonviolent means.
Presidents’ Day
Third Monday of FebruaryWashington’s Birthday is in honor George Washington, the first President of the United States. This date is commonly called Presidents’ Day and many groups honor the legacy of past presidents on this date.
Memorial Day
Last Monday of MayIt originally honored the people killed in the American Civil War, but has become a day on which the American dead of all wars are remembered.
Independence Day
July 4This holiday honors the nation’s birthday – the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It is a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts, and fireworks.
Labor Day
First Monday of SeptemberThis holiday honors the nation’s working people, typically with parades. For most Americans it marks the end of the summer vacation season and the start of the school year.
Columbus Day
Second Monday in OctoberThe day commemorates October 12, 1492, when Italian navigator Christopher Columbus landed in the New World. The holiday was first proclaimed in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Veterans Day
November 11It honors veterans of all wars in which the U.S. has fought. Veterans’ organizations hold parades, and the president places a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Thanksgiving Day
Fourth Thursday in NovemberIn the fall of 1621, the Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The Thanksgiving feast became a national tradition and almost always includes some of the foods served at the first feast: roast turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, and pumpkin pie.
Christmas Day
December 25Christmas is a Christian holiday marking the birth of the Christ Child. Decorating houses and yards with lights, putting up Christmas trees, giving gifts, and sending greeting cards have become holiday traditions.