The holiday season in the USA

Yes, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's day are very much celebrated in the US. Thanksgiving is typically a family gathering around a nice diner and a chance to catch up with relatives you don't get a chance to see much in the past year.
Christmas holiday comes alive right after the Thanksgiving week end, when people decorate their homes and go buy a tree. Some of these displays can be very sophisticated and people are driving around in the most notorious neighborhoods to check out the light and music shows. Christmas eve and Christmas day are usually spent with family, going to one relative one day and another the next day.
New year's eve is often an occasion to include friends, not only family. Some people go out, other have a gathering at someone's place.

Every body is looking forward to the year end celebrations. Our company is throwing a big Christmas party in a nice upscale resort like they do every year, with diner, music, dance floor and casino. Every one dresses up and bring their spouse or a guest. It's very festive.

We had an awesome Thanksgiving diner at our house with my GF and I, and her family. We plan to go to her mom then her sister for Christmas and invited 30 people, family and friends, for a New Year's eve celebration on our ranch with a potluck, bonfires and the traditional Corsican shotgun blast at midnight.

I will be spending the holiday season in the USA in Florida.
The biggest visible difference between the US and Belgium is in the illumination of the houses, most houses here have outside decorations, they look like big Christmas trees, lights even around the palm trees in the gardens. Every year there are canal cruises to have a look at the illuminations from the canal side and people drive around to see the most beautiful decorations from the road side.
Lots of pot luck (bring a dish yourself) parties and gift exchanges and of course between Thanksgiving and Christmas lots of shopping at bargain prices. 
Very festive

Very low key for us. Presents and really well cooked meals for friends. Small treats for us and extra time spent together. SO is the decorator:)