Category: Traditions and Holidays

Holidays and Observances to Celebrate in February 2023!

February 5

  • Adlai Stevenson Day
  • Disaster Day
  • Dump Your Significant Jerk Day (first Sunday in February)
  • National Chocolate Fondue Day
  • National Fart Day
  • National Weatherperson’s Day
  • Scout Sunday (first day of Boy Scout Week)
  • Shower With a Friend Day
  • Western Monarch Day
  • World Animal Reiki Day
  • World Nutella Day

February 6

  • International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation
  • International Frozen Yogurt Day
  • Lame Duck Day
  • National Chopsticks Day
  • Pay a Compliment Day
  • Ronald Reagan Day (in California only)

February 7

  • African American Coaches Day (first Tuesday in February)
  • Ballet Day
  • Harry Potter Book Night
  • National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
  • National Fettuccine Alfredo Day
  • National Periodic Table Day
  • Rose Day (beginning Valentine’s Week)
  • Send a Card to a Friend Day
  • Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbor Day

February 8

  • Boy Scout Anniversary Day
  • Laugh and Get Rich Day
  • Molasses Bar Day
  • National Kite Flying Day
  • Opera Day
  • Propose Day

February 9

  • Giving Hearts Day (in North Dakota and Minnesota)
  • National Bagels and Lox Day
  • National Develop Alternative Vices Day
  • National Pizza Day
  • National Stop Bullying Day
  • Read in the Bathtub Day

February 10

  • Cream Cheese Brownie Day
  • International Winter Bike to Work Day (second Friday in February)
  • National Flannel Day
  • National Home Warranty Day
  • National Umbrella Day
  • No One Eats Alone Day (second Friday in February)
  • The Inbox Day (second Friday in February)
  • World Pulses Day

February 11

  • Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
  • Get Out Your Guitar Day
  • Grandmother Achievement Day
  • International Day of Women & Girls in Science
  • National Inventor’s Day
  • National Make a Friend Day
  • National Shut-in Visitation Day
  • Peppermint Patty Day
  • Pro Sports Wives Day
  • Satisfied Staying Single Day
  • White T-Shirt Day

February 12 is Super Bowl Sunday

  • Autism Sunday (second Sunday in February)
  • Darwin Day
  • Oglethorpe Day or Georgia Day (in the state of Georgia)
  • Hug Day
  • International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers
  • Lincoln’s Birthday
  • NAACP Day
  • National Freedom to Marry Day
  • National Lost Penny Day
  • National Plum Pudding Day
  • Safetypup Day
  • Super Bowl Sunday
  • Super Chicken Wing Day
  • World Marriage Day (second Sunday in February)

Source: https://parade.com/living/february-holidays-observances

February is Black History Month

Dr. Martin Luther King addresses the crowd at the March on Washington, 1963

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Every year, Americans recognize February as Black History Month. The month is dedicated to recognizing the achievements of African Americans and celebrating the role they have played in the history of the United States.

The Origins of Black History Month

Black History Month, also known as National African American Month, has been recognized by all U.S. Presidents since 1976. Canada also recognizes Black History Month each February, while countries such as the United Kingdom and the Netherlands celebrate in October.

In the United States, Black History Month traces its start back to 1915, The organization that is now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History was founded by historian Carter Woodson and minister Jesse Moorland.

Just over a decade later, the first Negro History Week was observed in 1926. The second week of February was chosen for the observance in honor of the birthdays of two men who played a substantial role in ensuring the rights and freedoms of African Americans, Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass.

This first event gave birth to what we now know as Black History Month. In 1976, Gerald Ford became the first president to officially proclaim the February observance. Every U.S. president since has followed suit. Each year, the achievements of African Americans are recognized with a designated theme. The theme for 2018 is African Americans in Times of War.

Ways to Celebrate Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month with these ideas:

  • Learn about the contributions African Americans have made in American history and society. Choose one African American to study in-depth.
  • Learn about Civil Rights activists such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks.
  • Learn about important moments in the Civil Rights movement.
  • Read biographies about influential African Americans or popular books by black authors.
  • African Americans have been instrumental in the development of several music genres and styles of dance. Learn about some of these such as jazz, blues, hip-hop, or swing.
  • Look for a local venue, such as a history museum, to learn about African American leaders and history related to your state or town.
  • If you live near a site that played a pivotal role in African American history, go visit it.
  • Watch a movie or documentary that relates to the topic.

https://www.thoughtco.com/black-history-month-printables-1832842

How well do you know Black History ?  Here’s a simple Famous Firsts Quiz to test your knowledge.

