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 Admin Professionals Day
'Administrative Professionals' Day' (previously known as 'Secretary's Day') is
an unofficial secular holiday observed on the last Wednesday of April (April 26
in 2006, April 25 in 2007), to recognize the work of clerical employees such as
administrative assistants, receptionists, paralegals, etc. It is celebrated as
part of a larger Administrative Professionals Week, which takes place during the
last full week of April.
National Professional Secretaries Week and National Secretaries' Day was created
in 1952 through the work of Harry F. Klemfuss of Young and Rubicam. Klemfuss
recognized the importance and value of the position to a company or business.
His goal was to encourage more women to become administrative assistants (called
secretaries at the time). Using his skill and experience in public relations,
Klemfuss promoted the values and importance of the job of administrative
assistants. In doing so, he also created the holiday in recognition of the
importance of administrative assistants.
The official period of appreciation/celebration was first proclaimed by U.S.
Secretary of Commerce Charles Sawyer as "National Secretaries Week," which was
held June 1-7 in 1952, with Wednesday, June 4, 1952 designated National
Secretaries Day. The first Secretaries' Day was held in that year by the
International Association of Administrative Professionals, with the support of
an association of corporate groups. In 1998, the name of the holiday was changed
to better represent the full range of administrative positions.
In the United States, the day is often celebrated by giving one's assistant
flowers, candy, or small gifts, or by taking him/her out to lunch.
In the United States, Administrative Professionals Day® is a registered
trademark with the serial number 75898930. The registrant is the International
Association of Administrative Professionals. The holiday has been the source of
some controversy and criticism in the United States, where it is often mocked as
a Hallmark Holiday.
more ...
 April Fool's Day
'April Fools' Day' or 'All Fools' Day' (sometimes written, incorrectly, with the
apostrophe before the s rather than after), though not a holiday in its own
right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is
marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying
sophistication on friends and neighbors, or sending them on fools' errands, the
aim of which is to embarrass the gullible. In some countries, April Fools' jokes
(also called "April Fools") are only made before midday. [BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A516791 article] It is widely celebrated on
the Internet.
more ...
 Ash Wednesday
's forehead on Ash
Wednesday |observedby = Western Christians |date = |observances =
Mass
Marking of an ash cross on the forehead |relatedto = Shrove
Tuesday/Mardi Gras
Lent
Easter }}
In the Western Christian calendar, 'Ash Wednesday' is the first day of Lent. It
occurs forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is nevertheless considered forty
days long, because Sundays in this period are not counted among the days of
Lent. It falls on different dates from year to year, according to the date of
Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.
At Masses and Services of worship on this day, worshippers are blessed with
ashes by the celebrating priest or minister. The priest or minister marks the
forehead of each participant with black ashes, in the shape of a cross, which
the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown. In
Roman Catholic churches, the minister of ashes may also be a layperson or non-
priest. The symbolism echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ash
over one's head signifying repentance before God (as related numerous times in
the Bible). The priest or minister offers the worshipper an instruction while
applying the ashes. These are three examples:
: "Remember, man, that you are dust
: And unto dust you shall return."
::(Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.)
:This wording comes from Genesis 3:19. or
:"Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel."
or
:"Repent, and hear the good news."
The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm
Sunday celebrations and mixing them with olive oil as a fixative. In the Roman
Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence (from meat),
and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The ashes are
sacramentals, not a sacrament. The penitential psalms are read.
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, which lasts until the
Easter Vigil. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 18
and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal each day, which may be
supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full
meal. These days are also days of abstinence from meat.
The Anglican Book of Common Prayer designates Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting.
: the end of Carnival
As the first day of Lent, it comes the day after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras,
the last day of the Carnival season. The word "Carnival" is in fact derived from
the Italian word carne "meat", in reference to the Lenten practice of giving up
meat.
In 2006, Ash Wednesday occurred on March 1. Ash Wednesday will occur on the
following dates in the following years:
2007 - February 21
2008 - February 6
2009 - February 25
2010 - February 17
2011 - March 9
2012 - February 22
2013 - February 13
2014 - March 5
2015 - February 18
2016 - February 10
2017 - March 1
2018 - February 14
2019 - March 6
more ...
 Boss's Day
's Day |type=Local |observedby= United
States |date=October 16 |date2006=October 16 |celebrations=Thanking corporate
superiors for being kind and fair throughout the year }} 'Boss's Day' is a
United States secular holiday celebrated on October 16. It has traditionally
been a day for employees to thank their superiors for being kind and fair
throughout the year. The holiday has been the source of some controversy and
criticism in the United States, where it is often mocked as a Hallmark Holiday.
more ...
