In December of 2001, Congress passed a joint resolution permitting the President to declare September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, in commemoration of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. It is customary to fly the flag …[Continue]
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for the 5th of May) marks the 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French troops at the Battle of Puebla. It has become a popular cultural holiday in the Southwest, even surpassing its importance in …[Continue]
Earth Day
Since its inception in 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated annually on April 22. Although ideally everyday should be Earth Day, the annual holiday presents the perfect opportunity to learn more about ecology and the environment. [Editor’s Note: An updated …[Continue]
St. Patrick’s Day
Since we’re all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a wee bit of history about our patron saint. St. Patrick was a Christian missionary credited with converting Ireland from paganism to Christianity. He lived at the end of the 4th …[Continue]
Presidents’ Day
Although the federal government still calls the holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February, Washington’s Birthday, most people (and many states) call it Presidents’ Day. Presidents’ Day began as a holiday honoring George Washington and then both Washington and …[Continue]
Black History Month
In 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson proposed a “Negro History Week” to honor the history and contributions of African Americans. Nine years later, his dream became reality. Woodson chose the second week of February to pay tribute to the birthdays …[Continue]
Christmas and Hanukkah Crafts
This week’s topic bundles two holidays into one column, as I review craft sites looking for the best Christmas (December 25) and Hanukkah (December 25 – January 2) crafts. For those wanting to learn a little about these holidays, I …[Continue]
Father’s Day
Sonora Dodd first proposed her Father’s Day idea in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day (much like Mother’s Day) to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, a Civil War veteran, single handedly raised Dodd and her five siblings on a …[Continue]
Groundhog Day
Groundhog Day folklore says if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow when he comes out of his burrow on February 2, there will be six more weeks of winter. If it is overcast, and the groundhog does not see his shadow, …[Continue]
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a holiday for gratitude, family time, and good food. It’s also a time to learn about the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, and the Wampanoag native Americans. The following picks cover the entire Thanksgiving gambit: from American history to modern …[Continue]