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Happy Groundhog Day Plus Quiz

groundhog-day-banner

by http://www.elcivics.com  & Wikipedia

February 2 is Groundhog Day. Groundhogs are small brown furry animals. They live in burrows in the ground, and they eat grass, berries, and other vegetation. Groundhog Day is based on folklore. The folklore is that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow then there will be six more weeks of winter weather. But if the groundhog comes out of its hole and doesn’t see its shadow, then there will be an early spring

The Groundhog Day ceremony is held at Punxsutawney in western Pennsylvania, centering around a semi-mythical groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil, has become the most attended.  Grundsow Lodges in Pennsylvania Dutch Country in the southeastern part of the state celebrate them as well. Other cities in the United States and Canada have also adopted the event.

How much do you know about groundhogs ?  Try this matching quiz to test your knowledge.

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ANSWER SHEET

Check your answers here:

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8 Chinese New Year Traditions, Explained

Chinese New Year is the most widely celebrated Chinese holiday across the globe. This year, it falls on Jan. 22, 2023, and will begin the Year of the Rabbit.

FYI, Chinese New Year is also referred to as Lunar New Year, a term that includes other cultures that celebrate the start of the new year using the same calendar system. In China, it’s also known as Spring Festival. “Lunar New Year celebrates the first days of spring on the lunar calendar,” says Leung. “Historically, celebrating Lunar New Year in China was meant to pray for good blessings on farming in the new year—hence, worshiping ancestors has always been a critical component.”

Whether in China or elsewhere in the world, these are some of the most common Chinese New Year traditions and the meaning behind them that every Chinese zodiac sign can appreciate. And it’s no accident that we’re giving you eight—eight is the luckiest number in Chinese, since it sounds similar to the Chinese word for prosperity.

NIPITPHON NA CHIANGMAI/GETTY IMAGES

Clean up to prepare for the new year

Each year is seen as a fresh, new beginning, so starting it off with a clean house is important. Giannina Ong, editor-in-chief of Mochi Magazine, the longest-running online publication for Asian American women, advises that the timing of your cleanup is crucial. “Leading up to the New Year, you should clean as much as possible to clear out the bad luck and any leftover ill feelings from the previous year,” she says. “But on Lunar New Year itself, you’re not supposed to clean at all. The new year brings luck, and cleaning will remove that. So no wiping, no sweeping, no showering, and leave the dirty dishes from that delicious New Year’s feast in the sink for the night!”

KILITO CHAN/GETTY IMAGES

Decorate to invite good fortune

In terms of decoration, Ong says “everything is red because a fire sign symbolizes new life and prosperity.” The origins of red’s lucky properties may stem from a legend about a beast named Nian (an approximate homophone for the Chinese word for year), who appeared on New Year’s Eve to wreak havoc. People figured out that Nian was afraid of the color red, and to this day, people hang red lanterns, couplets written on red paper and the character fu (meaning good fortune) on red paper. That character is usually hung upside down—the word for turning something upside down, or pouring, also sounds like the word for arriving, so an upside-down fu symbol invites good luck to arrive. Flowers and kumquat fruit trees are also symbolic of prosperity, so after cleaning, you can bring some blossoms into your house for extra good luck. In addition to these Chinese New Year traditions, check out these tips from feng shui experts to keep the good vibes going all year long.

KOH SZE KIAT/GETTY IMAGES

Visit family

Family is the cornerstone of Chinese life, so naturally one would aim to start each new year in the company of their loved ones. In China, the Spring Festival comes with a one-week vacation. People across the country flock to their families in what is often called “the world’s largest human migration.” Leung explains that “similar to Thanksgiving and Christmas, Chinese New Year is also a holiday for people to get together with family members, to celebrate the spring and the start of the new year.”

Some people may not have the means or ability to get together, though. If you’re separated from family on Chinese New Year but still want to celebrate together in some way, consider making the same meal as one another and check in over video chat.

