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Holidays

Although the new year has been celebrated since prehistoric times, it was celebrated on the vernal equinox rather than what we now consider the first of the year.  The Romans were the first to recognize New Years Day on January first.  Rather than tie the day to some significant astronomical or agricultural event, in 153 BC the Romans selected it for civil reasons.  It was the day after elections in which the newly elected assumed their positions.  Years later, Julius Caesar wanted to change the date to a more logical date but that year, January 1, 45 BC was the date of a new moon.  To change it would have been bad luck.  He did, however, change the calendar system from the Egyptian solar calendar to the "Julian" calendar, named for Caesar.  July, the month of Caesar's birth, was also named after him to recognize him for his calendar reform.   Up unto 1582, Christian Europe continued to celebrate New Years Day on March 25.  Pope Gregory XIII instituted additional calendar reforms bringing us the calendaring system of the day.  The Gregorian calendar  was adopted by Catholic countries immediately while the reformists, suspect of any papal policy, only adapted it after some time.  Today most countries around the world have adopted this calendaring system.   From primitive man to today, it has been recognized as a day in which rites were done to  abolished the past so there could be a rejuvenation for the new year.  Rituals included purgations, purifications, exorcisms, extinguishing and rekindling fires, masked processions (masks representing the dead), and other similar activities.  Often exorcisms and purgations were performed with much noise as if to scare away the evil spirits.  In China, Ying, the forces of light fought Yang, the forces of darkness with cymbals, noisemakers, and firecrackers.   Early European-Americans adopted the New Year celebrations from their homelands.  However, it was noted by early settlers that native Americans already honored News Years Day with their own customs.  Their rituals coincided with those around the world including fires, explosions of evil spirits, and celebrations.  Today many of the New Year celebrations actually begin with a countdown to the New Year on the evening prior.  It is customary to kiss your sweetheart when the clock strikes midnight as one of the customs of these New Years Eve parties.   New Year Resolutions are simply another way to wish away the past in exchange for hopes of the future.  It is where the phrase "turning over a new leaf" originated.

Holiday	Feast of the Epiphany
Dates	January 6th, 2002
Background	Egypt
Earliest Celebration	Second Century

To the ancient greeks, an epiphany was the appearance of a divine manifestation.  This feast commemorates three worldly manifestations of Jesus Christ.  His first appearance as God of the Jews and Gentiles was when the wise men visited Him in a manger at Bethlehem.  (see Matthew 2:9-11).  The second miraculous appearance showing His divinity was at his river Jordan baptism by John the Baptist.  (see Matthew 3:16-17).  The third divine manifestation was the site of the first miracle of His ministry&emdash;changing water to wine at the marriage feast at Cana.  (see John 2:1-11)  Each event was said to have occurred on January 6 even though there is no mention of dates in scripture.   During the middle ages, the Christmas celebration continued for 12 days.  This was probably a result of continuing heathen traditions celebrating the winter solstice.  The feast of the Epiphany was also celebrated twelve days after Christmas on January 6.  This day is further acknowledged by Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night and the popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Holiday	Purim
Dates	Monday January 25th, 2002	14th & 15th day of Adar
Background	Jewish

Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar. This year (2002) Purim begins at sundown on Monday the 25th of February.   The Story of Purim   The story of Purim is recounted in The Megillah, the Scroll on which the Book of Esther is written. It tells the story of Queen Esther, King Ahasuerus, Esther's uncle (or cousin) Mordechai, and the king's chief advisor Haman.   Though Synagogues are mostly solemn places, the atmosphere changes as children dress up as their favorite Purim characters and rattle graggers (noisemakers). Graggers are the noisemakers used during the reading of the Meglliah. Every time the name of Haman is mentioned, everyone boos, hisses, stamps their feet and twirls their graggers.

Holiday	Martin Luther King Jr Day
Dates	Third Monday of January
Background
Earliest Observance

Each year on the third Monday of January schools, federal offices, post office and banks across america close as we celebrate the birth, the life and the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.   It is a time for the nation to remember the injustices that Dr. King fought. A time to remember his fight for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all races and peoples. A time to remember the message of change through nonviolence

Holiday	Chinese New Year
Dates	February 12th 2002 February 1st 2003 January 2nd 2004 February 9th 2005	Starts with new moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later.
Background
Earliest Observance

The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on eap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family. The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

Holiday	Lincoln's Birthday
Dates	February 12th
Background	United States
Earliest Observance

