Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holiday. Show all posts
Monday, September 11, 2017
Remembering 9/11
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Boxing Day - December 26th
Boxing Day History
Traditions of the Holiday Season
In Great Britain there are two interesting traditions of Boxing Day and Christmas Crackers…….
Boxing Day takes its name from the ancient practice of opening boxes that contained money given to those who had given their service during the year. It was also the day when alms boxes, placed in churches on Christmas Day, were opened. The money was then given to the priest or used to help the poor and needy. Another name for Boxing Day used to be Offering Day.
The earliest boxes of all were not box shaped, as you might imagine, nor were they made of wood. They were, in fact, earthenware containers with a slit in the top (rather like piggy banks.) These earthenware ‘boxes’ were used by the Romans for collecting money to help pay for the festivities at the winter Saturnalia celebrations.
During the seventeenth century it became the custom for apprentices to ask their master’s customers for money at Christmas time. They collected this money in earthenware containers, which could be opened only by being smashed, and on Boxing Day the apprentices would eagerly have a ‘smashing time’, hence the expression, seeing how much they had collected.
A later tradition, and the one which has survived to this day, was the distribution of Christmas ‘boxes’, gifts of money to people who had provided services throughout the year – the postman, the lamp-lighter, parish beadles, parish watchmen, dustmen and turn-cocks – which happened on the day after Christmas Day.
*http://www.thebritishshoppe.com/boxing_day_history.htm
Traditions of the Holiday Season
In Great Britain there are two interesting traditions of Boxing Day and Christmas Crackers…….
Boxing Day takes its name from the ancient practice of opening boxes that contained money given to those who had given their service during the year. It was also the day when alms boxes, placed in churches on Christmas Day, were opened. The money was then given to the priest or used to help the poor and needy. Another name for Boxing Day used to be Offering Day.
The earliest boxes of all were not box shaped, as you might imagine, nor were they made of wood. They were, in fact, earthenware containers with a slit in the top (rather like piggy banks.) These earthenware ‘boxes’ were used by the Romans for collecting money to help pay for the festivities at the winter Saturnalia celebrations.
During the seventeenth century it became the custom for apprentices to ask their master’s customers for money at Christmas time. They collected this money in earthenware containers, which could be opened only by being smashed, and on Boxing Day the apprentices would eagerly have a ‘smashing time’, hence the expression, seeing how much they had collected.
A later tradition, and the one which has survived to this day, was the distribution of Christmas ‘boxes’, gifts of money to people who had provided services throughout the year – the postman, the lamp-lighter, parish beadles, parish watchmen, dustmen and turn-cocks – which happened on the day after Christmas Day.
*http://www.thebritishshoppe.com/boxing_day_history.htm
Friday, December 11, 2015
Holiday Recipes and Sugar Cookie Recipe
Need a new recipe or want spice up your holiday meal? Get ideas and recipes from our online databases – Culture Grams and Global Road Warriors.
http://www.racc.edu/Yocum/onlineDatabases/diversity.aspx
http://www.racc.edu/Yocum/onlineDatabases/diversity.aspx
In CultureGrams choose any search choice – World Edition, States Edition, Kids Edition, Provinces Edition (Canada). There is a link to recipe collections at the top of each page. For example, see recipe for Stuffies from Rhode Island, Pomegranate Salad from Nevada, Arroz Con Gandules from Puerto Rico, Colcannon from Ireland, Fish Pepper Soup from Nigeria, etc.
Sample From Ireland:
Fruit Cake
Example from Puerto Rico:
NISPEROS DE BATATA (DESSERT)
Sample From Ireland:
Fruit Cake
- Ingredients:
- 8 ounces butter
8 ounces sugar
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons golden syrup
3 ounces finely ground almonds
4 cups unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch salt
12 ounces milk
2 cups golden raisins
2 1/2 cups currants
Zest of 3 oranges
Zest of 2 lemons - Directions:
- Cream butter with sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat well after each addition. Beat in the syrup, almond extract, and ground almonds.
