FAMILY
A family is a group of people who are related by birth, marriage, or adoption. The members of the family are united in blood ties and/or other relationships.
CELEBRATIONS
A celebration can be defined as an event or action that is done to put emphasis on the fact that something of importance has happened. Celebrations usually have some connection to food, music, and dance. These events are usually done for holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc. They are also done for other types of occasions such as a marriage or a birthday. In many cultures celebrations are often treated with a high level of scrutiny and respect.
GRANDPARENTS
Grandparents are the “generational superiors” of their grandchildren, providing them with wisdom and guidance. They are one step up from parents, but not always the most socially relevant figure in the child’s life; however, they provide stability and an understanding that can be lost in a working family. The health benefits of grandparents are also greater than that of parents. Grandparents usually have more time to spend with their grandchildren because they don’t have as many responsibilities as parents do.
GRANDFATHER
A grandfather is an ancestor of an individual’s father or mother. It is the parent of one’s parent. The word “grandfather” comes from Anglo-Norman granfer, meaning “elder.
GRANDMOTHER
A grandmother is a female parent of one’s parent. The word derives from the Old English word “gamen,” meaning “mother.” There are many different types of grandmothers, including biological grandmothers, step-grandmothers, and foster grandparents.
PARENTS
The biological parents are the ones who bring the child into this world and have a responsibility to care for him or her until they are old enough to decide on their own whether or not to continue.
FATHER
A father is the male parent, usually of a child. The father-child relationship has received increasing attention in recent years, with many studies focusing on the positive effects on children who have a good relationship with their fathers. Fathers are important for children’s cognitive development and social skills.
MOTHER
The term “mother” can be defined as the one who gives birth to a human being. A mother’s role is to care for her offspring after birth, teach them, and provide for their needs.
UNCLE
An uncle is a sibling of either one’s parent or one’s parents. There are two types of uncles: paternal and maternal. A maternal uncle is the brother of one’s mother while a paternal uncle is the brother of one’s father.
AUNT
An aunt is a person who is related to another by blood, adoption, or marriage. They are the sister of one’s parent. For example, my father’s sister would be my aunt.
GRANDSON
A grandson is the son of one’s son or daughter. A grandson would be the son of their child. The term “grandson” is derived from an Old French word “gram-pan,” meaning the son of a grandparent.
GRANDDAUGHTER
A granddaughter is the female descendant of a person’s child. It also means the daughter of one’s son or daughter.
SON
A son is a male child of a parent.
DAUGHTER
A daughter is a female child of a parent.
SISTER
A sister is a female relative that shares the same biological parent.
BROTHER
A “brother” is a male individual who has at least one sibling, with whom he shares a blood line and parents.
COUSIN
A cousin is a child of your uncle or aunt. A first cousin is the son or daughter of your parent’s sibling whereas a second cousin would be the son or daughter of your grandparent’s sibling.
FATHER-IN-LAW
A father-in-law is the term for the father of one’s spouse.
MOTHER-IN-LAW
A mother-in-law is the term for the mother of one’s spouse.
SISTER-IN-LAW
A sister-in-law is the term for the sister of one’s spouse.
BROTHER-IN-LAW
A brother-in-law is the term for the brother of one’s spouse.
NEPHEW
Nephew is a term used to denote a son of one’s sibling.
NIECE
Niece is a term used to denote a daughter of one’s sibling.
HUSBAND
The husband is the male spouse in a marriage.
WIFE
The wife is the female spouse in a marriage.
SON
The term son refers to a male child of one’s parents.
DAUGHTER
The term son refers to a female child of one’s parents.
MARRIED
A legally-binding contract between two individuals to share their lives with one another, marriage is an institution which has existed ever since humans first developed the cognitive abilities necessary to contemplate long-term commitment.
REMARRIED
The term would typically refer to a person who has been divorced or widowed and then remarried, meaning they are in their “second” marriage.
DIVORCED
The term “divorce” is an agreement, or contract, signed by two people to terminate their marriage.
ENGAGED
Engagement is a commitment to be with one person exclusively. If you are engaged, you’ve committed to being with your partner and have expressed this commitment through an engagement ring or ceremony.