Until 1971, both February 12 and February 22 were observed as federal public holidays to honor the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and George Washington (February 22). In 1971 President Richard Nixon proclaimed one single federal public holiday, the Presidents' Day, to be observed on the third Monday of February, honoring all past president of the United States of America. Please Note: The Federal statute designates this day as Washington's Birthday, President Nixon issued a proclamation declaring the holiday as "President's Day" in 1971. President Nixon erroneously believed that a Presidential proclamation on the matter carried the same weight as an Executive Order. Since that change in 1971, the common term has been "President's Day". Of all the presidents in the history of the United State, Abraham Lincoln is probably the one that Americans remember the best and with deepest affection. His childhood in the frontier of Indiana set the course for his character and motivation later in life. He brought a new honesty and integrity to the White House. He would always be remembered as "honest Abe." Most of all, he is associated with the final abolition of slavery. Lincoln became a virtual symbol of the American dream whereby an ordinary person from humble beginnings could reach the pinnacle of society as president of the country. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in Kentucky, and spent the first seven years of his life there. They were difficult years in which Thomas Lincoln, Abe's father tried to make a living as a carpenter and farmer. The Lincolns moved from farm to farm around Kentucky, until 1816, when the family left to settle in Indiana. The United States was still young, and the midwest was a wild, unsettled frontier. They stopped in the middle of a forest in Spencer County, Indiana. Neighbors were few and far away, and the family lived in a three-sided shelter until Abe's father cleared enough land and built a log cabin. Abe and his sister helped with the heavy daily tasks that came with farming. He cleared the woods for farmland with his father, and became so skilled at splitting logs that neighbors settling into the Indiana territory paid him to split logs. At the time, he confessed that he did not really like manual labor. He wrote later that although he was very young, an axe was put into his hand, and he "was almost constantly handling that most useful instrument." In his entire life, Abe was only able to go to school for a total of one year. This lack of education only made him hungry for more knowledge. His mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, influenced him in his quest for learning. Although she was completely uneducated and could not read or write, she encouraged her children to study by themselves. His beloved mother died when he was nine years old, the family was greatly saddened, and for a while lived almost in squalor. Two years later, however, Thomas Lincoln remarried. Abe's stepmother was also instrumental in encouraging him to read. He even travelled to neighboring farms and counties to borrow books. He was often found reading next to a pile of logs that he should have been splitting. When he was older, Abe noticed that people loved to listen to stories. He began telling tall tales in the general store where he worked. Customers came and stayed when they knew he was there, just to hear him talk. The family moved once again, this time to Illinois. He began working in a store in the new capital ofSpringfield. His powers of speech soon helped him enter a new arena, that of politics and law. In 1834 he was elected into the House of Representatives and began studying to become a lawyer. In 1839, he met his future wife Mary Todd. Coincidentally, she had been born in Kentucky, and her family had recently moved to Illinois. They had a long and unstable courtship, because Abe was indecisive about marrying. They finally exchanged their vows in Mary's home in November 1842. Abraham Lincoln began a long road to become the sixteenth president of the United States. He practiced law all across the state for the next few years, traveling far on horseback to different counties. I n 1847 he was elected into Congress, but his opinions did not ensure him a long stay there. He was vehemently against slavery and took stands on other controversial issues. He was not elected for a second term, so he returned to his law practice. A few years later, slavery became a stronger issue, and more people were willing to abolish it. Lincoln joined the Republicans, a new political party that was opposed to slavery. The Republicans nominated him for the U.S. Senate in 1858, and in his acceptance speech, he stated: "A house divided against itself cannot stand... This government cannot endure, permanently half-slave and half-free... I do not expect the Union to be dissolved. I do not expect the house to fall but I do expect it will cease to be divided. " Abraham Lincoln's oratorical powers brought him to the attention of the nation. He challenged the democratic nominee to the Senate to a series of debates. Using the simple language that he used to communicate with people all his life, he defeated Douglas in the debates but lost to him in the election. Nominated by the Republican Party in 1860 as its candidate for the Presidency of the United States, Lincoln won by a small margin. But with his election, the country began the process of "dividing against itself." South Carolina had seceded from the Union before he was even inaugurated. Other states followed to form the Confederate States of America. The North and South were divided, and the Civil War began. The war was not only over the abolition of slavery, but also the rights of individual states to make their own choices on other issues. The bloody Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania was the largest battle ever fought on American soil. On November 19, 1863, at a ceremony to establish Gettysburg as a national monument, Lincoln delivered what was to become one of the finest orations in American history, the Gettysburg Address. Yet just after he delivered it, there was polite applause, and reactions varied from indifference to disappointment. Edward Everett, ex-governor of Massachusetts, was the main speaker, and his speech had lasted for almost two hours. On his trip back to Washington, Lincoln himself said of his speech: "It was a flat failure. I am distressed about it. I ought to have prepared it with more care." But Edward Everett assured Lincoln saying: "I would be glad if I could flatter myself that I came near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours as you did in two minutes." The Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863 Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation may live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth. Lincoln was elected to a second term in 1864. The South surrendered, and the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865. The difficult task of national reconstruction and reconciliation lay ahead, but Lincoln would not be the person to lead the country through this difficult period. On April 14, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln attended a play at the Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. A few minutes past ten o'clock, an actor who disagreed with Lincoln's political opinions stepped into the Presidential box and shot the President. He died the following morning.

Holiday	Valentine's Day
Dates	February 14th
Background
Earliest Observance

The Story of Valentine's Day The holiday of Valentine's Day probably derives its origins from the ancient Roman feast of Lupercalia. In the early days of Rome, fierce wolves roamed the woods nearby. The Romans called upon one of their gods, Lupercus, to keep the wolves away. A festival held in honor of Lupercus was celebrated February 15th. The festival was celebrated as a spring festival. Their calendar was different at that time, with February falling in early springtime. One of the customs of the young people was name-drawing. On the eve of the festival of Lupercalia the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars. Each young man drew a slip. The girl whose name was chosen was to be his sweetheart for the year  Legend has it that the holiday became Valentine's Day after a priest named Valentine. Valentine was a priest in Rome at the time Christianity was a new religion. The Emperor at that time, Claudius II, ordered the Roman soldiers NOT to marry or become engaged. Claudius believed that as married men, his soldiers would want to stay home with their families rather than fight his wars. Valentine defied the Emperor's decree and secretly married the young couples. He was eventually arrested, imprisoned, and put to death Valentine was beheaded on February 14th, the eve of the Roman holiday Lupercalia. After his death, Valentine was named a saint. As Rome became more Christian, the priests moved the spring holiday from the 15th of February to the 14th - Valentine's Day. Now the holiday honored Saint Valentine instead of Lupercus