- Reserving 1/2 cup of the flour, sieve the remainder with baking soda and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition.
- Coat raisins and currants with reserved flour and fold into batter along with orange and lemon zest.
- Mix well and pour into a well-buttered and floured tube pan, distributing batter evenly. Bake at 300°F for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Let pan cool for 45 minutes and then turn out onto wire rack to cool further.
- Hint:
- Golden syrup is a sweet syrup often used in dessert recipes in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere, but it can be hard to find in North America. One substitute is corn syrup with a touch of molasses. Using straight molasses or honey as a substitute will not produce ideal results.
Example from Puerto Rico:
NISPEROS DE BATATA (DESSERT)
Nisperos de Batata
Grated coconut, orange juice, nutmeg, and other ingredients can also be added to these sweets.
Recipe Serving: Serves 8–10
Recipe Serving: Serves 8–10
Ingredients
- 2 lbs (900 g) white sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 qt (1.5 l) water
- 1 tsp (5 ml) salt
- 3/4 cup (180 ml) undiluted fresh coconut milk (the amount in approximately 2 large ripe coconuts)
- 3 cups (720 ml) sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) ground cinnamon
- 3 dozen whole cloves
Instructions
Put the sweet potato in water and salt, cover, and cook over moderate heat for about 40 minutes, or until fork-tender. Drain, peel, and immediately put through a ricer.
- Add coconut milk, sugar, and egg yolk and mix well.
- Put mixture into a heavy pot and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly.
- After a boil is reached, lower the heat to moderate and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture does not stick to the sides of the pot.
- Remove the mixture, let it cool slightly, and shape it into small balls.
- Dust the balls with ground cinnamon and garnish each ball with a whole clove.
What are the ingredients for this recipe?
1/2 cup Fat (Butter)
1 cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 Tablespoon Milk
2 cups Flour (sift before measuring) That is what is says..recipe before you could buy sifted flour.
2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
How do you prepare the recipe?
1. Cream the fat until soft.
2. Add sugar gradually, creaming thoroughly.
3. Beat egg and add.
4.Add flavoring.
5. add milk.
6.Sift part of the flour, with the baking powder and salt, and add to the sugar mixture.
7. Add remaining flour until mixture is stiff enough to roll after chilling.
8.Roll dough to about 1/8 inch on a lightly floured board.
9.Cut with a cookie cutter.
10. Bake on a greased baking sheet in a moderately hot oven (375 degrees) for 5-8 minutes.
11. Remove cookies from sheet as soon as they are taken from the oven.
Serving suggestions and other comments
Before putting them in the oven, these cookies may be brushed with egg white and sprinkled with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar. Or, decorate with sprinkles, jimmies or other decorations before putting in the oven.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Columbus Day - October 12
Columbus Day is the celebration of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. In the US, it is celebrated by all US states except for Hawaii, South Dakota and Alaska. Columbus Day occurs on the second Monday in October each year.
Columbus Day Facts & Quotes
Colorado was the first state to officially recognize and celebrate Columbus Day in 1906.
In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared October 12th every year as Columbus Day.
In 1971, the official holiday was moved to the second Monday in October in order to give workers in the US a long weekend. This was part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly. - Robert F. Kennedy
Many Italian-Americans celebrate their heritage with special celebrations on this date.
Columbus Day Top Events and Things to Do
Attend a Columbus Day Parade. The parade in New York City is one of the largest.
Eat some good Italian food.
Watch a parade.
Visit the Library of Congress's online exhibit 1492: An Ongoing Voyage.
Host a scavenger hunt for the neighborhood kids and let them become Explorer's for the afternoon.
Columbus Day References and Related Sites
US Office of Personnel Management
Library of Congress: 1492, An Ongoing Voyage
Thursday, August 13, 2015
International Left-Handers Day History
Facts about International Left-Handers Day
10% of people are left-handed according to a report by Scientific American.