 Canada Day
'Canada Day' (French: Fête du Canada) is Canada's national holiday. It is a
federal holiday celebrated on July 1, annually, by all provincial governments
and most businesses across Canada.
more ...
 Chinese New Year
's Eve in Meizhou |nickname=Lunar New Year, Spring
Festival |observedby=Chinese people around the world, although many others will
attend celebrations |date2006=January 29 |date2007=February 18
|date2008=February 7 |date2009=January 26 |date2010=February 14
|date2011=February 3 |observances=Gift-giving, Family gatherings, Food
consumption, Prayers |type=asian festival |longtype=Chinese, Cultural
|significance=The first day of the Chinese calendar |relatedto=Lantern Festival,
which concludes the celebration of the New Year }}
's Chinatown , Yunnan, China. 'Chinese New Year' (),or the Spring Festival
is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It consists of a
period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day, celebrated on the first day
of the first month of the Chinese calendar. This is the day of the second new
moon after the winter solstice, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or
twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year. In such a case, the New Year falls
on the day of the third new moon after the solstice. (The next time this occurs
is in 2033.) The Chinese New Year period ends with the Lantern Festival, on the
fifteenth day of the festival.
According to legend, the beginning of the year began with month 1 during the Xia
Dynasty, month 12 during the Shang Dynasty, and month 11 during the Zhou
Dynasty, but intercalary months were added after month 12 during both the Shang
Dynasty according to surviving oracle bones and the Zhou Dynasty according to
Sima Qian. The first Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang changed the beginning of the
year to month 10 in 221 BC. Whether the New Year was celebrated at the beginning
of these months or at the beginning of month 1 or both is unknown. In 104 BC,
Emperor Wu established month 1 as the beginning of the year where it remains.
According to legend, in ancient China, Nian ("Nyan"), a man-eating predatory
beast from the mountains, could infiltrate houses silently. The Chinese were
always very scared of this monster. The Chinese later learned that Nian was
sensitive to loud noises and the color red, and so they scared it away with
explosions, fireworks and the liberal use of the color red. So "GuoNian"
actually means "Passover the Nian". These customs led to the first New Year
celebrations.
"ChuXi" or 除夕 in Mandarin Chinese. "Chu" means "get rid of" and "Xi" is the
day of the legendary man-eating beast, Nian, that preys once a year on New Year
Eve. When Nian arrived, people used firecrackers to scare him away. Once Nian
ran away, people joined together to celebrate for another year of safe life.
Celebrated internationally in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese,
Chinese New Year is considered to be a major holiday for the Chinese as well as
ethnic groups such as the Mongolians, Koreans, the Miao (Chinese Hmong), the
Vietnamese (see Tết), Tibetans, the Nepalese and the Bhutanese (see Losar) who
were strongly influenced by Chinese culture in terms of philosophical and
religious worldview, language and culture in general. Chinese New Year is also
the time when the largest human migration takes place when overseas Chinese all
around the world return home on the eve of Chinese New Year to have reunion
dinners with their families.
more ...
 Christmas
's Mass
|observedby=Christians around the world as well as by non-Christians who observe
the secular aspects of the holiday. |date=December 25
(January 7 in
http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Julian_Calendar#From_Julian_to_Gregorian Old
Calendarist Orthodox Churches) |observances=religious services, gift giving,
family meetings, decorating trees |longtype=Christian |type=Christian
|significance=traditional birthdate of Jesus |relatedto= Annunciation,
Incarnation; Crucifixion; Advent, the four weeks preceding Christmas; and the
period between the day after Thanksgiving and the Sunday after New Year's Day,
the American holiday season}}
'Christmas' or 'Christmas Day' is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. It
has many aspects, both religious and secular, including the exchange of gifts,
the Santa Claus myth, decoration and display of the Christmas tree, religious
ceremonies, and others. Some Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate on December 25
by the Julian calendar, which currently corresponds to January 7 on the
Gregorian calendar. These dates are merely traditional; the precise chronology
of Jesus' birth and death is still debated. Also, some Muslims celebrate
Christmas because Islam regards Jesus as a prophet, messenger and one of the top
five human servants of God (Allah).
The popularity of Christmas can be traced in part to its status as a winter
festival. Many cultures have historically celebrated their most important
holiday in winter because there is less agricultural work to do at this time.
Examples of winter festivals that have influenced Christmas include the pre-
Christian festivals of Yule[http://www.geocities.com/odinistlibrary/OLArti-
cles/YuleChristmas.htm] and Saturnalia. Many of the traditions associated
with the holiday have origins in these pagan winter celebrations.
