20 of the oldest traditions in America that are still carried out today

Zoë EttingerMay 18, 2020, 22:05 IST

Groundhog Day and Fourth of July fireworks are some of America's oldest traditions.REUTERS/ Stephanie Strasburg/Mario Tama/Getty Images

Thanksgiving, Mardi Gras, and Fourth of July traditions have been around for hundreds of years.
Customs surrounding the presidency, such as the turkey pardoning, are also some of America's oldest.
The United States also has some stranger cultural institutions, like competitive-eating contests.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

The United States is hundreds of years old, but some of its most famous traditions are even older.

Thanksgiving has been celebrated since 1621 — nearly 400 years — while the Fourth of July has been celebrated since 1777, predating the swearing in of the nation's first president by over a decade.

Yet some of America's other traditions are a bit more unusual. Competitive eating, for example, has been practiced for more than 100 years, with large sums of money awarded to the winners.

Take a look at America's oldest traditions — some may surprise you.

Read the original article on Insider

Cheerleaders performing alongside athletes is another American tradition — it was started by a male cheerleader in 1898.

Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders. AP

The World Series has been a tradition since 1903.

The World Series. Harry How/Getty Images

The first Harvard-Yale football game was played in 1875. Today, games are played every November.

Harvard and Yale football players. Jim Rogash/Getty

Many universities also have long-standing traditions. Dartmouth's Winter Carnival was first held in 1910 and continues to this day.

Dartmouth Winter Carnival. Joseph Mehling/AP Images

Organized competitive-eating competitions have been a tradition in America since 1916, when Nathan's held its first hot dog-eating contest.

Nathan's hot dog eating contest. Michael Nagle/Getty Images

Alaska's Nenana Ice Classic has been a tradition since 1917. It involves guessing what day the ice on the Nenana River will break in spring.

The frozen Nenena River in Alaska. Galen Rowell/Getty Images

It's also a tradition for the president to swear his oath of office on the Bible, though some presidents, like Theodore Roosevelt, have not.

President Theodore Roosevelt pictured in the White House in 1908. AP Photo

Guidelines for the president's inauguration are a part of the Constitution, but the ceremony itself is rooted in tradition rather than law.

George Washington. DeAgostini/Getty Images

President's Day is another uniquely American holiday. It was previously known as Washington's Birthday, and was declared a federal holiday in 1879.

US presidents. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, Gilbert Stuart/Getty Images, Carolyn Kaster/AP

Labor Day commemorates the achievements of American workers and has been a federal holiday since 1894.

Joe Biden at a Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh in 2015. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

Easter fashion parades started in New York City in the mid-1800s.

A woman at an Easter parade. Michael Nagle/Getty Images

Gift-giving at Hanukkah was started by European Jews who moved to America and wanted to share in the Christmas cheer.

A Jewish family celebrating Hanukkah. Oliver Tsang/South China Morning Post via Getty Images

Having pickle-shaped ornaments on Christmas trees has been an American tradition since the late 1800s.

A pickle-shaped ornament. Shutterstock

Stringing lights around Christmas trees started in New York City in 1882.

Christmas lights. Shutterstock

Groundhog Day dates back to 1887, and every year on February 2 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, an elaborate groundhog ceremony is held.

Groundhog handler John Griffiths holding Punxsutawney Phil for Groundhog Day. REUTERS/ Stephanie Strasburg

The Fourth of July has been celebrated with fireworks since 1777, a year after the colonies claimed independence from Great Britain.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Pumpkin carving is a popular Halloween tradition that has been around since 1866.

A jack-o'-lantern Africa Studio/ Shutterstock

Mardi Gras festivities began in the United States in Alabama, but are now more closely associated with New Orleans.

A float during Mardi Gras. Cheryl Gerber/Getty Images

Thanksgiving has inspired some unique offshoot traditions, like the presidential turkey pardon.

President Obama pardoning Abe the turkey in 2015. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Thanksgiving feasts are the oldest tradition in America, dating back to 1621 — over 150 years before the Revolutionary War.

Thanksgiving. Getty Images

The most beautiful rivers in the US

Cookies on the Business Insider India website