The Valentine's Day Card  Valentine: noun  A sentimental or humorous greeting card to a sweetheart, friend, or family member on Saint Valentine's Day  A gift sent as a token of love to one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day  A person singled out especially as one's sweetheart on Saint Valentine's Day  Verses and Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, when lovers said or sangtheir valentines. Written valentines began to appear after 1400. The oldest "valentine" in existencewas made in the 1400's and is in the British Museum. Paper valentines were exchanged in Europe where they were given in place of valentine gifts. Paper valentines were especially popular in England. Early valentines were made by hand and were made with colored paper, watercolors, and colored inks  There were many different types of handmade valentines, including: Acrostic valentines - had verses in which the first lines spelled out the loved one's name Cutout valentines - made by folding the paper several times and then cutting out a lacelike design with small, sharp, pointed scissors Pinprick valentines - made by pricking tiny holes in a paper with a pin or needle. creating the look of lace Theorem or Poonah valentines - designs that were painted through a stencil cut in oil paper, a style that came from the Orient Rebus valentines - verses in which tiny pictures take the place of some of the words. (an eye would take the place of the word I) Puzzle Purse valentines - a folded puzzle to read and refold. Among their many folds were verses that had to be read in a certain order Fraktur valentines - had ornamental lettering in the style of illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages  In the early 1800's, valentines began to be assembled in factories. Early manufactured valentines were black and white pictures that were painted by workers in a factory.Fancy valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid 1800's. By the end of the 1800's valentines were being made entirely by machine  In the early 1900's a card company named Norcross began to manufacture valentines. Each year Hallmark displays its collection of rare and antique valentines at card shops around the country. Museums and Libraries also offer antique valentine exhibitions around St. Valentine's Day

Holiday	Washington's Birthday
Dates	February 22nd
Background	United States
Earliest Observance

George Washington, born February 22, 1732 in Virginia, was a natural leader, instrumental in reating a united nation out of a conglomeration of struggling colonies and territories. The first president of the United States of America is affectionately honored as "the father of his country." Shortly after his twenty-second birthday, Washington served in the army of King George III of England and was put in command of a troop of soldiers. The French were settling on British soil and turning the local Indians against the British colonists. Later, in the war against the French and Indians, Washington commanded large troops of soldiers and showed courage that inspired all his soldiers. At this time, King George III of England dominated the thirteen colonies along the east coast and much of the surrounding territories. Colonists began to want their freedom, and live with a set of rules based on democracy, not under the rule of a faraway king. The Boston Tea Party of 1773, a colonial rebellion against taxes, helped to spark the American Revolution. Washington led and encouraged his inexperienced armies against the British forces for eight years until the colonies won their independence. Laws for the new country were written into the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The laws called for a President, and here again George Washington was considered the natural choice. He agreed to serve his country as the first President. George Washington moved from Mount Vernon, his family home south of Alexandria, Virginia, to New York City, then the capital of the United States. The trip took a week by horse and carriage. All along the way, people waited eagerly to glimpse the Revolutionary War general and their first President. Washington was a reluctant leader. As he inspired his soldiers through two wars, he saw himself serving his country, not leading it. When he accepted two terms as president, he saw himself serving God and his country in peacetime. He turned down a third term as president, wishing only to retire to his beautiful family home, Mount Vernon. Americans celebrated Washington's birthday while he was still alive. They were grateful for a strong leader who had proven that democracy was a feasible way to govern the growing country. And, while he was alive, legends grew up about him. The most famous one says that he was so strong, he threw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. Some Americans argue that this is a true story. Parts of the Potomac River, they say, were extremely narrow a few hundred years ago! Another story which has never been proven, but Americans pass down to their children as a lesson: When George Washington was young, his father gave him a hatchet. He tried to cut down a cherry tree with it. His father noticed the cuts on the tree, and asked his son how they got there. "I cannot tell a lie," George said, "I did it with my hatchet." Perhaps George Washington had no hatchet, and perhaps there were no cherry trees where he grew up. However, George Washington today represents honesty, and cherry pies have become a favorite food associated with his birthday. Various communities observe the holiday by staging pageants and reenactments of important milestones in Washington's life. Also, the holiday has taken on another side, much more commercial in nature. Many shopping malls and stores run Presidents' Day sales to attract shoppers who have the day off from work or school. The White House While in office, George Washington held a contest for the best architectural design of a "President's Palace." Among the competitors was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and an architect. His design was entered anonymously, signed only with the initials "A. Z." It didn't win. An Irish architect named James Hoban won $500, a piece of land, and of course the honor of having his plans used in the final design. Americans called it the "President's House" because the word "palace" reminded them of the monarchy that they recently broke away from. The official name was the "Executive Mansion" from 1818-1902. Today it is called simply "The White House." Some historians say that people began calling it the White House because it was painted white after being restored after it had been burned by the British in 1812. Another legend is that George Washington named it after his wife's house in the state of Virginia. The first president never had the chance to stay there. Washington died on December 14, 1799, one year before the White House was completed during the Presidency of John Adams. In 1806, Thomas Jefferson had another chance at designing the White House when he moved in as third President. Much of the house and Jefferson's additions were destroyed in the War of 1812. When it was rebuilt, however, James Hoban supervised the work. The White House was redecorated in 1881 and again in 1902 by the current presidents, and each change reflected the style of the times. It was completely renovated in 1949 when Harry S. Truman was President. In 1960 when John Kennedy became President, his wife Jacqueline redecorated the White House to display the beauty of American furnishings and art. The gardens outside were beautified and enlarged. Since then the presidents' wives have continued to maintain their home in a tasteful style.

