For the Yanks, from the non-Yanks...

[Aldaron]

<font size=28><font color=red>Happy <font color=white> Fourth of <font color=blue> July!</font>

[spyone]

Why thank you.
When's your country's birthday, so we can return the favor?

[SIR SIG]

And I'll drink to that! Infact I did

[Dave Biggins]

'preciate it, y'all!

[Aldaron]

Originally posted by spyone
Why thank you.
When's your country's birthday, so we can return the favor?

That'd be Jan 26, Australia Day.
Celebrates the landing of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.

Hope you guys all have a safe one, and that no s**t happens.

[AslanC]

Happy Independance Day from the Designated Drivers of North America

(Come on, we are in the car with America and Mexico... we had best have the keys )

I look forward to visiting your nation next week

[Kaiddin]

Aslan

Did you see the story this morning about the guy who had arranged for designated driver like he was supposed to. There was still an accident. The designated driver was his 5 year old.

One for the Darwin awards.

[Greg Smith]

Originally posted by spyone
Why thank you.
When's your country's birthday, so we can return the favor?

We don't have one really.
I guess we've been around forever.

[Dave Biggins]

Isn't the Queen's birthday considered Britain's Birthday?

[Greg Smith]

Could be. She has a real birthday and an official one. But we don't get a holiday.

[Sarge]

I was under the impression that the British shot off fireworks on Guy Fawkes Day (November 5)?

I made it through two nights of light-your-own fireworks without hospitalizing anyone, so it was a good Fourth.

[Dave Biggins]

Kind of reminds me of an old joke, Sarge:

Q: What's an American's last words?

A: Hey Carl! Watch this!

[Sarge]

Dave, one of the guys who was lighting fireworks with me was named Carl.

[Greg Smith]

Originally posted by Sarge
I was under the impression that the British shot off fireworks on Guy Fawkes Day (November 5)?

We do. American's use fireworks to celebrate the birth of their nation. We use it to celebrate (?) the execution of a failed traitor.

I'm curious, how many national holidays do you Yanks get?

[Dan Stack]

Our holidays vary by company. Typically government workers get almost all these holidays off while companies give some.

There is in January New Year's Day which nearly everyone has off. There is also Martin Luther King Junior Day which some companies get off (typically moved to the nearest Monday).

In February there used to be separate holidays for Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays but they have been combined into one holiday, President's Day (I liked it better the old way, as those two deserve better than to be lumped with some of our presidents... ) A lot of companies give President's Day off, but mine never did...

In March nothing really. Good Friday is sometimes in March and some companies give it off, but not many.

In April nothing much either. Here in Masschusetts we have Patriot's Day to celebrate the start of the Revolution in the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Lots of re-enactments where patriots and redcoats shoot at each other for twenty minutes, then at the last minute all the redcoats fall down. Boston Marathon is on Patriot's Day.

May has Memorial Day which is designed to honor our war dead. Last Monday of May. Most everyone gets it off. Unoffical start of the summer season.

June has Flag Day but no one, not even the government as far as I know, gets it off.

July has Indepdendence Day, July 4 (one of the few holidays which is always held on a given day - most are moved to the nearest Monday). Everyone except for vital workers usually has that day off, though some service industry and law enforcement people have to work that day.

Nothing really in August.

September has Labor Day on the first Monday. Depressing day for kids, as it usually marks the last day of summer vacation (though many schools have started school in late August.) Most everyone gets it off.

October has Columbus Day to celebrate the discovery of America. Many places (never me though) get it off, though the holiday has become controvertial of late. Kids go trick-or-treating on Halloween (31st). No one gets it off though.

November usually has Election Day on the first Tuesday - every four years is the presidential election, every six are senate elections, and every two are house elections (for national office). State and local elections are often held this day as well. Very few get the day off but it is strongly encouraged you let your workers come in a little late or leave early to vote (and polls open early and close late). Novmber also has Veteran's Day on the 11th, but very few if any get it off. Thanksgiving Day was long unofficially celebrated but Lincoln established it formally as the last Thursday of November. Franklin Roosevelt, to start the Christmas shopping season early, moved it to the 4th Thursday (which is often, but not always the last Thursday). Almost everyone gets it off and most get the following Friday off.

December has Christmas on the 25th. This is never moved and almost everyone gets it off (though it has been controvertial of late). Most places give either the day before or day after off as well - it gets a little awkward when Christmas is on a Wednesday or weekend (often get only one day off when that is the case). Very few get New Year's Eve off, but there are quite a few companies which shut down operations between Christmas and New Year's.


In addition American workers typically get a lowly 10-20 vacation days per year (usually closer to 10, often with an extra day per year of service at a company).