Poke the link below to see all traditions for the Lunar New Yera:

8 Chinese New Year Traditions and What They Mean — Lunar New Year (rd.com)

Martin Luther King Jr. Quotes: Inspirational Sayings for MLK Day 2023

Martin Luther King Jr. quotes

“In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

“If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

Martin Luther King Jr.: January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesman and leader in the American civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King advanced civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi. He was the son of early civil rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Sr.

Here Are All of the Holidays in January, One Week at a Time

Santi Visalli/Getty images

January marks the end of the holiday season with the celebration of Epiphany. The month also has a day set aside to remember the legacy of civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. But did you know that there is a special interest, hobby or person to honor and celebrate on every day of the month? Here is a list of January holidays and observances for the week of January 15.

January 15

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Day
  • Hat Day
  • Humanitarian Day
  • National Bagel Day
  • National Kombucha ‘Booch’ Day
  • National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day
  • Strawberry Ice Cream Day
  • Wikipedia Day
  • World Religion Day (third Sunday in January)
  • World Snow Day

January 16

  • Appreciate a Dragon Day
  • Blue Monday (third Monday of the year)
  • Book Publishers Day
  • Civil Service Day
  • Elementary School Teacher Day (third Monday in January)
  • Idaho Human Rights Day
  • International Hot & Spicy Food Day
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January)
  • National Crowd Feed Day (third Monday in January)
  • National Day of Service (third Monday in January)
  • National Fig Newton Day
  • National Good Teen Day
  • National Nothing Day
  • National Quinoa Day
  • Prohibition Remembrance Day
  • Psychiatric Technician’s Day
  • Religious Freedom Day
  • Robert E. Lee Day (in several Southern states)

January 17

  • Betty White Day
  • Cable Car Day
  • Customer Service Day
  • Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day
  • Hot-Buttered Rum Day
  • International Mentoring Day
  • Judgement Day
  • Kid Inventors Day
  • National Bootleggers Day
  • National Hot Heads Chili Day
  • Popeye Day

January 18

  • Maintenance Day
  • Museum Selfie Day (third Wednesday in January)
  • National Gourmet Coffee Day
  • Peking Duck Day
  • Thesaurus Day
  • Winnie the Pooh Day

January 19

  • Archery Day
  • Brew a Potion Day
  • Confederate Memorial Day (in Texas)
  • Get to Know Your Customer Day (third Thursday of the start of each quarter)
  • Good Memory Day
  • National Gun Appreciation Day
  • National Popcorn Day
  • New Friends Day
  • Tenderness Toward Existence Day

January 20

  • International Day of Acceptance
  • National Bill Cosby Sweater Day
  • National Buttercrunch Day
  • National Cheese Lovers Day
  • National Coffee Break Day
  • National Disc Jockey Day
  • Penguin Awareness Day
  • Take a Walk Outdoors Day

January 21

  • International Playdate Day
  • International Sweatpants Day
  • National Cheesy Socks Day
  • National Granola Bar Day
  • National Hug Your Puppy Day
  • National Hugging Day
  • National Use Your Gift Card Day (third Saturday in January)
  • New England Clam Chowder Day
  • One-Liners Day
  • Own Your Own Home Day
  • Squirrel Appreciation Day

Source: https://parade.com/living/january-holidays-observances

Martin Luther King Jr. Day–Monday January 16

Statue of Martin Luther King Jr. unveiled in his hometown

Martin Luther King Jr. was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. His most famous speech was “I have a Dream” and was the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  He was murdered at the age of 39.  The campaign for a federal holiday in King’s honor began soon after his death in 1968. President Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed three years later. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.

The national Martin Luther King Day of Service was started by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, who co-authored the King Holiday and Service Act. The federal legislation challenges Americans to transform the King Holiday into a day of citizen action volunteer service in honor of King.

Source:  wikipedia.org

Images of the civil rights struggle

See the source image
See the source image

New Year’s Traditions from Around the World

New Year is one of the biggest festive days around the world and is mostly observed on January 1st in all the countries. The day is occupied with lots of practices starting with food, parties, toasts, fireworks etc. with people following different traditions. The traditions usually differ from country to country depending on their culture. Below are some typical New Year’s Day Traditions practiced by people in different countries.

anationofmoms.com

Uh, please pass the lucky food!

Source: theoldfarmersalmanac.com

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