Holiday	Mardi Gras
Dates	Sunday March 4th 2003 February 24th 2004 February 8th 2005	Always 47 days before Easter
Background	French
Earliest Observance	1699

The History of Mardi Gras Mardi Gras came to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers celebrated this French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi River. Throughout the years, Orleanians have added to the celebration by establishing krewes (organizations) which host parades and balls. Carnival quickly became an exciting holiday for both children and adults.  Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and of course is celebrated on that day of the week. The date can fall between February 3 and March 9 depending on the Catholic Church. Mardi Gras is always 47 days before Easter Sunday.  The official colors for Mardi Gras are purple, green, and gold. These colors where chosen in 1872 by the King of Carnival, Rex. He chose these colors to stand for the following: * Purple represents justice * green stands for faith * gold stands for power  The Mardi Gras season begins about two weeks before Fat Tuesday. During those two weeks, parades can be viewed nightly and on weekends. Almost all businesses are closed for Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) and for Mardi Gras itself. People all over the world come to New Orleans to enjoy this extravagant holiday.  Mardi Gras is a traditional holiday celebrated in many of the southern states of the USA. The most famous celebration takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana. The people there enjoy this celebration by going to parades where they catch "beads, doubloons, cups, and trinkets" that are all thrown from floats. They have masquerade balls and dress up in costumes for these events. King Cakes are eaten during this holiday. Mardi Gras is known as the "biggest free show on earth."

Holiday	Ash Wednesday
Dates	February 5th 2003 February 25th 2004
Background
Earliest Observance

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.  Why we receive the ashes Following the example of the Nine vites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins-- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession. The Ashes The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance.

Holiday	St Patrick's Day
Dates	March 17th
Background
Earliest Observance

St Patrick is known as the patron saint of Ireland. True, he was not a born Irish.  But he has become an integral part of the Irish heritage, mostly through  his service across Ireland of the 5th century.  Patrick was born in the later half of the 4th century AD.  There are differing views about the exact year and place of his birth.  According to one school of opinion, he was born about 390 A.D.,  while the other school says it is about 373 AD. Again, his birth place  is said to be in either Scotland or Roman England.  His real name was probably Maewyn Succat.  Though Patricius was his Romanicized name,  he was later came to be familiar as Patrick.   Patrick was the son of Calpurnius, a Roman-British army officer.  He was growing up as naturally as other kids in Britain. However, one day  a band of pirates landed in south Wales and kidnapped this boy  along with many others. Then they sold him into slavery in Ireland.  He was there for 6 years, mostly imprisoned.  This was when changes came to him. He dreamed of having seen God.  Legend says, he was then dictated by God to escape with a getaway ship.  Finally, he did escape and went to Britain. And then to France.  There he joined a monastery and studied under St. Germain,  the bishop of Auxerre. He spent around 12 years in training.  And when he became a bishop he dreamed that the Irish were calling him  back to Ireland to tell them about God.  The Confessio, Patrick's spiritual autobiography, is the most important  document regarding this. It tells of a dream after his return to Britain,  in which one Victoricus delivered him a letter headed "The Voice of the Irish." So he set out for Ireland with the Pope's blessings. There he converted  the Gaelic Irish, who were then mostly Pagans, to Christianity. He was  confident in the Lord, he journeyed far and wide, baptizing and confirming  with untiring zeal. And, in a diplomatic fashion he brought gifts to  a kinglet here  and a lawgiver there, but accepted none from any.   Indeed, Patrick was quite successful at winning converts.  Through active preaching, he made important converts even  among the royal families. And this fact upset the Celtic Druids.  Patrick was arrested several times, but escaped each time.  For 20 years he had traveled throughout Ireland,  establishing monasteries across the country.  He also set up schools and churches  which would aid him in his conversion.   He developed a native clergy,  fostered the growth of monasticism,  established dioceses, and held church councils.  Patrick's doctrine is considered orthodox  and has been interpreted as anti-Pelagian.  Although he is not particularly noted as a man of learning,  a few of his writings remain extant:  his Confession, a reply to his detractors, and several letters.  The Lorica ("Breastplate"), a famous hymn attributed to Patrick,  may date to a later period. By the end of the 7th century Patrick had become a legendary figure,  and the legends have continued to grow since then. There are many legends associated with St Patrick. It is said that he used the three-leafed shamrock  to explain the concept of the Trinity;  which refers to the combination of  Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Hence its strong association with his day and name. Legend also has that, Saint Patrick had put the curse of God on venomous snakes in Ireland.  And he drove all the snakes into the sea where they drowned.  True, these are mostly legends. But, after some 1500 years,  these legends have been inseparably combined with the facts.  And together they have helped us know  much about the Saint and the spirit behind celebration of the day.   Patrick's mission in Ireland lasted for over 20 years. He died on March 17, AD 461.  That day has been commemorated as St. Patrick's Day ever since.  The day's spirit is to celebrate the universal baptization of Ireland. Though originally a Catholic holy day, St. Patrick's Day has evolved into more of a secular holiday.  Or, rather, 'be an Irish Day '. And the Irish has borne it  as part of their national tradition in everywhere they populated and prospered. The Catholic feast day for this most loved of Irish saints has become a holiday in celebration of the Irish and Irish culture. The leprechaun, a Celtic fairy, has become entrenched as a chief symbol for this holiday, as is the shamrock, an ancient symbol for the triple goddess Brigit. It is fitting that this holiday should fall at the time of the year when the return of spring begins to seem at hand.

