Many people in countries such as the United States celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar.

Chinese New Year celebrations can last for days and can include activities and events such as:

Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrates Martin Luther King as an important civil rights activist. Martin Luther King Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January.

He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of non-violent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968.

New Year's Eve is a major social holiday for many people in the United States. Many people hold parties at home or attend special celebrations to celebrate the upcoming New Year. In many cities, large scale public events are held. These often attract thousands of people.

New Year's Day:

In pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar, the day was dedicated to Janus, god of gateways and beginnings, for whom January is also named.

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere when the sun appears at its most southerly position, directly overhead at the faraway Tropic of Capricorn.

In 2025, the Winter Solstice arrives on December 21st.

Cyber Monday is a marketing invention that was first observed in 2005 by online retailer shop.org. Seen as an online version of Black Friday, Cyber Monday was created to allow customers to shop online from the comfort of their offices and homes.

Shopping for Christmas presents is very popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods, such as toys. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation.