Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holidays. Show all posts

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Anything and (Nearly) Everything About...CHEESECAKE!

Strawberry Cheesecake : delicious strawberry cheesecake Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Today's topic, Cheesecake, was requested by Professional Zombie Killer, who lists his address as "earth", and is @dvindsgyz on Twitter.

The earliest references to cheesecake go back 4,000 years ago.  The Greek physician, Aegimus, wrote a book just prior to the 5th century B.C. on the art of making cheesecakes.  Cheesecake was given to athletes for energy in the first Olympic Games in 776 B.C.

Different types of cheeses are used in making cheesecakes in different countries around the world.  For instance, cream cheese is used in the U.S., and ricotta is used in Italy.  For more information click here.

National Cheesecake Day in the U.S. is just around the corner:  July 30.  On this date many restaurants and cheesecake chains, such as The Cheesecake Factory, offer specials on all types of cheesecake, including the dense & rich New York style, and the light & creamy Philadelphia style.  For more information click here.

There is a Cheesecake of the Month Club, that will send to you, or anyone of your choosing, a cheesecake once a month or in other timely installments.  Professional Zombie Killer lists his address as "earth", so I must assume he will have access to the Cheesecake of the Month Club if he so desires it.  While the club won't specify what kind of cheesecake you will receive each month, they list a picture of a Strawberry Cheesecake, PZK's  favorite, so I assume he would receive one sometime in the year, and probably in June or July or August, which is when strawberries are in season.  By the way, chocolate cheesecake is the number one favorite cheesecake in the U.S., followed by strawberry in second place, and pumpkin cheesecake (?!) in third place.   For more information click here.

Thanks to Professional Zombie Killer, @dvindsgyz on Twitter, for requesting today's topic!  What did you learn today?

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

It's a Matter of Math & Yellow Pig Day

Yellow Pig : hand inserting a coin in yellow pig moneybox Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

For some mathematicians July 17 is Yellow Pig Day.  The history of Yellow Pig Day began in the 1960's when two Princeton University math students, Michael Spivak and David C. Kelly, were exploring the properties of the number 17 and talking about their interest in yellow pigs while drinking at a local bar.  Spivak went on to found the Publish-or-Perish Press, lecture in mathematics, and write books with yellow pig references.  Kelly went on to become a math professor, to collect yellow pigs, and to collect the number 17 in print.

Yellow Pig Day is celebrated primarily, but not exclusively, where Kelly now teaches, Hampshire College, and specifically on July 17 during the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics.  On this day mathematicians exchange gifts relating to math and yellow pigs, sing yellow pig carols, and play a game called Ultimate that involves throwing frisbees.

For more information click here for the HCSSiM Yellow Pig Pages, and click here for the HCSSiM page.  What do you do on July 17?  And what did you learn today?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Holidays in the U.S.A.

American Flag Food : Red white and blue cupcake with american flag Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

My birthday is in August, and I grew up knowing that August is the only month that does not have a federal holiday in the U.S.  Also, no other month starts on the same day of the week as August 1, except in leap years when February 1 and August 1 will fall on the same day of the week.

Contemplating my birthday this year made me think about the above, which then made me wonder about the holidays that are in August and other months.  It turns out that there is a holiday on just about every day of the year in the U.S.!  It appears food is the primary reason for celebrating August, as it is National Catfish Month and every day celebrates some type of dessert.  For a listing of all holidays for the entire year in the U.S. click here; this site also has lists of the various symbols for every state and the nation.

What did you learn today?

Sunday, June 17, 2012

History of Fathers' Day

Fathers  Day : happy fathers day  on white
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Today is Fathers' Day in the U.S.A.  It became an official holiday in the 1970's, but people began thinking about a day to honor fathers as early as 1907, and some began celebrating it in June 1910.  It is celebrated on the third Sunday in the month of June.  For more information click here and click here.  Then click here for a chart showing the different dates Father's Day is celebrated in countries around the world.  What did you learn today? 

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Mothering Day and Mother's Day

Carnations Red White : Beautiful red flowers of carnations
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Mothering Day has been celebrated in England since the early 18th century.  Mother's Day has been celebrated in the United States since the early 20th century.  In England and Scotland special cakes called furmety, carlings, and simnel cake have been made on Mothering Day.  Carnation is the flower most commonly associated with Mother's Day in the U.S.  For more information click here.  What did you learn today?

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Ancient May Day Rituals

May 1  2012 : calendar sheet
Photo courtesy 123rf.com
The ancient Pagans celebrated May 1 as the day that divided the year in half.  Among other rituals, they set new fires on this day for luck and purification.  For more information click here.  What did you learn today?

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Easter Traditions, Cards, Games, & More!

Easter Eggs : happy easter text and cool eggs Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Click here for a website filled with information, downloadable games and cards, and much, much more!

What did you learn today?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Constitution Day & 225th Anniversary

U S  Constitution : Old fashionet American Constitution with USA  Flag.
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

2012 is the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution.  Constitution Day is celebrated every year on September 17.  For more information click here.  What did you learn today?

Friday, March 16, 2012

Party St. Patrick's Day Style!