Holiday	Earth Day
Dates	March 21st 2003	The March Vernal Equinox is the correct day April 22nd is not actually Earth Day
Background
Earliest Observance

Earth Day reminds the people of the world of the need for continuing care which is vital to Earth's safety. Earth Day draws on astronomical phenomena in a new way; using the vernal equinox, the time when the Sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length in all parts of the Earth.  To this point in the annual calendar, Earth Day attaches no local or divisive set of symbols, no statement of the truth or superiority of one way of life over another.  But the selection of the March equinox makes planetary observance of Earth Day as a shared event possible.  The vernal equinox calls on all mankind to recognize and respect Earth's beautiful systems of balance, between the presence of animals on land, the fish in the sea, birds in the air, mankind, water, air, and land.  Most importantly there must always be awareness of the actions by people that can disturb this precious balance.   Margaret Mead ******************************************************************* Why the March Equinox is the only true Earth Day Throughout the many decades of my life previous to my founding of Earth Day March 21, 1970, I pondered over how the many differences that confront our world could find a peaceful resolution, instead of being in an almost constant confrontation.  My key solution was to focus attention on the most important common ground and the positive values shared by adversaries. National holidays, as well as religious ones, have special days set:  a good example of people coming together to peacefully celebrate. And so I, John McConnell, drew  attention to a time that is celebrated by the entire world -- The First Day of Spring: Nature's moment of the Equinox when the Sun crosses the celestial equator causing the length of day and night to be equal -- a state of equilibrium throughout the Earth.  This is the true Earth Day, not because I selected it, but because it originates in the Earth's own rotation and revolution. The first day of Spring, a day that historically has been celebrated by people of every creed and culture -- is a day worthy of being a holiday of all of Earth's people.  The first Earth Day, celebrated in the United States, was on March 21, 1970.  It has been celebrated each year thereafter at the United Nations, bringing attention to its original purpose:  peace, justice and the care of Earth. The highlight of each ceremony has been the ringing of the Peace Bell, occasionally by leaders of countries who may have been at war with each other.  Presentations are made by great proponents of peaceful methods for conciliation.  Indeed, these ceremonies have been a boost in efforts being made for peace.  For example, on Earth Day in 1987 the Peace Bell was rung by the representatives of three different cultures and religions.  They were Chester Morris, from the United States Mission to the United Nations, Valentine Karymov, from the USSR Mission to the United Nations and Sheik Ali Mukhtar, representing the Muslim World League.  Emulation of such an event as Earth Day is bound to occur.  Attempts to use different dates and to execute similar programs has been made. The principal hindrance for Earth Day to fulfill its potentials was initiated by the organizers of the "Environmental Teach-In" when they announced that April 22 would be Earth Day.  This group of individuals has used "Earth Day" as a fund raising tool for their projects and political aims.  It should be recognized that great good cannot come from deception or misdirection.  Human history has produced great ideas that were defeated - not by open opposition, but by words that confuse. It is my hope that in this new millennium of new beginnings the truth will get attention.  It's great to have different days for special things.  There would be no problem if the organizers of the April 22 "Earth Day" would call it by its original name "Environmental Teach-In" or "Eco Day" or any name other than Earth Day. Some discouraged by the confusion say, "Well, let's just call every day Earth Day."  But they see the problem with this idea when we counter, "Forget the day you were born, call every day your birthday."   Nothing should be done to legitimize calling April 22 "Earth Day."  When the geophysical, original Eart Day is understood, and celebrated, the global state of mind and the actions of its people will assure a healthy prosperous future.  While people may have events leading up to Earth Day - or following Earth Day - the object of Earth Day is to have one great annual occasion where the whole human family will forget their differences and celebrate the wonder of our planet - its life and its human family.

Holiday	Easter Sunday
Dates	April 20th 2003 April 11th 2004 March 27th 2005
Background
Earliest Observance

The Story of  Easter is a time of springtime festivals. In Christian countries Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God. But the celebrations of Easter have many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with Christianity. Scholars, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe the name Easter is thought to come from the Scandinavian "Ostra" and the Teutonic "Ostern" or "Eastre," both Goddesses of mythology signifying spring and fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox.  Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts.  The Christian celebration of Easter embodies a number of converging traditions with emphasis on the relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name used by Europeans for Easter. Passover is an important feast in the Jewish calendar which is celebrated for 8 days and commemorates the flight and freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.  Easter is observed by the churches of the West on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox. So Easter became a "movable" feast which can occur as early as March 22 or as late as April 25  Christian churches in the East which were closer to the birthplace of the new religion and in which old traditions were strong, observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival.  Easter is at the end of the Lenten season, which covers a forty-six-day period that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Easter. The Lenten season itself comprises forty days, as the six Sundays in Lent are not actually a part of Lent. Sundays are considered a commemoration of Easter Sunday and have always been excluded from the Lenten fast. The Lenten season is a period of penitence in preparation for the highest festival of the church year, Easter. Holy Week, the last week of Lent, begins with the observance of Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday takes its name from Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds laid palms at his feet. Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, which was held the evening before the Crucifixion. Friday in Holy Week is the anniversary of the Crufixion, the day that Christ was crucified and died on the cross. Holy week and the Lenten season end with Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ   Easter E g g s  Of all the symbols associated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries  Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines. In medieval time eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. In Germany eggs were given to children along with other Easter gifts. Different cultures have developed their own ways of decorating Easter eggs. Crimson eggs, to honor the blood of Christ, are exchanged in Greece. In parts of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday). Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in special patterns of gold and silver Austrian artists design patterns by fastening ferns and tiny plants around the eggs, which are then boiled. The plants are then removed revealing a striking white pattern. The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs with simple designs and colors. A number of eggs are made in the distinctive manner called pysanki (to design, to write). Pysanki eggs are a masterpiece of skill and workmanship. Melted beeswax is applied to the fresh white egg. It is then dipped in successive baths of dye. After each dip wax is painted over the area where the preceding color is to remain. Eventually a complex pattern of lines and colors emerges into a work of art  In Germany and other countries eggs used for cooking were not broken, but the contents were removed by piercing the end of each egg with a needle and blowing the contents into a bowl. The hollow eggs were died and hung from shrubs and trees during the Easter Week. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designs  Easter Egg Games  Eggs play an important part in Easter sports. The Romans celebrated the Easter season by runningraces on an oval track and giving eggs as prizes. Two traditional Easter egg games are the EasterEgg Hunt and the Easter Egg Roll  On Easter morning the children of the house join in a search to locate the eggs that the EasterBunny had hidden while they where asleep. The searching might continue though out the house with the older children helping the youngest. Sometimes prizes of candy are awaiting the child finding the most eggs  Easter egg hunts can are also part of a community's celebration of holiday. The eggs are hidden in public places and the children of the community are invited to find the eggs. The rules of an Easter Egg Roll are to see who can roll an egg the greatest distance or can make the roll without breaking it, usually down a grassy hillside or slope. Maybe the most famous egg rolling takes place on the White House Lawn. Hundreds of children come with baskets filled with brightly decorated eggs and roll them down the famous lawn, hoping the President of the United States is watching the fun.  The Easter Bunny "Here comes Peter Cottontail hoppin' down the bunny trail Hippity hoppity Easters on its way!" The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season. The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. And were made of pastry and sugar. The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival ofthe "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs. The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country.

