What originated as a holiday commemorating the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus has turned into a “get a deal” weekend.
Most holidays in the USA are floating holidays. They are observed on a specific weekday as opposed to a fixed date. Even though officially Columbus Day falls on October 12th, it is celebrated on the
second Monday of the month, regardless of the date. Many other US holidays are set up in a similar manner.
second Monday of the month, regardless of the date. Many other US holidays are set up in a similar manner.
For instance (e.g.) Labor Day, contrary to its European equivalent, which is observed in May, is always on the first Monday of September, for practical reasons, to make the last “official” weekend of the summer longer. It is also, at the same time, the “back to school” weekend for the school age children’s parents.
The biggest American holiday, THE American Holiday, bigger even than Christmas or New Year – Thanksgiving – is celebrated in the US on the 4th (fourth) Thursday of November, which is usually the last. This is also the official Thanksgiving date: the fourth Thursday of November.
America wouldn’t be herself (personification) if these long weekends weren’t commercialized, designed and optimized for sales and profit purposes. Columbus Day sales are a litmus test of the Holiday shopping season. The Holiday season starts with Christmas and Hanukkah and ends on New Year’s Day.
The day after Thanksgiving is called the Black Friday and is the day of the highest sales volume in the whole year. Commercially, Monday right after the Thanksgiving weekend is a new phenomenon and is called the Cyber Monday to mark the “official” beginning of the Internet shopping season.
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