holiday homework story

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Holiday homework.

Directed by Pratham Mishra

LIFE IS RISKY.

A riotous sketch comedy series by Dank Rishu and Arpit Bala. The series comprises seven uproarious skits that take viewers on a whirlwind journey through the hilarious intricacies, created or produced towards the end of the summer season, in a hurry, similar to how students often complete their holiday assignments just before returning to school.

Rishabh Arora Arpit Bala Siddharth Tewatia Surya Bhatt Rishav Kumar Anmol Babbar Aradhya Shukla Kartikey Sejwal Nakul Dhull Vaishnavi Yadav

Director Director

Pratham Mishra

Producers Producers

Rishabh Arora Arpit Bala

Writers Writers

Casting casting.

Rishabh Arora Pratham Mishra

Editors Editors

Rishabh Arora Rishav kumar

Cinematography Cinematography

Sheesh Tushar Ronak

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Rishav kumar Sheesh

Makeup Makeup

WuShang Pictures

Alternative Title

Releases by date, 16 mar 2024, releases by country.

• Digital YouTube Release

60 mins   More at TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Harsh Pathak ★★

Pehle 8 Sketches bekaar hai phir badhiya hai.

Review by ironh3art ★ 1

Dubaara mat krna, wese delhi rehta socha yaad dila du

Review by puchku ½

do bhara ye maat karna bhot pitoge

Review by Rishabh ★

Bhai sach toh yeh hai ki yeh letterboxd pe hona hi nhi chahiye.

Review by Varun Menon ½

Phenomenal case study on how visual grammer is as important as the jokes you crack

Review by Agni ★★★ 1

Holiday homework is a fun watch. Sadly, more often than not, the fun comes less from the sketches and more from knowledge that these guys must have had fun filming it. Like SNL in a way. The fact that snl is performed live is what makes it fun even if the sketches are a bit underwhelming.

Though hhw isn't live, the audience, like with snl, is in on the overall joke, which is: bas bakchodi chal rahi hai. A good sketch however (eg. Biggest fitness collab) makes the argument that bakchodi and comedy aren't mutually exclusive. Hhw does that. Sometimes. Aib comes to mind. Aib balanced bakchodi well but theirs was more of snarky vibe compared to the pure freewheeling…

Review by harshmishra ★★

one star for production and one star for rishu exe ki acting....bahut kuch kar sakte the dono iss project ke sath...they fucked up really bad

Review by Kousmon ★★★½ 1

aprit and rishu killed it

Review by excusemekyare ½

bekar hai bhaiya bekar hai

Review by NOTfromMARS ★½

Kya tha yeh?

Review by Rishaank ★★

Could have been better

Review by Shivam Vij ★★★★

Kinda expected more tbh. Truly feels like a holiday homework, except it was cut short because they started doing it in the last week of vacations??? Edit: THEY SAID IT THEMSELVES IN THE DESCRIPTION. OFCOURSE.

Aur sunraybee bhai, aapse acting nahi hoti😭😭. Aur yaha bhi joote flex karliye bhai ne. Had a fun time though. Bloopers mein anal wala joke came out of nowhere

Select your preferred poster

Addition (Basic)

Addition (Multi-Digit)

Algebra & Pre-Algebra

Comparing Numbers

Daily Math Review

Division (Basic)

Division (Long Division)

Hundreds Charts

Measurement

Multiplication (Basic)

Multiplication (Multi-Digit)

Order of Operations

Place Value

Probability

Skip Counting

Subtraction

Telling Time

Word Problems (Daily)

More Math Worksheets

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension Gr. 1

Reading Comprehension Gr. 2

Reading Comprehension Gr. 3

Reading Comprehension Gr. 4

Reading Comprehension Gr. 5

Reading Comprehension Gr. 6

Reading & Writing

Reading Worksheets

Cause & Effect

Fact & Opinion

Fix the Sentences

Graphic Organizers

Synonyms & Antonyms

Writing Prompts

Writing Story Pictures

Writing Worksheets

More ELA Worksheets

Consonant Sounds

Vowel Sounds

Consonant Blends

Consonant Digraphs

Word Families

More Phonics Worksheets

Early Literacy

Build Sentences

Sight Word Units

Sight Words (Individual)

More Early Literacy

Punctuation

Subjects and Predicates

More Grammar Worksheets

Spelling Lists

Spelling Grade 1

Spelling Grade 2

Spelling Grade 3

Spelling Grade 4

Spelling Grade 5

Spelling Grade 6

More Spelling Worksheets

Chapter Books

Charlotte's Web

Magic Tree House #1

Boxcar Children

More Literacy Units

Animal (Vertebrate) Groups

Butterfly Life Cycle

Electricity

Matter (Solid, Liquid, Gas)

Simple Machines

Space - Solar System

More Science Worksheets

Social Studies

Maps (Geography)

