Holidays and festivals

Striving to maintain normal lives, Japanese Americans held holiday celebrations and festivals inside the concentration camps. Whether decorating mess halls during the Christmas holiday as part of a camp-wide competition or participating in parades to celebrate the harvest of crops from their own gardens, the Japanese Americans demonstrated their resourcefulness and resilience.

World War II (283)
Concentration camps (2078)
Holidays and festivals (325)

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325 items

img Participants in a harvest festival (ddr-densho-37-2166)

More information included on back of photograph.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-2166/

img Japanese Americans preparing for Christmas (ddr-densho-37-8)

Original WRA caption: SANTA'S HELPERS--Through kind donations from thoughtful friends all over the United States, a happy and Merry Christmas will be possible for the children of Hunt. Thousands of presents have been sent in day after day, swamping Rec. 21 and overflowing the Federated Christian Church office.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-8/

img Japanese Americans preparing for Christmas (ddr-densho-37-9)

Original WRA caption: Through kind donations from thoughtful friends all over the United States, a happy and merry Christmas will be possible for the children of Hunt. Thousands of presents have been sent in day after day, swamping Rec. 21 and overflowing the Federated Christian Church office. Sorting, numbering and labeling for distribution are left to …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-9/

img Mess hall decorated for Christmas (ddr-densho-37-1300)

Included annotation: F-307, Christmas, Mess Hall.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1300/

img July 4th flag-raising ceremony (ddr-densho-37-1606)

Included annotation: L-608, 4th July, Flag Raising continued.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1606/

img New Year's dance (ddr-densho-37-128)

This New Year's dance was held at the camp's hospital.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-128/

img Summer Carnival Parade (ddr-densho-37-469)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. Amache Summer Carnival Parade.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-469/

img July 4th guest speaker (ddr-densho-37-1607)

Included annotation: M-601, 4th July, Guest Speaker at Stand.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1607/

img High school graduation (ddr-densho-37-33)

Original WRA caption: Students of the Hunt High School dress in caps and gowns for Commencement exercises.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-33/

img Dedication ceremony (ddr-densho-37-564)

Original WRA caption: Topaz, Utah. With a fervent prayer, this Japanese Topaz resident, a Christian Minister, opens the dedication ceremonies at the Relocation Center at Topaz.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-564/

img Mounted force at July 4th parade (ddr-densho-37-1599)

Included annotation: L-601, 4th of July Parade, Mounted Force.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1599/

img Harvest Festival attendants at a carnival (ddr-densho-37-1220)

Included annotation: R-204, Carnival, Canal.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1220/

img Harvest Festival Parade (ddr-densho-37-399)

Original WRA caption: Gila River Relocation Center, Rivers, Arizona. A view of some of the school children who participated in the Harvest Festival Parade held at the Gila River center on Thanksgiving Day.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-399/

img Children receive gifts from Santa Claus (ddr-densho-37-1305)

Included annotation: G-304, Santa Claus.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1305/

img Guest speaker at July 4th event (ddr-densho-37-1608)

Included annotation: M-602, 4th July, Guest Speaker at Stand.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1608/

img Labor Day parade (ddr-densho-37-375)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. A parade was held by evacuees to celebrate labor day. Great originality in costuming was shown.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-375/

img Harvest festival queen and attendants (ddr-densho-37-1213)

Included annotation: P-205, Harvest Festival Canal, Coronation, Queen erected Kate Yasumoto and attendants, Ball.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1213/

img Christmas Eve party (ddr-densho-37-507)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. Mrs. Tomiye Funai brings her two year old daughter Carol to the Christmas Eve Party for the children of Block 7-H at the Granada Relocation Center. There were no trees for the barracks room homes, but each mess hall provided a trimmed tree and presents for the children. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-507/

img Harvest Festival (ddr-densho-37-86)

Original WRA caption: Harvest Festival crowds.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-86/

img Harvest Festival (ddr-densho-37-69)

Original WRA caption: Tule Lake Relocation Center, Newell, California. A scene at the Harvest Festival held at this relocation center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-69/

img Internal Security Force and Relatives Association at July 4th parade (ddr-densho-37-1602)

Included annotation: L-604, July 4th Program, Internal Security Force and Relatives Association.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1602/

img Christmas decorations (ddr-densho-37-679)

Original WRA caption: Christmas decorations in Dining Hall 34. In the background is a painted scene of the area around the center. The model buildings are a typical block.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-679/

img Bon Odori (ddr-densho-37-516)

Original WRA caption: Granada Relocation Center, Amache, Colorado. young dancers line up for refreshments during intermission at the Bon Odori dance, August 14, sponsored by the Granada Buddhist Church.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-516/

img Santa Claus handing out gifts (ddr-densho-37-1303)

Included annotation: G-302, Santa Claus.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1303/

img Dr. Lawsome delivering Christmas greetings (ddr-densho-37-1280)

Included annotation: D-301, Dr. Lawsome delivering Christmas Greetings.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-1280/