Holiday	April Fool's Day
Dates	April 1st
Background
Earliest Observance

In sixteenth-century France, the start of the new year was observed on April first. It was celebrated in much the same way as it is today with parties and dancing into the late hours of the night. Then in 1562, Pope Gregory introduced a new calendar for the Christian world, and the new year fell on January first. There were some people, however, who hadn't heard or didn't believe the change in the date, so they continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April first. Others played tricks on them and called them "April fools." They sent them on a "fool's errand" or tried to make them believe that something false was true. In France today, April first is called "Poisson d'Avril." French children fool their friends by taping a paper fish to their friends' backs. When the "young fool" discovers this trick, the prankster yells "Poisson d'Avril!" (April Fish!)  Today Americans play small tricks on friends and strangers alike on the first of April. One common trick on April Fool's Day, or All Fool's Day, is pointing down to a friend's shoe and saying, "Your shoelace is untied." Teachers in the nineteenth century used to say to pupils, "Look! A flock of geese!" and point up. School children might tell a classmate that school has been canceled. Whatever the trick, if the innocent victim falls for the joke the prankster yells, "April Fool! "  The "fools' errands" we play on people are practical jokes. Putting salt in the sugar bowl for the next person is not a nice trick to play on a stranger. College students set their clocks an hour behind, so their roommates show up to the wrong class - or not at all. Some practical jokes are kept up the whole day before the victim realizes what day it is. Most April Fool jokes are in good fun and not meant to harm anyone. The most clever April Fool joke is the one where everyone laughs, especially the person upon whom the joke is played. "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. " - American humorist Mark Twain

Holiday	Passover
Dates	2003 1st night of Passover April 16th	15th Day of Jewish Month of Nissan
Background
Earliest Observance

Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. A time of family gatherings and lavish meals called Seders, the story of Passover is retold through the reading of the Haggadah. With its special foods, songs, and customs, the Seder is the focal point of the Passover celebration. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. As the Jewish day begins at sundown the night before, for the year 2003, the first night of Passover will be April 16th. The Story of Passover  About 3000 years ago the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians under the rule of the Pharaoh Ramses II. According to the Book of Exodus - Moses, a simple Jewish shepherd, was instructed by God to go to the pharaoh and demand the freedom of his people.  Moses' plea of let my people go was ignored. Moses warned the Pharaoh that God would send severe punishments to the people of Egypt if the Israelites were not freed. Again the Pharaoh ignored Moses' request of freedom. In response God unleashed a series of 10 terrible plagues on the people of Egypt. 1. Blood 2. Frogs 3. Lice (vermin) 4. Wild Beasts(flies) 5. Blight (Cattle Disease) 6. Boils 7. Hail 8. Locusts 9. Darkness 10. Slaying of the First Born The holiday's name - Pesach, meaning "passing over" or "protection" in Hebrew, is derived from the instructions given to Moses by God . In order to encourage the Pharaoh to free the Israelites, God intended to kill the first-born of both man and beast. To protect themselves, the Israelites were told to mark their dwellings with lamb's blood so that God could identify and "pass over" their homes.  The Pharaoh was unconvinced and refused to free the Jewish slaves until the last plague. When the Pharaoh finally agreed to freedom, the Israelites left their homes so quickly that there wasn't even time to bake their breads. So they packed the raw dough to take with them on their journey. As they fled through the desert they would quickly bake the dough in the hot sun into hard crackers called matzohs. Today to commemorate this event, Jews eat matzoh in place of bread during Passover.  Though the Jews were now free, their liberation was incomplete. The Pharaoh's army chased them through the desert towards the Red Sea. When the Jews reached the sea they were trapped, since the sea blocked their escape. It was then that a miracle occurred. The waves of the Red Sea parted and the Israelites were able to cross to the other side. As soon as they all reached the other side the sea closed trapping the Pharaoh's army as the waves closed upon them. Then as the Israelites watched the waters of the Red Sea sweep away the Pharaoh's army they realized they were finally free.  Passover celebrates this history. The first 2 nights of the 8 day holiday are celebrated with lavish meals called Seders in which the stories and history of Passover are celebrated. Special foods, plates, silverware are all a part of the Seder.  The Passover Seder  Taking place the first 2 nights of the 8 day holiday, the Seder is the most important event in the Passover celebration. Usually gathering the whole family and friends together, the Seder is steeped in long held traditions and customs . Leading up to the first night of Passover, the home is cleaned and cleared of all yeast foods, called hametz. All hametz is either eaten before Passover begins or "sold" to non-Jewish neighbors and friends. The rules surrounding Passover are strict and many, with only special foods, utensils, and dishware allowed. Kitchen utensils and dishware normally used in the home are not be used during Passover. Special dishes and utensils for the Passover holiday are taken out of storage, cleaned and used. Only foods that are "Kosher for Passover" are allowed. No leavened (containing yeast) foods or grains are eaten. In their place matzoh and foods containing matzoh are eaten. This is to commemorate the Israelites who fled quickly into the desert with no time for their breads to rise and were forced to bake the dough into hard crackers in the desert sun. All foods prohibited during Passover must be disposed of the morning of the first night of Passover. With its Passover dishware and silverware, the Seder table is different than the regular dinner table. The centerpiece of which is the Seder plate, a special plate containing the 5 foods that remind us of the struggle of the Israelites in their quest and journey to freedom. Three pieces of matzoh are placed in a Matzoh Cover (a cloth sleeve or envelope) and placed in the center of the Seder table. Before the meal begins the middle matzoh is removed and broken in half. One half is returned to the Matzoh Cover, the other - the Afikomen - is hidden, to be hunted by the children at the end of the Seder meal. The child who finds the Afikomen wins a special prize. Some homes break the Afikomen in to many pieces assuring that each child present can find a piece and receive a prize.  The Seder plate contains foods that have special meaning for this holiday, 1. Haroseth 2. Parsley (dipped in salt water) 3. Roasted egg 4. Shank Bone 5. Bitter herbs A mixture of chopped walnuts, wine, cinnamon and apples that represents the mortar the Jewish slaves used to assemble the Pharaoh's bricks. Symbolizing Springtime, it is dipped in salt water to remind us of for the tears of the Jewish slaves During the Seder 4 glasses of wine are poured to represent the 4 stages of the exodus; 1. freedom 2. deliverance 3. redemption 4. release. A fifth cup of wine is poured and placed on the Seder table. This is the Cup of Elijah, an offering for the Prophet Elijah. During the Seder the door to the home is opened to invite the prophet Elijah in. After the meal is eaten, the children search for the Afikomen. The Seder is finished when the children have found the Afikomen and everyone has eaten a piece.

Holiday	Holocaust Day
Dates	April 29th 2003
Background
Earliest Observance

Why do we honour Holocaust Day? The Holocaust, in which six million Jews, including one-and-a-half million children were murdered, was the most horrific event to befall the Jews.  The Holocaust of European Jewry can be divided into four periods:  1. 1933-1939 The aim of the Nazis during this time was to "cleanse" Germany of the Jewish people. The Jewish citizens were totally excluded from all forms of public life. At the end of 1938, the government initiated a Pogrom against the Jews. This all took place on the night known as Kristallnacht. This night involved the "spilling of Jewish blood".  2. 1939-1941 During this time, the option of Jews being allowed to emigrate was no longer allowed. More Jewish populations fell under the German control: Jews of Poland, Italy, France and Belgium. The Jews were placed in concentration camps. The police force of Hitler, the infamous Gestapo, became the most deadly force of the Nazi government.  3. 1941 - 1943 This was the time of the Final Solution. It was systematic genocide of the Jewish people. Many concentration camps became death camps. Some of the more well-known extermination camps were Auschwitz, Bergen-Belsen, Treblinka and Belzec.  4. 1943 - 1945 During this time, the Nazis continued with their plan of destruction of the Jewish population. In July 1944, the Nazis began the evacuation of Auschwitz, and in January 1945, Himmler commanded the evacuation of all camps.  Yom Hashoah simply means "Holocaust Day".  What are the customs of Holocaust Day? Every year, since 1989, the Knesset, in Israel, (in cooperation with "Yad Vashem") performs the ceremony in which the names of all of the holocaust victims are read out loud. Yad Vashem is the Holocaust Martyrs and Remembrance Museum, where many Jews go to pay their respects to the victims of the Holocaust.

Holiday	Special May Dates
Dates
Background
Earliest Observance

Week of May 13 - May 19, 2002 Mon, 13th May: Stevie Wonder's Birthday Mary Wells' Birthday Tue, 14th May: United States Stars and Stripes Forever Day Nation of Israel Founded Wed, 15th May: Hug Your Cat Day United Nations International Day of Families Wizard of Oz Day  Thu, 16th May: Shavuot (Jewish) (begins sundown) Biographer's Day Anniversary of Academy Awards, Wear Purple for Peace Day St. Brendan the Navigator's Day Fri, 17th May: National Children and Police Day National Be a Millionaire Day Birthday of Soccer Player Mia Hamm National Bike to Work Day Amusement Ride Day Sat, 18th May: Armed Forces Day International Museum Day Visit Your Relatives Day Sun, 19th May: Pentecost (Cath. & Prot.) Neighbor Day Circus Day

Holiday	Cinco De Mayo
Dates	May 5th
Background
Earliest Observance

CINCO DE MAYO HISTORY  Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.  The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but is should be ! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.  So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.  The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.  Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.  The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did. Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish. General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes. When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Pueblo, essentially ending the Civil War.  Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City. It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?  In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America. Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!

