This festival is observed not only in Mexico but also in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities with large Mexican-American populations. Another important type of festival is the commemorative day, celebrated since ancient Greek and Roman times, when rulers as well as gods were honored. Planned programs in the U.S. annually offer respect to presidents such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., on or about their birthdays. Festivals honoring the Icelandic explorer Leif Ericson, who discovered Vinland, are held on October 9 in Iceland and Norway and in the United States in Wisconsin and Minnesota. An honor roll assembled from worldwide commemorative days would be impressive.
Cultural festivals are popular throughout the world.
Austria holds the annual summer Salzburg Festival of music, and Hawaii has its spectacular Aloha Festival pageantry in October and November. In addition to these examples, film, art, dance, children's, and theatrical festivals crowd the calendars of many nations. The festivals of many ethnic and national groups are credited with the preservation of unique customs, folktales, costumes, and culinary skills. Introduced from Africa into the U.S. in 1977, this festival is celebrated with feasts and songs in the home for seven days and nights from December 26 to January 1. The African colors, green for the future and black for struggle, are prominently displayed.