St  Patrick S Day Party : A bunch of green party balloons over white background Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

If you're planning a St. Patrick's Day party, click here for three pages of fun ideas for invitations, decorations, food, and more.  Elsewhere on the website are pages for the history of St. Patrick's Day, and movies with Irish themes.

What did you learn today?

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

World Interfaith Calendar

Many Religions : Several colorful arrow street signs with the names of five major world religions - Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hinduism
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

In looking up which day this weekend is St. Patrick's Day, I stumbled on a fabulous calendar, InterFaithCalendar.org, that has dates of religious observances for many faiths, definitions for the observances, and much more.  You can access calendars from 2009 through 2019, and an archive that dates from 2001.  For more information click here.  This would be very useful for teachers and business owners, and others, too.

Click here to find out why 2008 had two unique dates in religious history.  What did you learn today?

Monday, March 5, 2012

Kids' Books for St. Patrick's Day

Children Reading Books : Three kids reading books lying on floor Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

St. Patrick's Day is less than two weeks away, on March 17, of course.  Here is a list of books for kids through age 12 about St. Patrick's Day crafts, history, and fiction:  click here.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Leap Year Birthdays

February Calendar Leap Year : details of calendar of leap year, February 2012 Stock Photo

Photo courtesy 123rf.com

There are about 4 million people in the world who were born on a leap day.  For more information click here.  What did you learn today?

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Leap Year Driver's License Birthdays

February Calendar Leap Year : details of calendar of leap year, February 2012 Stock Photo

Photo courtesy 123rf.com

If you were born on February 29 and live in the United States, the state in which you live will determine whether you can celebrate your birthday and get your driver's license on February 28 or March 1.  For more information click here.  What did you learn today?

Monday, February 27, 2012

Leap Year Babies

February Calendar Leap Year : details of calendar of leap year, February 2012 Stock Photo

Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Your chances of being born on a leap day are 1 in 1,500.  For more leap year information click here.  What did you learn today?

Monday, February 13, 2012

Valentine's Day for Friends

Friends Valentine : illustration art of active couples with isolated background
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called Friends Day.  In some Latin American countries, Valentine's Day is called Day of Love and Friendship.  For more information click here.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Today is the Pin Festival !

Sewing Needles : Sewing needles on black background, macro view
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Hari-Kuyo, the Festival of Broken Needles, was the beginning of the lunar year on the old Chinese calendar, and is now a festival in China and Japan every year on February 8.  People bring to the shrine their broken pins and needles used in the previous year, and express gratitude for their service.

For more information click here and click here.

I've broken sewing machine needles and the eyes in needlepoint needles, but I didn't exactly express gratitude for the broken needle, nor even for the service it had provided.  I wonder if there are uses for broken needles, but that's for another blog on another day.  What do you do that requires you to use needles?  (You can leave comments below.)

Thursday, February 2, 2012

History of Ground Hog Day

Ground Hog Day : Groundhog day with text. Vector graphic postcard
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

Ground Hog Day is celebrated only in the United States and Canada, but it evolved from Candlemas celebrations that originated in Europe.  In pre-Christian times, the Romans celebrated the Feast of Lights on February 1, which became Candlemas to the Christians on February 2, and eventually led to the founding of Ground Hog Day in Canada and the U.S.  The underlying reasons for all these celebrations had to do with forecasting the last weeks of winter weather and the viability of the coming spring and summer crops.  There were also religious reasons for celebrating Candlemas, which are quite interesting.  For more information click here.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

History of New Year's Good Luck Traditions

Dutch Donuts : An Oliebol is typical Dutch and is only baked during te days between Christmas and New Year
Photo of Dutch oliebol, which is only baked during the days between Christmas and New Year.
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

An old New Year's belief is that how you spend the first day of the new year will influence the rest of the year.  So, people will do things that they believe will give them good luck such as eating certain foods, and will spend the day with people whom they wish to be with during the coming year.

For some cultures, using something in the form of a ring on New Year's Day symbolizes completing the year uninterrupted by misfortune.  This is why the Dutch believe that eating doughnuts on New Year's Day will bring good luck all year.  For more information click here.

What New Year's traditions do you and your family observe?

Saturday, December 31, 2011

History of New Year's Eve Fireworks

New Year Fireworks : 2012 made of sparks. A photo path bengal fires Stock Photo
Photo courtesy 123rf.com

The use of fireworks and other noise-making such as cheering and horn-blowing at midnight on the cusp of the New Year is an old semi-religious tradition.  People used to think that evil spirits were drawn to these particular celebrations, and the bright flashes of light and very loud noise-making would scare the evil spirits away.  For more information click here.

How do you spend your New Year's Eve?

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas in the Ukraine

Christmas In The Ukraine : Portrait of smiling little girl in the Ukrainian national costume at christmas tree
Photo of Ukranian child in traditional clothing, next to Christmas tree, courtesy 123rf.com

Although there are some secular Christmas celebrations on December 25, most in the Ukraine observe the religious Christmas celebration on January 7 according to the Julian calendar.  Some ancient pagan rituals are also observed, such as a mock battle between citizens and people dressed as monsters, representing a battle between good and evil in which the citizens are victorious.  For more information click here and click here.

What rituals do you and your family observe during this season?