A dditional Information
Education |
Age |
The UK |
Pre-school
|
3 4 |
Nursery |
Primary
|
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 |
Primary school |
Secondary
|
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 |
Secondary school
|
Higher |
19 20
|
College/university |
Japan has 9 years of compulsory education, from the age of 6 to 15. The schools are private or public, and the academic year is from April to March. Pre-school education is not compulsory. Children can go to private or public kindergartens from the age of 3. Children have to start school at 6. They go to elementary school for 6 years (until they are 12). All the subjects are compulsory. They then spend 6 years at high school. They still have compulsory subjects but some subjects are now specialized. Students can leave high school after three years, but about 90% stay for another 3 years, to continue their general education. Students can go to college or university at 18. They have to pay fees for their education and courses. It usually takes them 4 years.
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated with lot of fervor and merry-making in America. Celebrated on the fourth Thursday in the month of November every year, it is a time for communal thanksgiving, feeling gratitude, lavish feasts. It is a time to remember the pilgrims. The original pilgrims celebrated the autumn harvest with a feast of thanks. The feast popularly known as the 'First Thanksgiving Day Feast' was held as a gesture of thanks to almighty God . It was celebrated in the year 1621. After the United States gained independence, Congress recommended one yearly day of thanksgiving for the whole nation to celebrate.
Tribute to Native Indians
Until recently, people believed Thanksgiving Day to be a celebration of pilgrims, offering food to Indians. It however is a day marked as a gesture of thanks and gratitude to Lord Almighty for his blessings. It is also a celebration to mark the respect towards Indians for teaching the pilgrims how to cook. Pilgrims could not have survived without the
help of the native Indians.
Time for celebrating Traditional Harvest
Thanksgiving Day is a time of festivity, family meals and reunions in America. Carved turkeys, Pumpkin Pie, Corns, Cranberry Sauce are the traditional dishes adorning the dinner tables in almost every house. A time for feasting, Thanksgiving Day epitomizes the holiday mood of people.
Tradition of Gifting
Thanksgiving is a time for gifting your family and friends. The day is a time to show your gratitude and respect to your elders, friends, your siblings and also your colleagues. Popular gifts include thanksgiving flowers, jewellery, baked cookie hampers, chocolate gift baskets, candy-wreaths, wine etc.
Black Friday and Festive Spirit
Thanksgiving Day is the official beginning of the Christmas season. USA witnesses maximum sales volume on the very next day. The following Friday after thanksgiving is famously known as 'Black Friday'. This is so, because of the standard accounting practice of writing profits in black. The ongoing festive spirit, shopping spree, helps the shopkeepers to register maximum sales and profits. The entire atmosphere during the time is euphoric; people get in a holiday mood. Families visit restaurants, amusement parks, gift each other, decorate their house etc.