ADOPTED
Adoption is the practice of taking an individual who is not one’s biological child and who has been abandoned, orphaned, or otherwise without parental care, and making them one’s legal child. This process involves filing a petition to adopt the individual with the court system in the state where they live.
BOYFRIEND
A boyfriend is a type of romantic companion, someone who cares for and may have a deep affinity for his or her partner. The term is usually used when referring to a male in this type of relationship with a female.
GIRLFRIEND
A female partner in a romantic relationship.
SINGLE FATHER
A single father is a man who takes on the responsibility of raising a child or children, and does so without the help of their partner.
SINGLE MOTHER
A single mother is a woman who takes on the responsibility of raising a child or children, and does so without the help of their partner.
STEP-FATHER
A step-father is a male who is married to someone’s mother, but is not his biological father.
STEP-MOTHER
A step-father is a female who is married to someone’s father, but is not his biological mother.
HALF-BROTHER
A half-brother is a male that shares one parent with another, but not both.
HALF-SISTER
A half-sister is a female that shares one parent with another, but not both.
STEPBROTHER
A step-sibling is a child of one’s parent’s other spouse.
STEPSISTER
A step-sibling is a child of one’s parent’s other spouse.
NEW YEAR’S EVE
New Year’s Eve is the day before New Year’s Day, which is typically celebrated by the lighting of fireworks and having a time to reflect on the past year.
NEW YEAR’S DAY
New Year’s Day is a national holiday in the United States. The holiday also falls on a lunar calendar day, making it a significant religious observance for Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Christians. This public holiday is celebrated with numerous customs and traditions. One common tradition involves New Year’s resolutions. These are often formal promises to oneself to live better, such as making more money or exercising more. Another tradition involves wearing new clothes, symbolizing a fresh start to the year.
PARADE
A parade is an organized public procession of people, usually held on special occasions. The most common types are military parades, religious processions, and occasional political demonstrations.
VALENTINE’S DAY
Valentine’s Day is a day that celebrates love and appreciation, where people give cards and gifts to show their affections.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Fourth of July is the day that celebrates national independence from Great Britain. The date was originally chosen because it was the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. It now symbolizes our freedom as a nation.
FIREWORKS
Pyrotechnics are typically used in the production of artificial light entertainment displays like fireworks. The oldest known pyrotechnic devices were called “ground rockets” and were created by the Chinese over 1000 years ago. Ground rockets are essentially fireworks that use a tube or pipe to force air into a rocket structure. With this method, the flame is confined to the nozzle and produces only sparks without an explosion.
FLAG
Flags are a symbol of nationhood and have been used as a way to identify territory for many years. Flags typically have a piece of cloth or other material with a certain pattern, color, or shape that is raised on a flagpole. They come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors depending on the country they represent.
HALLOWEEN
Halloween is a day for children to dress up in costumes, go door to door, and receive candy. The origins of Halloween are not definitively known, but it may have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. This holiday was believed to have been observed by the Celts as a way to honor their gods and remember those who had died.
COSTUME
A costume is a type of clothes that people wear for a historical, fancy dress or theatrical purpose. A person may need to wear a costume to match the setting and theme of an event; for example, they may need to buy a winter coat for a winter themed party. Costumes can also be used as part of an outfit for Halloween.
CANDY
Candy refers to any confection that is made predominantly of sugar. This can mean any type of candy, but the most common type is chocolate. Candy often has a high sugar content and can be addictive due to its use of high sugar levels. The sugar content in candy causes the “high” feeling associated with it, which can lead to binge eating habits or getting addicted to it.
THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving is a holiday that celebrates the United States of America and their first successful harvest in 1621. It is a time to spend with friends and family, reflecting on one’s blessings and giving thanks.
FEAST
A feast is a large meal. It can be a formal occasion with a detailed menu, or a spontaneous celebration. Feasts are typically celebratory events where the participant’s senses are overwhelmed by various stimuli that have been prepared to impress the guests and have them indulge in food and drink while being entertained.
TURKEY
The turkey is a large chicken-like bird of the order Galliformes. It is native to North America and has been introduced to many other parts of the world. In many countries, it is eaten as a traditional food around thanksgiving time, as well as at Christmas and Easter. The bird is a herbivore which means that it does not eat meat or fish, but instead eats plants or grain.