Maps (Map Skills)

More Social Studies

Mother's Day

Father's Day

More Holiday Worksheets

Puzzles & Brain Teasers

Brain Teasers

Logic:  Addition Squares

Mystery Graph Pictures

Number Detective

Lost in the USA

More Thinking Puzzles

Teacher Helpers

Teaching Tools

Award Certificates

More Teacher Helpers

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Alphabet (ABCs)

Numbers and Counting

Shapes (Basic)

More Kindergarten

Worksheet Generator

Word Search Generator

Multiple Choice Generator

Fill-in-the-Blanks Generator

More Generator Tools

Full Website Index

Seasons and Holidays

Our Christmas page has lots of printable Christmas puzzles, games, calendars, crafts, and worksheets.

Print Chinese New Year puzzles, games, worksheets, and a Chinese Zodiac calendar wheel.

This page has a variety of printable activities to use on Cinco de Mayo.

Learn about Columbus' discovery of the New World and about his three ships, the Nina , Pinta , and Santa Maria .

We have several coloring pages and a reading comprehension worksheet about Day of the Dead.

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday on March 2nd with worksheets to name Dr. Seuss books, Rhyming words, and a biography.

Printable worksheets, crafts,reading and games that can be used to celebrate Earth Day (April 22).

When it's time to celebrate Easter, print out these puzzles, stories, bunny crafts, and word search puzzles.

Dads will love receiving specially designed greeting cards and writing activities from their children.

In the USA, Grandparents' Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day. On this page you'll find writing activities and cards that kids can present to their grandma and/or grandpa.

Print articles, poems, and worksheets about groundhogs.

We have the best collection of Halloween worksheets on the Web!

Celebrate Hanukkah with these cut-outs, reading comprehension sheets, and more.

When the 4th of July rolls around, kids will love these patriotic Independence Day worksheets.

Print worksheets to learn about and celebrate Juneteenth.

Printable worksheets you can use to teach students about Labor Day (USA) and Labour Day (Canada).

This January, when you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, check out these MLK math worksheets, articles, and puzzles.

Remember fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Print Mother's Day cards, descriptive essay worksheets, and stories about Mother's Day.

Printable writing worksheets, math worksheets, and teaching materials for New Year's Day.

Teach your class about pi, the most tasty number of all. Pi Day is celebrated all around the world on March 14, or 3.14.

When you celebrate Presidents' Day (USA) in February, use these printable puzzles and articles.

Bring a bit o' Ireland into your classroom with these St. Patrick's Day crafts, puzzles, games, and worksheets.

Celebrate Thanksgiving in your classroom with these spelling lists, calendars, crafts, games, and worksheets.

On February 14th, your students will love the Valentine's Day cryptogram, word search, and craft project.

On November 11th, use these printable worksheets to learn about Veterans Day in the United States.

This page has fall word search puzzles, poems, stories, crafts, and calendars.

Print spring word puzzles, stories for kids, ABC Order activities, and more.

Print summertime puzzles, activities, reading passages, and other worksheets.

This page includes a winter diorama scene, cut-and-fold snowflakes, winter math worksheets, and reading comprehension passages.

Kids will enjoy coming back to school with these activities, calendars, reading passages, and puzzles.

This section of our site has printable birthday crowns, birthday charts, and greeting cards.

Worksheets that help reflect on the end of the school year.

Celebrate one hundred days of school with these printable crafts and worksheets.

This page has printable printable puzzles, crafts, and a reading comprehension worksheet for Leap Day, February 29th.

Download fiction stories, writing prompts, mazes, and puzzles with a Summer Olympics theme.

Print reading comprehension passages, puzzles, and worksheets related to the Winter Olympic Games.

This page contains football-themed worksheets, puzzles, writing prompts, and stories.

On April first, hand out the unsolvable word search to your class! Or read the article about the history of April Fools!

Download and print worksheets, reading articles, and coloring pages to celebrate the history of African Americans.

February is National Children's Dental Health Month. We have coloring pages, handwriting activities, and more.

This page contains reading comprehension passages and worksheets to celebrate women's history.

Each month of the year students can create and color a new calendar.

See an index of all math, reading, writing, handwriting, grammar, and spelling worksheets.

• Book Lists by Age
• Book Lists by Category
• Reading Resources
• Language & Speech
• Raise a Reader Blog
• Back to School
• Success Guides by Grade
• Homework Help
• Social & Emotional Learning
• Activities for Kids

Classic Holiday Stories to Share With Kids

Whether you celebrate christmas, hanukkah, or other traditions, get in the spirit of the season with these tales that evoke nostalgia and fun..

Foster feelings of gratitude , warmth, and comfort this holiday season with these enduring books. Use story time to connect with your child and talk about important themes like tradition and family. Below are a collection of some holiday favorites that your growing reader will love. 