Geniuses are more likely to be left-handed - 20% of the top scoring SAT takers are left-handed.
In 2013, 31% of Major League Baseball pitchers are left-handed.
Of the last 5 Presidents, 3 were lefties - Obama, Clinton and Bush Sr.
All lefties: Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Barak Obama, Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Leonardo da Vinci
International Left-Handers Day Top Events and Things to Do
Eat with your left hand today.
Attempt to use only your left hand while writing today. If typing or navigating on a computer, use the mouse with your left hand.
Look around you and notice how many people you know are left-handed.
Attempt to cook using your left-hand as the primary one.
Create a "Lefty Zone" where everyone who enters must only use their left hand for the day.
International Left-Handers Day References and Related Sites
www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-it-true-that-left-handed-people/
highered.mheducation.com/sites/dl/free/0070909695/120222/educational.pdf
espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rosters
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Mother's Day History and Quotes
 |
| Anna Marie Jarvis |
Dotty was born about 20 blocks from the famous Wanamaker's department store in Philadelphia where the first big Mother's Day celebration was held in the United States. Dotty is 94 years old this Mother's day and will soon be 95....
By Bob DeMarco Alzheimer's Reading Room
Mother's Day was first established in the United States by Anna Marie Jarvis, following the death of her mother Ann Jarvis on May 9, 1905. She had the help of Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker. The first official Mother's day took place in 1908. It was celebrated in Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia where Anna's mother had been teaching Sunday school. It was also celebrated on a larger scale in a large auditorium at the famous Wanamaker's store in Philadelphia. Wanamaker's was one of the first department stores in the United States. Mother's Day became a recognized holiday on May 8, 1914.
Ironically, Anna Jarvis became an opponent of Mother's Day because she believed it had become too impersonal and too commercialized. She actually spent her entire fortune fighting the commercialization of Mother's Day. She preferred a personal letter to the "greeting card". Anna Jarvis was arrested in 1948 for disturbing the peace while protesting against the commercialization of Mother's Day, and she was quoted as saying, she wished she would have never started the day because it became so out of control. The sale of greeting cards for Mother's Day ranks third, behind Christmas and Valentine's day.
Happy Mother's Day from Dotty and Bob. Don't forget, you can share this with others by using the share button, or emailing the link to this article.
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” -- Washington Irving
“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother” -- Abraham Lincoln
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” -- Rudyard Kipling “Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.” -- Pearl S. Buck
* http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2011/05/mothers-day-history-quotes-and-mothers.html
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
History of Mardi Gras
*Mardi Gras
A Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival, it is celebrated in many countries around the world–mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations–on the day before the religious season of Lent begins. Brazil, Venice and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday's most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year.Origins of Mardi Gras
According to historians, Mardi Gras dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain and England.
Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the meat, eggs, milk and cheese that remained in their homes, preparing for several weeks of eating only fish and fasting. In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or "Fat Tuesday." The word "carnival," another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, may also derive from this vegetarian-unfriendly custom: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat.
Mardi Gras in the United States
Many historians believe that the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when the French explorers Iberville and Bienville landed in what is now Louisiana, just south of the holiday's future epicenter: New Orleans. They held a small celebration and dubbed the spot Point du Mardi Gras. In the decades that followed, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with street parties, masked balls and lavish dinners. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, however, they abolished these rowdy rituals, and the bans remained in force until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812.
On Mardi Gras in 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they'd observed while visiting Paris. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus organized a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and rolling floats, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. Since then, krewes have remained a fixture of the Carnival scene throughout Louisiana. Other lasting customs include throwing beads and other trinkets, wearing masks, decorating floats and eating King Cake.
Louisiana is the only state in which Mardi Gras is a legal holiday. However, elaborate carnival festivities draw crowds in other parts of the United States during the Mardi Gras season as well, including Alabama and Mississippi. Each region has its own events and traditions.
