# What's the next holiday American culture should adopt? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306 "2016-04-28T02:12:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/41 "2016-04-28T22:20:51Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > We have Melbourne Cup Day. We literally get a day off for the sake of a horse race. Yeah, but you are missing the doosie. The Friday Before Grand Final holiday. Yep, the last working day before the AFL grand final (traditionally played on Saturday) is a public holiday in Victoria. Switch the focus to the Superbowl, or the start of the World Series, or NBL play-offs and you have a rolled gold excuse for the nation to drink Bud and holler USA! USA! USA!. ---
**Author:** ![CCitizen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4af34b/32.png) [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/42 "2016-04-28T22:53:34Z")
Homo Interneticus Appreciation day. ---
**Author:** ![Ramira](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ramira/32/344_2.png) [@Ramira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ramira)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/43 "2016-04-28T23:12:07Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > No love for Ramadan? The Ramadan is not a holiday. > [@kayaker](#): > > GF makes a tasty Ramadan soup, so there’s that. > > Does Ramadan involve presents? No, it is not a holiday. Eid El Fitr is a holiday, not the Ramadan. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/44 "2016-04-28T23:30:59Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > Actually, now that I think about it, Mexico’s [Day of the Dead](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead) seems like quite a lovely occasion. It’s celebrated at the same time as Halloween though, so I don’t see it being adopted as a “next” holiday. I am a little surprised that we haven’t seen more integration between Halloween and DotD customs. It seems like the perfect occasion for a little melting pot action. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2016, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/45 "2016-04-28T23:59:00Z")
I’d be thrilled if people got excited about Election Day… ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/46 "2016-04-29T00:03:19Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > It’s celebrated at the same time as Halloween though, so I don’t see it being adopted as a “next” holiday. I am a little surprised that we haven’t seen more integration between Halloween and DotD customs. It seems like the perfect occasion for a little melting pot action. To nitpick _back_, my intel says the holiday actually lasts a couple of days, only _starting_ on the 31st—an adding on, augmentation, or a (somewhat truncated) back-to-back observance (not unlike, say, Boxing Day), rather than outright _supplanting_ Halloween, certainly seems like it’d be plausible. Y’know, if we’re done spitballing, and we’re going to formally deliver a proposal to the Secretary of Holidays. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/47 "2016-04-29T00:44:35Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > We used to get Che Guevara Day off when I lived/worked in California. I miss that one. Would still work for me. Unless that is a whoosh, I think you mean Cesar Chavez. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/48 "2016-04-29T00:50:26Z")
Last Thursday ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/49 "2016-04-29T00:52:39Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Unless that is a whoosh, I think you mean Cesar Chavez. Ha ha! Laughing at myself because when I read that I didn’t even realize it said Che Guevara. I totally read it as Cesar Chavez. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/50 "2016-04-29T01:57:17Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Also Diwali. How can you guys not be all over Diwali? > [@Rhiannon8404](#): > > I was just coming to say Diwali. I love Diwali. The wife and I were fortunate to find ourselves in the town of Tansen, Nepal for Diwali one year. Or Deepavali I think they called it there, as some people do, but it’s the same festival. Very lovely. The town being on a mountain slope, seeing the little candles alight in the windows both above and below us was magical. Holi though I can do without. If there’s anything in the world worse than the Thai water-throwing festival of Songkran, where you can’t even walk down the block without a bunch of bozos drenching you repeatedly, and heaven help you if you’re a clueless tourist carrying expensive camera equipment, then it could have to be the powder-throwing festival of Holi. No, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/51 "2016-04-29T06:54:37Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > To nitpick _back_, my intel says the holiday actually lasts a couple of days, only _starting_ on the 31st—an adding on, augmentation, or a (somewhat truncated) back-to-back observance (not unlike, say, Boxing Day), rather than outright _supplanting_ Halloween, certainly seems like it’d be plausible. Y’know, if we’re done spitballing, and we’re going to formally deliver a proposal to the Secretary of Holidays. November 1st is All Saints’ Day on the Catholic calendar; November 2nd is All Souls’ Day. Halloween means All Hallows’ Eve–since many older traditions show special celebrations beginning at sundown of the previous day–like the Sabbath. The Church created the holy days to co-opt old European (sometimes called “Celtic”) celebrations of the dead; let their souls visit but then let them go back to where they belonged. (They _can be scary.) After conversion, various Mexican peoples attached their_ old practices to the handy holidays. So–Catholic (& some other Christian) churches celebrate both days. And Mexican/other Hispanic/Mexican-American communities set out feasts & flowers for the dead. Halloween evolved into a day for kiddies to scavenge for candy–and for adults to indulge in high-jinks. _El Dia de Los Muertos_ also added features like the urban satirical art of [José Guadalupe Posada](http://www.newworldprints.com/). Now some Mexican kids celebrate _El Dia de los Brujas_ (Halloween) & Posada’s sarcastic skeletons may be seen north of the Border. These holidays have never needed official government recognition to thrive. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/52 "2016-04-29T07:02:46Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Yeah, but you are missing the doosie. > > The Friday Before Grand Final holiday. I have never heard of this before. And it turns out that’s because it’s only happened once so far. But yes, apparently it’s officially a holiday. Utterly ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/53 "2016-04-29T08:41:01Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Why the anti-Paliament thing? Whingeing about the government is one of the major sports in the US, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/54 "2016-04-29T08:47:18Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I have never heard of this before. And it turns out that’s because it’s only happened once so far. > > But yes, apparently it’s officially a holiday. Utterly ridiculous. I agree completely, for what it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/55 "2016-04-29T09:36:57Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > The wife and I were fortunate to find ourselves in the town of Tansen, Nepal for Diwali one year. Or Deepavali I think they called it there, as some people do, but it’s the same festival. Very lovely. The town being on a mountain slope, seeing the little candles alight in the windows both above and below us was magical. > > Holi though I can do without. If there’s anything in the world worse than the Thai water-throwing festival of Songkran, where you can’t even walk down the block without a bunch of bozos drenching you repeatedly, and heaven help you if you’re a clueless tourist carrying expensive camera equipment, then it could have to be the powder-throwing festival of Holi. No, thank you. Holi has the best of both - water-throwing AND powder-throwing! It’s not the kind of festival you want to take a camera to, unless it’s waterproof and/or disposable. As a camera-toting tourist, though, I do appreciate your concern. > [@Anaamika](#): > > With these caveats above: > > I like Lodi for the winter, it’s a bonfire festival, and it would do us good to get out in January around a bonfire and be together. > > Also Diwali. How can you guys not be all over Diwali? Diwali! Food! Family! Lamps! Fireworks! (I wish there was less of the stupid loud crackers in India, though, and Diwali pollution is unbelievable, so maybe we can ease off on the fireworks and focus on the other good stuff?) > [@Dorjan](#): > > Holi is becoming a thing here, I agree. You’ve got the color runs which are Holi-derived, and actual Holi celebrations. The International Student Services center throws a celebration on the CWRU campus here in Cleveland, this year was the 2nd one and it was well attended. Unlike Brooklyn though, this one is pretty diverse, and appears welcomed and well-promoted by the Asian students here. I had a good time, and took some [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXrfu0NjSOw)🆒 Ah, that looks like fun! Also a lot more inclusive. Much more my idea of a good Holi. How did you keep the powder out of the camera? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/56 "2016-04-29T10:03:30Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > Holi has the best of both - water-throwing AND powder-throwing! It’s not the kind of festival you want to take a camera to, unless it’s waterproof and/or disposable. As a camera-toting tourist, though, I do appreciate your concern. A great photo appeared in the international press about 15 years ago. Taken in Kathmandu during Holi. A Japanese lady had fled in terror from powder-throwing hordes. She’d run straight into the arms of a policeman. The photo showed her cowering against him as she looked back over her shoulder, terror etched into every line of her face, eyes bugged out. Apparently she had been unaware of this holiday called Holi when she booked her trip. All that powder can’t be good for you. And what about contact-lens wearers? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/57 "2016-04-29T11:00:11Z")
> [@Ramira](#): > > The Ramadan is not a holiday. > No, it is not a holiday. > > Eid El Fitr is a holiday, not the Ramadan. But do you get presents? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/58 "2016-04-29T11:02:35Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Whingeing about the government is one of the major sports in the US, isn’t it? George Clinton, not Bill or Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![bldysabba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/59 "2016-04-29T12:13:57Z")
If you have Holi, you should also have [Bhang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhang), especially considering it’s probably going to be legal near you soon. ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306/60 "2016-04-29T12:16:07Z")
[Melon Day!](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melon_Day) Have a cantaloupe and take the day off. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-next-holiday-american-culture-should-adopt/753306.md?page=4)