In Peter Reynold's  Our Table , Violet strives to remind her family of special moments spent at a dinner table characterized by food, warmth, and love. This insightful book will help readers think about the importance of living a life full of connection. In advance of significant holiday meals, it's bound to spark great coversations about where and why we gather together. 

The Christmas Pine was written by Julia Donaldson, well known author of books like The Gruffalo or Room on the Broom . The book is based on the true story of the Christmas tree that Norway gives annually to the UK to thank them for sheltering their king during World War II. Beautifully illustrated and written in Donaldson's popular rhythmic prose, it's a delight to share. 

Teach your child about different holidays that take place during the winter season with books that are educational and fun. Tap into the Christmas spirit by reading Clifford's Christmas — a charming picture book that explores quintessential festive activities like decorating a tree. Learn about special Hanukkah traditions from playing dreidel and lighting the menorah with prehistoric pals in How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? . Meanwhile,  The Seven Days of Kwanzaa  explains the history and traditions of Kwanzaa and also includes recipes for African-inspired dishes and craft ideas. 

Use this holiday season as an opportunity to help your growing reader fall in love with reading this season! Shop the best books for the holiday season below. 

Looking for  holiday gifts for kids ? Explore trending books, gifts to spark their imagination, and ideas to instill a love of reading and learning in our Holiday Gift Guide. You'll find everything you need for a book-filled holiday, such as  Christmas books with characters  like Peppa Pig and Clifford. Shop our picks and more at  The Scholastic Store . Or to give a reader you love the gift of choice,  give an egift card .

Career Options

• Mental Wellness

School Students

College Students

• Working Professionals
• Counsellors
• Special Features
• The Mentoria Blog

6 Creative Assignment Ideas to Make Your Students’ Holiday Homework Fun

Jump to Section

The term ‘holiday homework’ raises a collective groan when you mention it in class. The last thing your students want to do during their holidays is spending more time with their noses buried in textbooks. But who said homework had to be a dull and dreary activity? There’s plenty of time and then some to learn concepts at school; holiday homework can focus on skill-building and be a lot more fun! Here’s a list of top creative assignment or homework ideas to help students take the ‘work’ out of homework, and replace it with a whole lot of fun! 

“Assignment 1: For the Filmy Fans”

As a life coach who holds film therapy workshops in Bengaluru, Rohit Sasvehalli believes that movies can have a deep impact on the psyche when approached consciously. “Pick a specific concept the child wants to learn about, say Apartheid. Ask them to watch a movie like Invictus to understand the tensions in South Africa. It will invoke an explorative mindset,” says Sasvehalli. Give your students a choice of topics and movies to watch, review and write an essay or make a presentation on what it got them thinking about. Surely your students aren’t about to complain about watching a movie or two!

Do you see any budding filmmakers in your class? Mentoria’s holistic  career assessment test  could help them discover their calling by uniquely combining their interests and abilities! Find out more about the test here:

“Assignment 2: For the Wanderlusters”

Families often set out on trips during the holiday season. A trip is often a great platform to learn about new places and new cultures. Ask your students to document every bit of their travel, discover fascinating aspects about the place they’re visiting and turn their findings into a fantastic travel presentation for the class! It could cover a long vacation or even a day trip to the museum, beach or a nearby park.

“Assignment 3: For the Bookworms”

This creative assignment may not appeal to all your students, but the voracious readers in your class will surely welcome some binge-reading over the holidays! For this set of students, assign a list of books they can review over the holidays. Encourage them to get a library membership or even a Kindle, if they’re more accustomed to reading digitally. Give them a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles that will broaden their knowledge and urge them to think. It doesn’t have to strictly follow the curriculum; books on current events will also help them get a better perspective of what’s going on in the world.

Assignment 4: For the Crafty Ones

Do you see your students stumbling over certain difficult topics in class? Ask them to bring out their ‘crafty’ sides over the holidays and turn those concepts into flashcards!  Flashcards make learning easier , and making them will help your students hone their artistic skills!

Budding artists need guidance, and that’s exactly what we provide here at  Mentoria !  Speak to our expert career counsellors  about your future career path, or listen to the experiences of industry professionals in your field. Here Commercial Artist Mrs Krupa Patil shares what a day in her life looks like:

Assignment 5: For the Volunteer Wonders

A school in New Zealand recently got its students involved in building an outdoor classroom and won an award for creativity! Volunteering as a homework idea will help them understand the kind of problems the world is facing, put things in perspective and also help them learn how to work in a team! You could give them a list of places they could visit over the holidays or plan a class trip yourself. Let them volunteer at an animal shelter, old-age home or orphanage, where they can perform different activities like maintaining the gardens, teaching other children, reading to the elderly, or even organising a performance for the underprivileged.

Assignment 6. For the Budding Philosophers

If your students are at a stage in life where they have critical future decisions to make, ask them to ‘introspect’ over the holidays. What makes them happiest? Which activities do they most look forward to? What piques their interest and what fails to grab their attention? Give them a homework idea and ask them to write a detailed summary of their interests and how they could translate into a career option a few years down the line. If they’re confused, ask them to opt for professional guidance that will help them discover who they really are and what they should pursue in the future. We can help with that.  Students with clarity on their future are likely to be less stressed in class and focus better on their academics!

Holidays are perhaps the only time when students can study at their own pace without the looming burden of a jam-packed schedule. The holidays give students enough time to explore their interests and  use them to enhance their studying technique . Don’t overburden them with lesson plans and tough projects; instead, let them focus on building skills, exploring interests and making the most of the holiday season both in terms of education and entertainment!

We at  Mentoria  know that holidays can be crucial during high school, and students are busy figuring out what stream they want to enter. We try to make it easier for you. Our 4-step career guidance solution, helps us find the right career fit for you from 3 streams, 850+ courses & 12,000+ careers. Discover yourself during the holidays with Mentoria.

Choose your ideal path from 12,000+ career options.

Related Articles

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Creative Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science: Ideas and Exercises

• Updated on  
• Apr 23, 2024

Here are some interesting ideas for creative holiday homework for Class 8 Science. As educators, you should understand the importance of fostering curiosity and engagement, even during vacation periods. In this blog, we have curated a diverse range of activities, exercises, projects, and frequently asked questions to make learning science not only informative but also enjoyable and interactive. So, whether you are a student seeking inspiration or a teacher looking to infuse your curriculum with creativity, join us on this journey of exploration and discovery in the fascinating world of science!

Table of Contents

• 1.1 Experiments 
• 1.2 Creative Presentations
• 2.1 CBSE Class 8 Short Answer Questions
• 2.2 CBSE Class 8 MCQs
• 2.3 CBSE Class 8 Long Answer Questions
• 3 Creative Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science: Projects

Creative Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science: Ideas

To begin with, we have enlisted experiments and presentation ideas for creative holiday homework for class 8 science students.

Experiments 

• As teachers, you can ask students to choose a scientific concept they learned in class (like acids and bases, and chemical reactions) and design a fun and safe experiment around it. Tell students to prepare a presentation explaining the science behind the experiment. 
• In addition, you can ask Class 8 students to design a working model that demonstrates a sustainable practice (like a solar water heater or a rainwater collector). Suggest they use recycled materials whenever possible and explain the science behind how their model works, once the school reopens. 
• Moreover, ask your students, Is there a common science myth they have heard (like sugar makes you hyper)? Based on their answers, tell them to design an experiment to test the myth and creatively present their findings, like a comic strip or a video after the summer vacation. 

Creative Presentations

• Introduce a recent scientific breakthrough or discovery to your students. Now, ask them to create a news report (written, video, or even a mock radio broadcast) during the summer vacation. Once the classes resume, ask each one of them to explain the science behind it clearly and engagingly.
• Furthermore, you can suggest students write a short story about a future technology based on scientific concepts they have learned recently. Tell them to explain how the technology works and its potential benefits or drawbacks in their respective stories.
• Besides, you can ask your pupils to research the history of a scientific discovery or invention (like vaccines or electricity). Thereafter, tell them to present their findings on a timeline or create a short play or skit showing the scientists involved and their challenges.

Also Read: Class 3 Holiday Homework- Session 2024-25

Creative Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science: Exercises

Thereafter, this section introduces different types of exercises for creative holiday homework for Class 8 Science. 

CBSE Class 8 Short Answer Questions

Cbse class 8 mcqs, cbse class 8 long answer questions.

Also Read: Exciting Holiday Homework Ideas for Class 2

Creative Holiday Homework for Class 8 Science: Projects

Finally, let us have a look at projects for creative holiday homework for class 8 science. 

Ans: Make holiday homework creative by incorporating art, multimedia, or interactive elements. Use storytelling, presentations, or hands-on projects. Collaborate with classmates or explore real-world applications for a unique touch.

Ans: During summer vacation, set aside specific times for homework to maintain consistency. Break tasks into manageable chunks, utilize effective study techniques and create a conducive environment. Reward yourself for completing tasks to stay motivated and ensure a balanced approach to learning and leisure.

Ans: Here are some interesting ideas: – Ask students to choose a scientific concept they learned in class (like acids and bases, and chemical reactions) and design a fun and safe experiment around it.  – Suggest students write a short story about a future technology based on scientific concepts they have learned recently. Tell them to explain how the technology works and its potential benefits or drawbacks in their respective stories.

Follow the school education page of Leverage Edu to discover other holiday homework and project ideas for school students. 

Ankita Singh

Ankita is a history enthusiast with a few years of experience in academic writing. Her love for literature and history helps her curate engaging and informative content for education blog. When not writing, she finds peace in analysing historical and political anectodes.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today.

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

What is Juneteenth? When do we celebrate? A beginner's guide to the holiday

Two-minute read.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Ac t  establishing Juneteenth as the 11th holiday recognized by the federal government.

Juneteenth was widely popular among southern states such as Texas and has been celebrated for over 150 years.

When is Juneteenth 2024?

In New Jersey, Juneteenth is observed as a state holiday on the third Friday in June. This year, that is June 21.

However, the federal holiday is observed on June 19.

What is Juneteenth?

The history of the holiday dates back to June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation became official in 1863 — when  Major General Gordon Granger  of the Union army traveled to Galveston Texas after the Civil War was won with  General Order Number 3 , which informed enslaved African Americans that they were finally free.

Juneteenth became an official state holiday  in Texas on January 1, 1980 , led by African American state legislator Al Edwards.

New Jersey  made Juneteenth an official state holiday on June 25, 2020.

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day and Emancipation Day.

Why do we celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth signifies African American freedom, celebrates Black American achievement and encourages continuous self-development, education and civility for all cultures. According to Juneteeth.com, as it takes on a more national, symbolic and even global perspective, "the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all of the roots tie back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing."

In his proclamation, President Biden said it is important for America to confront its past as it builds to the future.

"The emancipation of enslaved Black Americans was not the end of our nation’s work to deliver on the promise of equality — it was only the beginning," Biden wrote. "On Juneteenth, we recommit to our shared work to ensure racial justice, equity and equality in America. We commemorate the centuries of struggle and progress led by abolitionists, educators, civil rights advocates, lawyers, activists, trade unionists, religious leaders, public officials and everyday Americans who have brought our nation closer to fulfilling its promise."

Why is it called Juneteenth?

The celebration of June 19th was coined “Juneteenth” by combining "June" and "nineteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for reuniting remaining family members. In its early years, the tradition was highly revered in Texas, with many former slaves and descendants gathering together to celebrate in Galveston.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Stock market today: Asian shares decline after a mixed post-holiday session on Wall Street

FILE - A person stands in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei index at a securities firm in Tokyo, on May 28, 2024. Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday, May 29, 2024, after a mixed session on Wall Street following a three-day holiday weekend.(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

FILE - A person looks at an electronic stock board showing Japan’s Nikkei 225 index at a securities firm in Tokyo, on May 27, 2024. Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday, May 29, 2024, after a mixed session on Wall Street following a three-day holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

People pass the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in New York. Shares are mostly lower in Europe and Asia after U.S. markets were closed for the Memorial Day holiday. (AP Photo/Peter Morgan, File)

• Copy Link copied

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday after a mixed session on Wall Street following a three-day holiday weekend.

Shares fell in Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Hong Kong, but rose in Shanghai. Mainland Chinese markets were lifted by moves by city governments in China to support the property market.

Oil prices also rose.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 shed 0.4% in early trading to 38,695.05. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 1.0% to 7,688.60. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.9% to 2,698.43. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 1.1% to 18,611.59, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.4% to 3,123.00.

On Wall Street, most U.S. stocks fell in a quiet day of trading Tuesday, after bond yields ticked higher.

Nearly three out of every four stocks fell within the S&P 500. But strength for a handful of highly influential Big Tech stocks helped the index hold up overall. It edged higher by 1.32, or less than 0.1%, to 5,306.04.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% to 38,852.86. The Nasdaq composite rode the strength of tech stocks to gain 0.6%, to 17,019.88 and added to its latest all-time high set on Friday.

Nvidia led the way and jumped 7% to bring its gain for the year so far to a whopping 130%. It’s still riding a wave created by its latest blowout profit report from last week, which calmed some of the worries that Wall Street’s frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology has inflated expectations and prices beyond reasonable levels.

U.S. Cellular climbed 12.2% after T-Mobile said it will buy nearly all of the company . The deal is valued at $4.4 billion and includes up to $2 billion in assumed debt. Shares of T-Mobile US added 0.8%.

GameStop jumped 25.2% after it said it raised $933.4 million in cash through a previously announced sale of stock. The company, whose stock price has often moved more on investors’ enthusiasm than any change to its profit prospects, said it could use the cash for acquisitions, investments or other general corporate purposes.

AP AUDIO: Stock market today: Wall Street drifts in quiet trading after returning from a 3-day weekend

Investors in Wall Street are settling in after a long weekend. More from AP’s Seth Sutel.

They helped offset drops for health care stocks, which had some of Wall Street’s sharpest losses. Moderna fell 8%, Merck dropped 2.6% and Vertex Pharmaceuticals sank 2.2%.

The majority of other stocks on Wall Street also fell, feeling the effects of a modest rise in Treasury yields. Higher yields can help make payments for everything from mortgages to credit cards more expensive, and they tend to put downward pressure on the economy.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.54% from 4.47% late Friday. It had been lower in the morning but began trimming its losses after a surprising report showed confidence among U.S. consumers is strengthening. Economists had been expecting it to show a drop in confidence.

Strong spending by U.S. consumers has been one of the main reasons the economy has managed to defy predictions of a recession, at least so far, but some cracks have begun to show . Lower-income households in particular have begun to buckle under the pressure of still-high inflation.

The Fed has been holding the federal funds rate at the highest level in more than two decades in hopes of grinding down on the economy and investment prices enough to get high inflation fully under control. If it leaves rates too high for too long, it could kneecap the job market and overall economy. But a premature cut to interest rates could allow inflation to reaccelerate and inflict even more pain on U.S. households.

This week has several reports that could sway the Fed’s thinking, beyond Tuesday’s on confidence among consumers.

The highlight likely arrives on Friday when the government releases its latest monthly report on spending by households and the incomes that they earned. It will also include the measure of inflation for April that the Federal Reserve prefers to use.

In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude rose 26 cents to $80.09 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, added 18 cents to $84.40 a barrel.

In currency trading, the U.S. dollar edged up to 157.22 Japanese yen from 157.12 yen. The euro cost $1.0850, down from $1.0857.

AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.

Eurozone rate cut would hold both benefits and risks

Sky's Ian King says Thursday's expected interest rate cut in Frankfurt will mark another divergence for the European Central Bank - one that should help stoke economic growth and help UK holidaymakers but also carries the threat of bolstering inflation.

Business presenter @iankingsky

Wednesday 5 June 2024 06:59, UK

If, as expected, the European Central Bank (ECB) cuts its main policy rate on Thursday it will be a hugely significant moment.

At a very basic level, the cut - the ECB is expected to trim its deposit rate from 4% to 3.75% - should benefit millions of households and businesses across the eurozone, who have never known interest rates this high since the single currency was born 25 years ago.

British tourists venturing to the usual summer hotspots should also benefit although it is fair to say the foreign exchange markets have been pricing in a rate cut for a while. The pound has risen by 1.5% against the euro since mid-April.

But the move will also be more significant in terms of what it says about central banks around the world.

At the beginning of the year, the US Federal Reserve was widely expected to be the first major central bank to cut interest rates.

That would have kept up a tradition that had been more or less in place since the Second World War in which the Fed always tended to cut rates before its global peers. The tradition was ended when, in 2011, the ECB cut interest rates in response to the eurozone sovereign debt crisis while the Fed kept its main policy rate, Fed Funds, unchanged.

There was a further break with tradition when, in 2013, the ECB began cutting interest rates again while the Fed left them unchanged.

More from Business

General Election 2024: Carmakers seek government 'carrot' as discounts fail to lure electric buyers

Money blog: Subway drastically changing how you order

M&S director quits over poaching of Rightmove finance chief

However, those were not normal times. So this week's move will be the first time in relatively normal circumstances since before the war in which the ECB (or the Bundesbank, the most important central bank in Europe prior to European monetary union) has cut before the Fed.

It is important to note at this point that the ECB is far from being the only central bank whose monetary policy is diverging away from that of the Fed. The Swiss National Bank and the Riksbank, Sweden's central bank, have already cut interest rates this year and, at the time of writing, the Bank of Canada was also expected to cut interest rates later on Wednesday.

The Bank of England, too, is expected to begin cutting interest rates in August while the Fed, by contrast, is now not expected to begin cutting until the final three months of the year.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Apart from breaking with the long-term trend for normal economic times, it is also worth nothing that a rate cut from the ECB this week would be doubly unusual, since eurozone inflation remains comfortably above the bank's 2% target rate. It will be a rate cut borne of concerns about weaknesses in the eurozone economy.

And divergence in monetary policy from the Federal Reserve does not come without risks for the ECB.

In particular there will be concerns about what an early ECB rate cut will mean for the exchange rate between the euro and the US dollar. All other things being equal, it should weaken the single currency, making the price of exports from the eurozone to the US more competitive.

However, that comes with risks, not least in terms of pushing up the cost of imports - particularly energy, which is priced in dollars, which could in turn push up inflation. A weaker euro would also carry risks in a US election year in which both Joe Biden, the president and Donald Trump, his challenger, will be seeking to out-bid each other with protectionist policies.

As Mohamed El-Erian, adviser to Allianz and Gramercy and one of the world's most experienced investors, wrote in the Financial Times last week: "Too large and persistent a divergence in rates risks weakening European currencies beyond the point where possible competitive advantages compensate for the costs of higher imported inflation.

"In a US election year, this could also fan protectionist tendencies that, already, are on the cusp of intensifying. The two together would risk financial instability that would spill back to amplify economic concerns."

For that reason, most market-watchers do not expect this divergence in monetary policy to extend too far.

Bruce Kasman, head of global economic research at investment banking giant JP Morgan, told clients recently in a webcast: "The broad point is that if we look at 2024…[there are] limited opportunities for central bank easing - there is just not enough in terms of the inflation decline to actually argue that central banks can act aggressively.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

"There is an opportunity for divergence but the broad message is that, in a world in which growth is overall resilient and inflation is still drifting lower but at a pace that's not really getting you back... to something that central banks are quite comfortable with, it's leaving you with relatively limited room for easing overall."

That view is shared by strategists at BlackRock, the world's biggest asset manager, who told clients in a note this week: "Falling inflation and 18 months of weak economic activity make the case for the ECB to start cutting rates. But we don't think it will cut far and fast.

"Likewise in the US, we see just one or two Fed cuts this year. This is not your typical rate cutting cycle.

"Investors may see opportunities in further policy divergence, but we think it will be temporary as both central banks ultimately keep rates high for longer."

So the message for households and businesses in the eurozone is this - while your borrowing costs are about to come down, they may not come down as much as you would like them to.

That also applies to Britons hitting the sun-loungers in Spain, Greece and elsewhere this summer. Enjoy the fillip to your holiday pound while you can.

Ohio sales holiday getting bigger this summer

This summer's sales tax holiday in Ohio will be bigger and longer.

This year's holiday has been expanded to 10 days and shoppers will be allowed to make tax-free purchases on eligible items up to $500, Gov. Mike DeWine's office said Friday.

Past holidays have lasted three days and the tax exemption was generally limited to school supplies and learning materials up to $20 and clothing items up to $75.

This year's holiday begins on July 30 and extends to 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 8.

“Ohio’s sales tax holiday, historically, has been meant to help families buy clothing and school supplies for the upcoming school year,” DeWine said in a statement. “This expanded sales tax break will help Ohio’s families with back-to-school necessities as well as other substantial purchases during a time when so many household budgets are being strained.”

More: Easton Town Center announces several new luxury stores coming in 2024

The expanded holiday allows purchases made in-person or online to be exempt from the state's 5.75% sales tax and any additional county or local sales taxes.

The exemption does not apply to services or for the purchase of watercraft, outboard motors, motor vehicles, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products or any items that contains marijuana.

[email protected]

@BizMarkWilliams

An African American holiday predating Juneteenth was nearly lost to history. It's back.

NEW YORK – Cheyney McKnight waited years to celebrate Pinkster.

On a scorching Saturday morning in May, McKnight put on her tailor-made 18th-century Malian mud cloth dress and trekked 7 miles with a dozen others to partake in a storied tradition. The group rattled shell shakers and tambourines and beat drums, strolling New York City sidewalks from an old farmhouse near the top of Manhattan to the New-York Historical Society , recreating a route free and enslaved Black people would have traveled in colonial times on Pinkster, Dutch for "the Pentecost." The festival, which falls in May or June, follows Easter. It honors the Holy Spirit inspiring Jesus Christ's disciples to initiate the church's missionary work.

Pinkster is among an array of lesser-known African American holidays, although historians say it is likely one of the earliest. As the broader U.S. population prepares to honor Juneteenth, a federal holiday marking the day enslaved people in Texas learned belatedly about emancipation, McKnight and fellow celebrants drew the attention of pedestrians and commuters to the celebration of community some New York lawmakers hope may gain official recognition.

“There’s nothing like family,” McKnight told a small crowd that morning, as the day's events began at the farmhouse's porch. Recalling what Pinkster would have been like in colonial New York, she said, “These people came together every year to congregate, to just have a good time. This shows their agency.”

A New York lawmaker has a measure pending at the state Capitol – built atop a historic Pinkster gathering space – to enshrine Pinkster in state law alongside Juneteenth and Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Assemblymember Brian Cunningham, a Brooklyn Democrat who authored the bill , recently learned about the holiday and now considers Pinkster a key part of his state's history. He says it's essential the government recognize Black Americans not just in pain or hardship, but also in joy and family. Even during the hardest moments of enslavement, he said, “We still found moments to come together and celebrate our collective history.”

African American experience: Several Black museums have opened in recent years with more coming soon. Here's a list.

Juneteenth, which Black families have celebrated for generations dating back to Reconstruction, became one of a dozen federal holidays in 2021. However, it is not the only African American holiday to gain recognition. There are others, such as Negro Election Day, the day Black New Englanders elected community representatives, predates the American Revolution and is a Massachusetts holiday .

Slavery was 'regular part of New York life'

The event McKnight organized in Manhattan on May 25 began with songs and dance honoring ancestors, before the first annual stroll through town. In addition to her work with the historical society, McKnight runs Not Your Momma’s History, a website with a quarter-million followers on YouTube that offers educational videos and programming about slavery and the African experience in Colonial America and the early U.S.