Mardi Gras Around the World
Across the globe, pre-Lenten festivals continue to take place in many countries with significant Roman Catholic populations. Brazil's weeklong Carnival festivities feature a vibrant amalgam of European, African and native traditions. In Canada, Quebec City hosts the giant Quebec Winter Carnival. In Italy, tourists flock to Venice's Carnevale, which dates back to the 13th century and is famous for its masquerade balls. Known as Karneval, Fastnacht or Fasching, the German celebration includes parades, costume balls and a tradition that empowers women to cut off men's ties. For Denmark's Fastevlan, children dress up and gather candy in a similar manner to Halloween–although the parallel ends when they ritually flog their parents on Easter Sunday morning.
Mardi Gras in the United States
Many historians believe that the first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when the French explorers Iberville and Bienville landed in what is now Louisiana, just south of the holiday's future epicenter: New Orleans. They held a small celebration and dubbed the spot Point du Mardi Gras. In the decades that followed, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with street parties, masked balls and lavish dinners. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, however, they abolished these rowdy rituals, and the bans remained in force until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812.
On Mardi Gras in 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they'd observed while visiting Paris. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus organized a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and rolling floats, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. Since then, krewes have remained a fixture of the Carnival scene throughout Louisiana. Other lasting customs include throwing beads and other trinkets, wearing masks, decorating floats and eating King Cake.
Louisiana is the only state in which Mardi Gras is a legal holiday. However, elaborate carnival festivities draw crowds in other parts of the United States during the Mardi Gras season as well, including Alabama and Mississippi. Each region has its own events and traditions.
Mardi Gras Around the World
Across the globe, pre-Lenten festivals continue to take place in many countries with significant Roman Catholic populations. Brazil's weeklong Carnival festivities feature a vibrant amalgam of European, African and native traditions. In Canada, Quebec City hosts the giant Quebec Winter Carnival. In Italy, tourists flock to Venice's Carnevale, which dates back to the 13th century and is famous for its masquerade balls. Known as Karneval, Fastnacht or Fasching, the German celebration includes parades, costume balls and a tradition that empowers women to cut off men's ties. For Denmark's Fastevlan, children dress up and gather candy in a similar manner to Halloween–although the parallel ends when they ritually flog their parents on Easter Sunday morning.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Monday, January 19, 2015
Dr. Martin Luther King 1929-1968
Watch the Full 16-min video of Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream Speech
http://www.mlkonline.net/bio.html
"Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last"-Dr Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Quick Facts
Birth January 15, 1929
Death April 4, 1968
Place of Birth Atlanta, Georgia
Known for Leading the civil rights movement in the United States
Advocating nonviolent protest against segregation and racial discrimination
Milestones 1954 Selected as pastor of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama
1955 Received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University
1955-1956 Led a successful effort to desegregate Montgomery, Alabama, buses
1957 Helped found and served as the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC)
1958 Published Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
1963 Wrote 'Letter from Birmingham Jail,' arguing that it was his moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws
1963 Delivered his 'I Have a Dream' speech to civil rights marchers at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
1964 Won the Nobel Peace Prize
1965 Organized a mass march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, that created national support for federal voting-rights legislation
1968 Was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee
Quote 'I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.' August, 1963, in a speech to civil rights supporters at the March on Washington.
Did You Know King's nonviolent doctrine was strongly influenced by the teachings of Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi.
In 1964, King became the first black American to be honored as Time magazine's Man of the Year.
King's efforts were not limited to securing civil rights; he also spoke out against poverty and the Vietnam War.
* Thanks to;
http://www.mlkonline.net/bio.html
"Martin Luther King, Jr.," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2006
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Monday, December 8, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
History of Black Friday
*Black Friday is the name given to the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early and offer promotional sales to kick off the holiday shopping season, similar to Boxing Day sales in many Commonwealth Nations.
Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many non-retail employers also observe this day as a holiday along with Thanksgiving, giving their employees the day off, thereby increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005,[1] although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate,[2] have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time.[3]
The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.[4][5] Use of the term started before 1961 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or are "in the black".[4][6]
For many years, it was common for retailers to open at 6:00 a.m., but in the late 2000s many had crept to 5:00 or even 4:00. This was taken to a new extreme in 2011, when several retailers (including Target, Kohls, Macy's, Best Buy, and Bealls[7]) opened at midnight for the first time.[citation needed] In 2012, Walmart led several other retailers in announcing it would open its stores at 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day,[8] prompting calls for a walkout among some workers.[9]
History
That the day after Thanksgiving is the "official" start of the holiday shopping season may be linked together with the idea of Santa Claus parades. Parades celebrating Thanksgiving often include an appearance by Santa at the end of the parade, with the idea that 'Santa has arrived' or 'Santa is just around the corner'. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Santa parades or Thanksgiving Day parades were sponsored by department stores.
These include the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, in Canada, sponsored by Eaton's, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade sponsored by Macy's. Department stores would use the parades to launch a big advertising push. Eventually it just became an unwritten rule that no store would try doing Christmas advertising before the parade was over. Therefore, the day after Thanksgiving became the day when the shopping season officially started.
Later on, the fact that this marked the official start of the shopping season led to controversy. In 1939, retail shops would have liked to have a longer shopping season, but no store wanted to break with tradition and be the one to start advertising before Thanksgiving. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date for Thanksgiving one week earlier, leading to much anger by the public who wound up having to change holiday plans.[35] Some even refused the change, resulting in the U.S. citizens celebrating Thanksgiving on two separate days.[35] Some started referring to the change as Franksgiving.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)
Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many non-retail employers also observe this day as a holiday along with Thanksgiving, giving their employees the day off, thereby increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005,[1] although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate,[2] have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time.[3]
The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.[4][5] Use of the term started before 1961 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or are "in the black".[4][6]
For many years, it was common for retailers to open at 6:00 a.m., but in the late 2000s many had crept to 5:00 or even 4:00. This was taken to a new extreme in 2011, when several retailers (including Target, Kohls, Macy's, Best Buy, and Bealls[7]) opened at midnight for the first time.[citation needed] In 2012, Walmart led several other retailers in announcing it would open its stores at 8:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day,[8] prompting calls for a walkout among some workers.[9]
History
That the day after Thanksgiving is the "official" start of the holiday shopping season may be linked together with the idea of Santa Claus parades. Parades celebrating Thanksgiving often include an appearance by Santa at the end of the parade, with the idea that 'Santa has arrived' or 'Santa is just around the corner'. In the late 19th century and early 20th century, many Santa parades or Thanksgiving Day parades were sponsored by department stores.
These include the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, in Canada, sponsored by Eaton's, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade sponsored by Macy's. Department stores would use the parades to launch a big advertising push. Eventually it just became an unwritten rule that no store would try doing Christmas advertising before the parade was over. Therefore, the day after Thanksgiving became the day when the shopping season officially started.
Later on, the fact that this marked the official start of the shopping season led to controversy. In 1939, retail shops would have liked to have a longer shopping season, but no store wanted to break with tradition and be the one to start advertising before Thanksgiving. President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the date for Thanksgiving one week earlier, leading to much anger by the public who wound up having to change holiday plans.[35] Some even refused the change, resulting in the U.S. citizens celebrating Thanksgiving on two separate days.[35] Some started referring to the change as Franksgiving.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Usefull Links For and About Veterans
Remembering Veterans
The Library Congress
http://www.loc.gov/vets/
Disabled Veterans
http://www.dav.org/
Veterns Day November 11
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
Facts
http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/index.asp
Veterns Affairs
http://www.va.gov/
VFW
http://www.vfw.org/
The Library Congress
http://www.loc.gov/vets/
Disabled Veterans
http://www.dav.org/
Veterns Day November 11
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
Facts
http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/index.asp
Veterns Affairs
http://www.va.gov/
VFW
http://www.vfw.org/
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Rosh Hashanah 101
Level: Basic
Significance: New Year
Observances: Sounding the shofar (ram's horn trumpet)
Length: 2 Days (Some: 1 Day)
Customs: Dipping apples in honey; Casting off "sins" into a river
Greeting: L'shanah tovah! (For a good year!)