HAM
Ham is a food that is obtained by curing ham or pork with salt, sugar, spices, and preservatives. The curing process preserves the meat’s taste, texture, and appearance.
CHRISTMAS
The holiday of Christmas celebrated in many countries that are predominantly Christian. It is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, traditionally held on 25 December. It is an international festival with commercial celebrations undertaken by families, friends, and people around the world.
HANUKAH
The Hanukkah festival of lights is the Jewish celebration of the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks. The ancient Hebrews used cups and oil as a makeshift type of lamp to light their homes and provide light for studying Torah. The eight days of Hanukkah are symbolic, with each night representing one day. This festival celebrates miracles and conquests, and this time is spent in happiness and family bonding.
CHRISTMAS TREE
A Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen tree, typically grown in a conical shape, which is set up indoors for the purpose of displaying decorative ornaments and lighting during the Christmas season. A well-known symbol of the holiday, it has also become associated with family, friends, home and winter wonderlands.
ORNAMENT
An ornament is an item that is added to or applied to an existing object for purposes of decoration.
BIRTHDAY
Birthday is an annual event that’s celebrated on the day of someone’s birth. It marks the number of years that person has been alive. The culture of celebrating birthdays varies across the world, but most developed countries celebrate it on children’s birthday, with presents and cake.
PICNIC
A picnic is an event in which a group of people comes together to enjoy the outdoors and typically share food. Picnics often take place at outdoor parks or other locations, such as beach fronts. Picnic baskets are often used for this event and typically include a variety of foods and beverages.
BARBECUE
A barbecue is a gathering of people around an open fire to cook food, typically meats. The food cooked on a barbecue is usually fried in a large pot for a few minutes before being placed directly onto the grill. The meat is then flipped over and grilled until it reaches the desired temperature. Vegetables are often added as well.
VACATION
A vacation is a type of holiday that typically includes travel and leisure time.
EASTER
Easter is a holiday that revolves around the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It takes place on the first Sunday after the full moon, and it occurs in April or March, depending on when this full moon falls. The date for Easter is set by a convention called the Paschal Full Moon Dating. This convention uses a lunar calendar to determine the date because Easter is always celebrated on a Sunday.
RAMADAN
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan follows a lunar calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting. The end of the month is marked by a celebration, Eid ul-Fitr.
LUNAR NEW YEAR
Lunar New Year is the most important traditional holiday in East Asia. It celebrates the moment that marks the first full moon of the new year, typically occurring between late January and early February. Traditionally, it is a time for family reunions, but has also become an occasion for shopping sprees to buy family gifts. The holiday is based on lunar calendars with each month coinciding with a different animal.
BAPTISM
Baptism – the Christian sacrament of selecting, cleansing, and making holy by washing in water – is a symbol of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a sign that places one under God’s protection. It is an outward sign of becoming a follower of Jesus Christ and remembering to obey Him. The sacrament is administered in different forms to infants, children, and adults.
WEDDING
A wedding is a traditionally religious and social event in which two people are joined in matrimony, usually with the lead of a priest, rabbi, or other clergy person. The purpose of a wedding is to celebrate the love between the couple and their commitment to each other for life. Wedding ceremonies can be traditional or non-traditional, private or public, at home or elsewhere.
ENGAGEMENT
An engagement party is a gathering of friends and family that commemorate the engagement between two people. Engagement parties are an opportunity to celebrate the couple’s decision to enter into matrimony, as well as offer their blessings.
GRADUATION
The graduation of a student is an important step in the life of the individual. It signifies they have accomplished something great, and are now on their way to live the next stage in their life. This is also a time for family members to come together with pride, respect, and love for their loved one.
DIVORCE
A divorce is a legal dissolution of a marital union, in the sense of the union in marriage.
FUNERAL
The funeral is a ceremony that is held after the death of an individual, to honor their life. The funeral is typically presided over by a member of the clergy, who often presides over the ritual of gathering the deceased into their final resting place. Some funerals are structured as memorial services that follow church or synagogue services.