Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Presidents' Day

This holiday falls on February 16th this year. This holiday is observed by the United States of America.
"As the first federal holiday to honor an American citizen, the holiday was celebrated on [George] Washington's actual birthday, February 22. On January 1, 1971 the federal holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February…By the mid-1980s, with a push from advertisers, the term "Presidents' Day" began it's public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of the holiday to honor another president born in February, Abraham Lincoln, and often other Presidents of the United States.  …Lincoln's birthday, February 12, was never a federal holiday…" -Wikipedia
On this day, as on Veterans' Day, it's also a time to celebrate to people who help protect and serve the United States.

Information from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington's_Birthday

Monday, February 9, 2009

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday

Many people know 'Abe' for the kind, wise man that he was, and it's an honor to him, that people celebrate his birthday. But while people enjoy celebrating a dead president's birthday, someone has to wonder, "What'd he do that made him so important, that people celebrate his birthday?" I looked up on Wikipedia, and I found quite a bit of information. He was the 16th president, and he led the USA through one of their toughest times, fight not against a common enemy, but brother against brother, family against family, the northern part of the USA against the Southern. the war was mostly about differences. The South wanted to keep slavery, but the North said that it went against the US' laws. Abraham was determined to keep America from becoming two different countries, no matter the cost. He believed that working together for the common good would help and strengthen both sides, but separated both fail terribly. extremely tall man, and to add to that hight, he wore a very tall top hat, in which he kept many important papers.
This was his signature: File-Abraham_Lincoln_Signature.png

One of the most famous speeches that he gave was called the "Gettysburg Address." As the title suggests, he addresses the people of Gettysburg on the events of the Civil War. He believe in equal rights towards all men, whatever their ethnicity. Many people did not agree, and this created trouble for Abraham. One day, April 14, 1865 to be exact, Abe went with his wife to see a show in a theater. A man called John Wilkes Booth assassinated him, because of his strong opposition to anti-slavery, and Abe's unwillingness for the South to separate from the North. Because of his death, man people mourned for the great leader to return from the grave to help save their country from the disaster that was inevitable. He was, and still is, considered one of the world's greatest leaders of all time.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Valentines Day

Valentines Day. This is one of the most popular holidays, because it celebrates love and happiness. This holiday is celebrated on February 14.
One "...theory from Belarus states that the holiday originates from the story of Saint Valentine, who upon rejection by his mistress was so heartbroken that he took a knife to his chest and sent her his still-beating heart as a token of his undying love for her. Hence, heart-shaped cards are now sent as a tribute to his overwhelming passion and suffering." -Wikipedia
People enjoy this holiday because they want to tell each other how they feel about each other. They give flowers, cards, and different candies, usually chocolate. This is an interesting holiday, because there really isn't that much of a reason for this holiday, except the giving and receiving of presents, and the day of fun.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

The 19th of this month is "Martin Luther King Jr. Day." I'm sure that everyone has heard at least the beginning of his famous quote, "I have a dream…" this famous speech was given on August 28, 1963. He was a Baptist minister, and a civil rights activist. This is only part of the quote, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'" This man helped to shape American into what it is today.

This is a link to a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEMXaTktUfA

Bibliography:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Have_a_Dream