...In the seventh month, on the first of the month, there shall be a sabbath for you, a remembrance with shofar blasts, a holy convocation. -Leviticus 16:24
Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. This name is somewhat deceptive, because there is little similarity between Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest days of the year, and the American midnight drinking bash and daytime football game.
There is, however, one important similarity between the Jewish New Year and the American one: Many Americans use the New Year as a time to plan a better life, making "resolutions." Likewise, the Jewish New Year is a time to begin introspection, looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year. More on this concept at Days of Awe.
The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this holiday. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25.
Shofar: Click to hear it blow!The shofar is a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; and tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts (I think) 10 seconds minimum. Click the shofar above to hear an approximation of the sound of Tekiah Shevarim-Teruah Tekiah. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance. The shofar is not blown if the holiday falls on Shabbat.
No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayerbook called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays.
Another popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. This was the second Jewish religious practice I was ever exposed to (the first one: lighting Chanukkah candles), and I highly recommend it. It's yummy. We also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason.
Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). We walk to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty our pockets into the river, symbolically casting off our sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. Tashlikh is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day, before afternoon services. When the first day occurs on Shabbat, many synagogues observe Tashlikh on Sunday afternoon, to avoid carrying (the bread) on Shabbat.
Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d's sovereignty.
The common greeting at this time is L'shanah tovah ("for a good year"). This is a shortening of "L'shanah tovah tikatev v'taihatem" (or to women, "L'shanah tovah tikatevi v'taihatemi"), which means "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year." More on that concept at Days of Awe.
You may notice that the Bible speaks of Rosh Hashanah as occurring on the first day of the seventh month. The first month of the Jewish calendar is Nissan, occurring in March and April. Why, then, does the Jewish "new year" occur in Tishri, the seventh month?
Judaism has several different "new years," a concept which may seem strange at first, but think of it this way: the American "new year" starts in January, but the new "school year" starts in September, and many businesses have "fiscal years" that start at various times of the year. In Judaism, Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time).
See Extra Day of Jewish Holidays for an explanation of why this holiday is celebrated for two days instead of the one specified in the Bible.
List of Dates
Rosh Hashanah will occur on the following days of the secular calendar:
Jewish Year 5775: sunset September 24, 2014 - nightfall September 26, 2014
Jewish Year 5776: sunset September 13, 2015 - nightfall September 15, 2015
Jewish Year 5777: sunset October 2, 2016 - nightfall October 4, 2016
* http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday2.htm
Friday, June 6, 2014
June 6, 2014, the 70th Anniversary of D-Day
of the Normandy Invasion.
The Yocum Library has numerous books and movies on the history of WWII.
I would like to recommend "The Longest Day" movie for you to get an idea of what went on during the invasion of the Normandy coast of France on June 6, 1944.
I visited Normandy beaches twice. Once on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. I visited the town of Saint Mere Eglise and can picture the scenes from the movie in the town and on the beach. (Kathy Nye-Editor)
*The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, the US, Britain, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich's Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. "For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day. The longest day." Written by Michael Daly.
The Longest Day [videorecording] / British exterior episodes directed by Ken Annakin ; American exterior episodes directed by Andrew Marton ; German episodes directed by Bernhard Wicki ; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.
Stats and cast information can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/
*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/plotsummary
Thursday, June 6, 2013
June 6 - 69th Anniversary of D-Day
June 6, 2013, the 69th Anniversary
of the Normandy Invasion.
The Yocum Library has numerous books and movies on the history of WWII.
I would like to recommend The Longest Day movie for you to get an idea of what went on during the invasion of the Normandy coast of France on June 6, 1944.