The Pinkster participants walked through the Dyckman Farmhouse , a museum and former home of a Dutch family who held enslaved people. The group moved down Broadway, drumming as they traversed a Dominican business corridor. A man carting recycled cans and bottles bobbed his head to the beat, shouting, “¡En Nueva York!”

Enslaved Africans arrived in New York just a few years after Dutch colonizers settled there. Thousands came in bondage from the Caribbean and Africa, often from the Kongo or Loango peoples, between the early 1600s and the late 1700s, when the slave trade ended. New York abolished slavery in 1827. 

New York’s enslaved population was smaller than plantation economies in the South, however, enslavement was pervasive in the northern city. Enslaved Black New Yorkers often lived in isolation from one another, with only a few people living on farms or in homes. They worked as domestic servants, laborers, tradesmen and dock workers in New York Harbor.

In 1730, enslaved people made up about a fifth of Manhattan’s population. During the 1790 U.S. census , enslaved people accounted for about a third of Kings County, which is present-day Brooklyn. More than 60% of households had enslaved people.

Slavery was "really integral to this society,” said Andrea Mosterman, a professor of early American history at the University of New Orleans. “For more than 200 years, slavery was a regular part of New York life.”

White New Yorkers heavily restricted and surveilled enslaved people’s movements. They could not move around without travel passes. They were mandated to use lanterns at night, and prohibited from purchasing certain goods, said Mosterman, who wrote a history of slavery and resistance in Dutch New York.

In this context, Pinkster, a springtime Christian holiday, gave people a respite from bondage. Slave-owning societies often gave enslaved people a few days off, typically around Christmas or Easter. The premise was that enslaved people wouldn't rebel if they had limited freedoms, according to Myra Young Armstead, a history professor at Bard College in New York.

Enslaved African people in New York: Suburb uncovers hidden burial ground as NY studies centuries of African American history

Pinkster as resistance

Pinkster had a broader meaning for Black Americans, Armstead said: It represented resistance. Pinkster evolved into a weeklong secular gathering for enslaved people separated from their family and friends, a place to practice African traditions in community with others.

“It really does function as a way for the slaves to perform their true selves, their true identities,” said Armstead, who wrote a public history on enslavement in upstate New York. “To connect with relatives and friends that they’re prevented from seeing.”

The abolitionist Sojourner Truth, born enslaved in Dutch-speaking New York, described Pinkster celebrations with longing, she recounted in her dictated autobiography . In 1803, the Albany Centinel , a white newspaper, described seeing a “Guinea dance” and “Guinea drum” at Pinkster celebrations, and historical accounts mention a Pinkster king who presided over ceremonies, a tradition likely rooted in west-central African traditions that adopted Christianity before the slave trade, according to historian and author Jeroen Dewulf. Other accounts from the 1800s noted the festival included thousands of Black people from New York and New Jersey.

Pinkster is believed to have been the largest African American celebration in Colonial American and early U.S. history, Dewulf said in an email. Black people organized Pinkster events, but attendees were from different racial backgrounds, he added.

By the 19th century, the celebrations dwindled. One key factor in their decline was that New York state in 1811 effectively outlawed Pinkster . Armstead, from Bard, said the ban was prompted by fear among white landowners after the late-18th century Haitian Revolution, in which enslaved Black people revolted against the Caribbean island's dominant white enslaving class. White lawmakers in the U.S. took steps to prohibit Black people from gathering in groups.

The last recorded events happened in the mid-1800s, said Lavada Nahon , an author and public historian for the New York state parks office.

Rediscovering Pinkster

Reviving the tradition is deeply meaningful, Nahon said, since the holiday honors the humanity of Black people living under bondage.

“We need to take the shame that other people have placed upon us off by rediscovering things like Pinkster and celebrating them however we choose to," she told USA TODAY. “It’s vitally important that people went out of their way to remain human in their own eyes.”

About eight years ago, McKnight, at the Historical Society, saw a group of Black people donning 18th-century clothing near the famed Apollo Theater, in the heart of Harlem, the historic African American neighborhood with a Dutch name. The group members wore West African garments and had drums and a banjo. She didn't know if the group was going to a Pinkster celebration, but that moment inspired her to revive the tradition with a stroll.

In the Saturday afternoon heat, the group arrived at the New-York Historical Society, the city’s first museum founded in 1804. McKnight envisions Pinkster as a holiday for the Black diaspora, for people from the Caribbean, Latin America, the northern and southern U.S., and Africa in New York City.

“I just kind of wanted it to be a gift to, you know, Black New Yorkers,” she told USA TODAY. “It’s for them. And it's not about educating white folks or the public about us. It's about us.”