This report looks at American holidays and customs. It shows how they started and how other countries use them.

本報告探討美國的節日與習俗，說明其起源以及其他國家如何採用這些傳統。

Some holidays are very old. Thanksgiving started in 1621. Independence Day started in 1777. These days are now official holidays for everyone.

有些節日非常古老。感恩節始於 1621 年。獨立日始於 1777 年。如今這些日子對每個人來說都是法定假日。

Some traditions come from shops or people from other countries. For example, Irish people started pumpkin carving. Shops helped make some Christmas traditions popular.

有些傳統源自商店或來自其他國家的移民。例如，愛爾蘭人開始了雕刻南瓜的習俗。商店則幫助使某些聖誕傳統變得流行。

American ideas move to other countries. For example, students in the UK now have a 'prom' dance. They wear fancy clothes like American students.

美國的理念傳播到了其他國家。例如，英國的學生現在也會舉辦 ''prom'' 畢業舞會。他們會穿著華麗的服裝，就像美國學生一樣。

American traditions stay strong because of the government, shops, and other countries.

由於政府、商店以及其他國家的影響，美國傳統依然強而有力。

This report examines the history and development of various American traditions, from national holidays to university rituals, and how they have been adopted by other countries.

本報告旨在探討各種美國傳統的歷史與發展，從國家假期到大學儀式，以及其他國家如何採納這些傳統。

Many American national holidays began long before the federal government was officially established. For example, Thanksgiving started in 1621, although Abraham Lincoln did not make it an official national holiday until 1863. Similarly, fireworks for Independence Day were recorded as early as 1777, but it was not recognized as a paid holiday until 1938. Other civic events, such as the presidential inauguration, follow a mix of legal requirements and tradition; while the oath of office is required by law, using a Bible is a custom rather than a legal rule.

許多美國國家假期在聯邦政府正式成立之前就已經存在。例如，感恩節始於1621年，儘管亞伯拉罕·林肯直到1863年才將其定為正式國家假期。同樣地，獨立日燃放煙火早在1777年就有記錄，但直到1938年才被認可為有薪假期。其他公民活動，如總統就職典禮，則是法律要求與傳統的結合；雖然就職宣誓是法律規定，但使用聖經是一種習俗而非法律規則。

Many social traditions were created by business interests or the influence of immigrants. For instance, putting pickle-shaped ornaments on Christmas trees started as a marketing idea by Woolworths in the late 19th century, while pumpkin carving is believed to have come from Irish immigrants. Furthermore, gift-giving during Hanukkah became popular in the 1920s because children wanted to have similar experiences to those celebrating Christmas. In sports and education, events like the World Series and the Army-Navy football game have provided long-term stability since the turn of the century.

許多社交傳統是由商業利益或移民影響而創造的。例如，在聖誕樹上掛醃菜形狀的裝飾品是19世紀末由Woolworths提出的營銷創意，而雕刻南瓜則被認為源自愛爾蘭移民。此外，光明節送禮在1920年代變得流行，因為孩子們希望擁有與慶祝聖誕節相似的體驗。在體育與教育方面，如世界系列賽和陸軍-海軍足球賽等活動，自世紀之交以來便提供了長期的穩定性。

Outside of the US, American cultural exports have spread to other societies, a process often called 'Americanisation.' The adoption of the 'prom' in the United Kingdom is a clear example of this trend. However, this transition often creates a conflict, as the UK adopts the American style of formal dress without having the same social rules or legal frameworks, such as the specific alcohol laws found in the United States.

在美國之外，美國的文化輸出傳播到了其他社會，這一過程通常被稱為「美國化」。英國採納「畢業舞會」（prom）就是這一趨勢的一個明顯例子。然而，這種轉型經常造成衝突，因為英國採納了美國的正式著裝風格，卻沒有相同的社交規則或法律框架，例如美國特定的酒精法律。

American traditions continue to survive through a combination of government support, commercial advertising, and international cultural exchange.

美國傳統透過政府支持、商業廣告與國際文化交流的結合，得以持續生存。

This report examines the historical origins and evolution of various American customs, ranging from national holidays to collegiate rituals and their subsequent international adoption.

本報告探討各種美國習俗的歷史起源與演變，範圍涵蓋國家假日、大學儀式及其隨後在國際上的採納。

The genesis of several American national observances predates the formal establishment of the federal government. The Thanksgiving celebration commenced in 1621, though its designation as a national holiday was not formalized until 1863 by Abraham Lincoln. Similarly, Independence Day celebrations involving pyrotechnics were documented as early as 1777, although federal recognition as a paid holiday was not achieved until 1938. Other civic traditions, such as the presidential inauguration, operate on a hybrid of constitutional mandates and established precedents; while the oath is legally required, the use of a Bible is a customary practice rather than a statutory obligation.

數個美國國家慶祝活動的起源早於聯邦政府的正式成立。感恩節慶祝活動始於1621年，但直到1863年才由亞伯拉罕·林肯正式指定為國家假日。同樣地，早在1777年就有記錄顯示獨立日慶祝活動包含煙火，但直到1938年才實現聯邦認可的有薪假日。其他公民傳統，例如總統就職典禮，則是憲法指令與既定先例的混合體；雖然宣誓是法律要求，但使用聖經是一種習俗做法，而非法定義務。

Sociocultural traditions often emerged from commercial interests or immigrant influences. The practice of placing pickle-shaped ornaments on Christmas trees is attributed to a late 19th-century Woolworths marketing initiative, while the tradition of pumpkin carving is theorized to have originated from Irish immigrants. Furthermore, the adoption of gift-giving during Hanukkah in the 1920s is characterized as a response to the desire for children to achieve parity with peers celebrating Christmas. In the sporting and academic spheres, institutionalized rituals such as the World Series (est. 1903) and the Army-Navy football game (est. 1890) have established long-term continuity.

社會文化傳統往往源於商業利益或移民影響。在聖誕樹上放置酸黃瓜形飾物的做法歸因於19世紀末 Woolworths 的營銷計畫，而雕刻南瓜的傳統則被理論認為起源於愛爾蘭移民。此外，1920年代在光明節贈送禮物的做法，被描述為滿足孩童希望與慶祝聖誕節的同儕保持一致的願望。在體育與學術領域，制度化的儀式如世界系列賽（1903年成立）和陸海軍美式足球賽（1890年成立）建立了長期的延續性。

Beyond domestic borders, American cultural exports have permeated other societies, a process described by some observers as 'Americanisation.' The adoption of the 'prom' in the United Kingdom serves as a primary example of this cultural diffusion. This transition is often marked by a tension between the adoption of American aesthetic standards—such as formal attire—and the absence of the accompanying social dynamics or legal frameworks, such as the United States' age-restricted alcohol consumption laws.

除了國內邊界，美國的文化輸出已滲透到其他社會，部分觀察者將此過程描述為「美國化」。英國對「畢業舞會」（prom）的採納即是此文化傳播的一個主要例子。這種轉型通常標誌著在採納美國審美標準（如正式禮服）與缺乏相應社會動力或法律框架（如美國的法定飲酒年齡限制法）之間的緊張關係。

American traditions continue to persist through a combination of official state sanction, commercial promotion, and international cultural exchange.

美國傳統透過官方認可、商業推廣與國際文化交流，持續存在。