Holiday	National Teacher Day
Dates	May 6th 2003	Tuesday of the first full week of May
Background
Earliest Observance

National Teacher Day National Teacher Day is the time to recognize the contributions teachers and other educators have made on our lives. It's also a time to strengthen support and respect for teachers and the teaching profession. National Teacher Day is always celebrated the Tuesday of the first full week of May, so the actual date will vary from year to year.

Holiday	Shavaot
Dates	May 16th 2002	Exactly 7 weeks after Passover
Background
Earliest Observance

The Story of Shavuot Shavuot, the Feast of the Weeks, is the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel. Shavuot, which means "weeks", refers to the timing of the festival which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover. Shavuot is known also as Yom Habikkurim, or "the Day of the First Fruits", because it is the time the farmers of Israel would bring their first harvest to Jerusalem as a token of thanksgiving. Shavuot also commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. Celebrating the Day of the First Fruits The farmers of Israel would begin their spring harvests with the barley crop at Passover. The harvest continued for seven weeks as the other crops and fruits began to ripen. As each fruit ripened, the first of each type would not be eaten but instead the farmer would tie a ribbon around the the branch. This ribbon signified that these fruits were Bikkurim, or the first fruits. At Shavuot the farmers would gather the Bikkurim into baskets and bring them to the city of Jerusalem where they would be eaten in the holy city. The farmers living close to Jerusalem would bring fresh fruits, while those who had to travel a long distance carried dried raisins and figs. This joyful occasion was celebrated with the music of fifes, timbres, and drums. As the pilgrims approached the city walls they were greeted by the inhabitants of the city. Sometimes the King himself would join the procession to the Temple Mount. The Bikkurim ritual is no longer practiced in present day Israel.

Holiday	Mother's Day
Dates		Second Sunday of May
Background
Earliest Observance

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter*), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England. During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.  As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration . People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.  In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass ever year.  In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.  While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

Holiday
Dates
Background
Earliest Observance

Holiday	Father's Day
Dates	June 16th 2002	3rd Sunday of June
Background
Earliest Observance

The Story of Father's Day  Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell more cards. In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed there were no Father's Day cards!  Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.  The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.  Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all be honored on Father's Day.

Holiday	Juneteenth
Dates	June 19th
Background
Earliest Observance

Juneteenth : June 19th A Day of : Thanks and the Celebration of Emanciptation "Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States,...order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free..."  Juneteenth is the celebration of the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation which was issued by US President Abraham Lincoln on January 1st, 1863. The proclamation gave the Southern slaves their freedom and is considered an important benchmark in the African-American struggle for freedom and equality.  The word "Juneteenth" comes from the words "June" and "19th", which according to southern folklore is when the slaves of Texas first learned of their freedom. Though technically freed in 1863, the slaves did not learn of their freedom until the arrival of the Union soldiers on June 19th, 1865. This was after the end of the Civil War and 2 1/2 years after the proclomation was first issued.  The Emanciptation Proclamation is considered the catalyst that ended slavery. But at the time the proclamation was issued it really did not free anyone since the Confederate states did not recognize President Lincoln's authority. It was not until after the Civil War had ended that the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, ratified in 1865, offically outlawed slavery.  Juneteenth began as a celebration by ex-slaves and has continued to be observered by African-Americans in the US South. Recently there have been efforts to bring a wider audience to the celebrations.

Holiday	Independence Day
Dates	July 4th
Background
Earliest Observance

Independence Day celebrates the birthday of the United States of America. Founded July 4th 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America is celebrating it's 225th birthday this year (2001)   The 4th of July is a time for the Red White and Blue. A time for Picnics, Parades and Marching Bands. A time for Beaches, BBQs and "Bombs Bursting in Air." So turn up the speakers, pour yourself a cold one, put another "shrimp on the barbie," and join us for a birthday celebration with fun Holiday things for you and your family   We've got some history to read, some patriotic music to enjoy, a fireworks display and Apple Pies to bake. So bring your kids, and tell your friends. And please stop by again. Don't forget to sign our Guestbook before you leave.

Holiday	Bastille Day
Dates	July 14th
Background
Earliest Observance

Bastille Day Bastille Day, on the Fourteenth of July, is the French symbol of the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the First Republic. The national holiday is a time when all citizens can feel themselves to be members of a republican nation. It is because this national holiday is rooted in the history of the birth of the Republic that it has great significance.   On 5 May 1789, the King convened the Estates General to hear their complaints: but the assembly of the Third Estate, representing the citizens of the town, soon broke away and formed the Constituent National Assembly. On 20 June, 1789, the deputies of the Third Estate took the oath of the Jeu de Paume "to not separate until the Constitution had been established." The Deputies opposition was echoed by public opinion. The people of Paris rose up and decided to march on the Bastille, a state prison that stood for the absolute despotism of the Ancient Regime.   On July 14, 1789, the storming of the Bastille immediately took on a great historical dimension; it was proof that power no longer resided in the King as God's representative, but in the people, in accordance with the theories developed by their philosophers of the eighteenth century. Within two days the Revolution could not be reversed. For all citizens of France, the storming of the Bastille came to symbolize liberty, democracy in the struggle against oppression.

Holiday	Labor Day
Dates	September 2nd 2002	First Monday in September
Background
Earliest Observance

The History of Labor Day     Labor Day: How it Came About; What it Means     "Labor Day differs in every essential way from the other holidays of the year in any country," said Samuel Gompers, founder and longtime president of the American Federation of Labor. "All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day...is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation."   Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.   Founder of Labor Day     More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.   Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."   But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.