I visited Normandy beaches twice. Once on the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. I visited the town of Saint Mere Eglise and can picture the scenes from the movie in the town and on the beach. (Kathy Nye-Editor)
*The retelling of June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of the Germans, the US, Britain, and the Free French. Marshall Erwin Rommel, touring the defenses being established as part of the Reich's Atlantic Wall, notes to his officers that when the Allied invasion comes they must be stopped on the beach. "For the Allies as well as the Germans, it will be the longest day. The longest day." Written by Michael Daly.
The Longest Day [videorecording] / British exterior episodes directed by Ken Annakin ; American exterior episodes directed by Andrew Marton ; German episodes directed by Bernhard Wicki ; produced by Darryl F. Zanuck.
Stats and cast information can be found at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056197/
Sunday, May 12, 2013
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Sunday, March 17, 2013
St. Patrick’s Day Hot Spots
Boston for Pub Lovers
Why: With nearly 20 percent of Bostonians claiming roots in the auld sod, no U.S. city is more Irish.
Don't miss: Union Street for The Purple Shamrock, Hennessy’s, and Paddy O’s — all Irish-approved pubs, all on one city block.
Hoist a Pint: The Black Rose, which has hosted The Chieftains and other Celtic stars.
Seattle for Culture Buffs
Why: Besides the usual revelry, Seattle’s Irish Week includes workshops on genealogy and soda-bread baking.
Don't miss: The Irish Reels Film Festival, which celebrates contemporary flicks by independent Irish filmmakers.
Hoist a Pint: Fadó Irish Pub for the 7 a.m. Kegs and Eggs breakfast, a perfect pre-parade meal.
Chicago for Partiers
Why: Chi-Town is set to double the fun with two St. Patty’s Day parades, South Side on March 11 and downtown on the 17th.
Don't miss: The dyeing of the Chicago River, when 40 pounds of lime-green coloring is poured into the water.
Hoist a Pint: The lively and musical Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, run by two All-Ireland musicians.
Savannah for Families
Why: The parade dazzles with kid-friendly floats, Clydesdale horses, and the world’s tallest leprechaun.
Don't miss: Emerald-colored grits. They’re a true taste of the South, Irish style — and perfectly complemented with a green beer.
Hoist a Pint: The St. Patrick’s Celebration on the River, with food, live music, games, and more.
Dublin for Purists
Why: Where better to sport a shamrock and celebrate the patron saint of Ireland than in the country’s capital?
Don't miss:The March 17 parade. Watch it street-side with 500,000 other revelers, or buy a grandstand seat.
Hoist a Pint: Mulligans on Poolbeg Street, a satisfyingly dark pub where the Guinness is pitch-perfect.
Montserrat for Beach Lovers
Why: This tiny Caribbean island, a refuge for Irish indentured servants in the 17th century, puts on a weeklong party.
Don't miss: The Masqueraders, traditional masked street dancers performing to a unique blend of African and Irish music.
Hoist a Pint: The Monkey Bar — a beachside dive that’s a favorite among expats and visitors.
http://www.usairwaysmag.com/articles/st._patricks_day/
http://www.usairwaysmag.com/articles/st._patricks_day/
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
New Year's Day Good Luck Food
New Year's Good Luck Traditional Foods From Around the World
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| This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox |
How New Year is Said Around the World
*How New Year is said around the world:
Arabic: Kul 'aam u antum salimoun
Brazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan
* http://www.fathertimes.net/hownewyearissaidaroundtheworld.htmBrazilian: Boas Festas e Feliz Ano Novo means "Good Parties and Happy New Year"
Chinese: Chu Shen Tan
Czechoslavakia: Scastny Novy Rok
Dutch: Gullukkig Niuw Jaar
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
German: Prosit Neujahr
Greek: Eftecheezmaenos o Kaenooryos hronos
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah Tikatevu
Hindi: Niya Saa Moobaarak
Irish (Gaelic): Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Buon Capodanno
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Russian: S Novim Godom
Serbo-Croatian: Scecna nova godina
Spanish: Feliz Ano Neuvo
Prospero Ano Nuevo
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Vietnamese: Cung-Chuc Tan-Xuan
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