Expressing Holiday Dates in English: A Guide for Writers
As an writer, it is important to have a strong grasp on expressing holiday dates in English. Whether you are writing about national holidays, religious celebrations, or cultural traditions, being able to accurately communicate a holiday date is essential for your content to be informative and valuable to readers. In this guide, we will cover the different ways to express holiday dates in English.
1. Month and Date
The most common way to express a holiday date is by using the month and date. For example, Christmas Day is on December 25th. In this format, simply state the month and date with the ordinal number (e.g. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) following the number of the date. Here are a few more examples:
New Year's Day is on January 1st.
Valentine's Day is on February 14th.
St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th.
2. Month and Day of the Week
Another way to express a holiday date is by using the month and the day of the week. This format is often used for holidays that fall on a specific day of the week, rather than a set date. For example, Thanksgiving Day is always on the fourth Thursday in November. Here are a few more examples:
Memorial Day is on the last Monday in May.
Labor Day is on the first Monday in September.
Halloween is on October 31st.
3. Year and Date
Sometimes it is necessary to include the year when stating a holiday date. This is especially true for events that occur annually, but the exact date changes from year to year. For example, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year because it follows the lunar calendar. Here are a few more examples:
Super Bowl Sunday is on the first Sunday in February (year varies).
Easter Sunday is on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (year varies).
Passover begins on the 15th day of Nisan in the Jewish calendar (year varies).
4. Named Holidays
Some holidays have a specific name that does not relate to a particular date or day of the week. In these cases, the holiday date is often indicated by the name itself. For example:
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday.
Independence Day is on July 4th.
Christmas Eve is on December 24th.
By mastering these different ways to express holiday dates in English, you can confidently write informative and engaging content for your readers. Remember to always double-check the accuracy of your dates and be consistent with the format you choose.