Volunteering
April has been designated as National Volunteer Month. Technically, it’s a reminder to organizations to thank the volunteers who serve, but it can be a reminder about volunteering. Everyone lives such busy lives today that it might be hard to find ti…
Earth Day
In 1971, Dr. Seuss published “The Lorax,” which was kind of a fable about the toxicity of corporate greed and its effect on nature. Those who grew up reading Dr. Seuss may not realize the book’s message came out of a personal anger in the author. Un…
Arab-American family
So far, Americans have celebrated Black History Month in February, and Women’s History Month in March. April brings a season dedicated to Arab-Americans. According to the Arab American Institute Foundation, it’s estimated there are over 3.6…
Easter
Easter is a spring holiday event celebrated by most Christians as the resurrection of Jesus. Many of the customs and traditions associated with the day actually come from pagan religions, who were excited that the winter was over and spring had arrived. The …
Women
March is Women’s History Month. Although the first celebration of International Women’s Day was held in 1911, the actual event didn’t really pick up steam until the late ’70s. Congress was making attempts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which wa…
St. Patrick’s Day
John Joly discovered one of the most important factors for social media. It was the year 1894, and he had no idea how vital his discovery would be for future generations. He changed the way people saw pictures by successfully producing color pho…
Aphrodite
One of the most famous paintings by Botticelli depicts the adult goddess Venus arriving on the shore in a scallop shell. Most historians believe that the work was commissioned by the Medici family, but no actual documentation remains to prove that theory….
Purim
On the Jewish celebration of Purim, Jews are allowed to conduct business and perform manual labor. This is much different than the holy days of Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah. Purim is often thought of a national holiday, rather than a religious celebration. The…
Holi
Who doesn’t want to say good-bye to winter and the cold? Spring brings sun, flowers, and fresh asparagus. Many cultures have a spring festival in March to celebrate the spring equinox. The Middle East observes Nowruz, the Persian New Year. In Japan, it’s c…
Winter Solstice
There are any number of holidays to celebrate in December. The Jews have Hanukkah. Christians remember the birth of Jesus on Christmas. Kwanzaa is a reminder of African traditions. Many non-religious individuals celebrate Saturnalia. All of these ce…