Various local and regional Christmas traditions are still practiced, despite the
widespread influence of American and British Christmas motifs disseminated by
film, popular literature, television, and other media.
more ...
 Cinco de Mayo
'Cinco de Mayo' ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico
which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the
victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French
occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on 05 May, 1862.
It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day,
which is celebrated on 16 September ("Dieciseis de Septiembre" in Spanish), but
actually it is a celebration of the battle.
more ...
 Columbus Day
'
first voyage to the Americas in 1492 |relatedto='Día de la Raza' in many Latin
American countries, 'Discovery Day' in the Bahamas, Hispanic Day in Spain, 'Día
de las Culturas' in Costa Rica and Día de la Resistencia Indígena in
Venezuela. Also, Thanksgiving in Canada, which falls on the same date.
|date=October {{Second Monday in October}} (USA) |date={{next year}}}} (USA)
|date2008=October 13 (USA) |date2009=October 12 (USA) |date2010=October 11 (USA)
}}
'Columbus Day' is a holiday celebrated in many countries in the Americas,
commemorating the date of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World on
October 12, 1492. Similar holidays, celebrated as 'Día de la Raza' (Day of the
Race) in many countries in Latin America, 'Día de las Culturas' (Day of the
Cultures) in Costa Rica, 'Discovery Day' in the Bahamas, Hispanic Day in
Spain, and the newly-renamed (as of 2002) Día de la Resistencia Indígena
(Day of Indigenous Resistance) in Venezuela, commemorate the same event.
more ...
 Easter
'Easter', also known as 'Pascha' (Greek 'Πάσχα': Passover), the 'Feast of
the Resurrection', the 'Sunday of the Resurrection', or 'Resurrection Day', is
the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed
between late March and late April (early April to early May in Eastern
Christianity). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which his followers
believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 27-33 (see Good Friday).
In the Catholic Church Easter is actually an eight-day feast called the Octave
of Easter.
Easter also refers to the season of the church year, lasting for fifty days,
from Easter Sunday through Pentecost. (see Easter Season)
more ...
 Father's Day
's Day |observedby=Most countries
|date=Varies regionally |type=Historical |relatedto=Mother's Day }} 'Father's
Day' is a primarily secular holiday inaugurated in the early 20th century to
complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and parenting by males, and to
honour and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a
variety of dates worldwide, and typically involves gift-giving to fathers and
family-oriented activities.
more ...
 Fourth of July
'Independence Day' (commonly known as "the 'Fourth of
July'" or simply "the 'Fourth'") is a federal holiday celebrating the adoption
of the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, declaring independence from
the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Independence Day is commonly associated with parades, barbecues, beer, picnics,
baseball games, and various other public and private events celebrating the
history, government, and traditions of the United States. Fireworks have been
associated with the Fourth of July since 1777.
more ...
 Good Friday
'Easter Sunday' (primarily), Ascension, Pentecost, Whit
Monday, Trinity Sunday, and Corpus Christi which follow it }}
'Good Friday' is a holy day celebrated by most Christians on the Friday before
Easter or Pascha. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. Special
prayer services are often held on this day with readings from the Gospel
accounts of the events leading up to the crucifixion. Mainstream Christian
churches view Christ's crucifixion as a voluntary and act, and one by which,
along with resurrection on the third day, death itself was conquered.
In Israel, Jesus' birthplace, it is known as "Big Friday." In the Czech
Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria (and Eastern Orthodox
Church in general) the day is called 'Great Friday'.
In Latin America and Portugal the day is called the "Holy Friday" and in
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands and Iceland the day is called
"The Long Friday"
more ...
 Grandparent's Day
'Grandparent's Day' is a United States secular holiday celebrated on the first
Sunday after Labor Day. It has traditionally been used to honor both
grandparents and their relationships with their grandchildren. In recent years,
Grandparent's Day has become heavily commercialized. Greeting card companies
have used this day to sell cards.
In 2006, Grandparent's Day is held on September 10. In 2007, this will be held
on September 9. The official song of National Grandparents Day is "A Song For
Grandma And Grandpa" by Johnny Prill.
more ...
 Groundhog Day
'Groundhog Day' is a traditional festival celebrated in the United States and
Canada on February 2. It is a cross-quarter day, midway between the Winter
Solstice and the Vernal Equinox.
In traditional weather lore, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day
and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end.
If the groundhog sees its shadow because the weather is bright and clear, it
will be frightened and run back into its hole, and the winter will continue for
six more weeks.
In contemporary popular use, it may more often refer to a situation that keeps
repeating itself (ie. déjà vu), due to the influence of the film Groundhog
Day (film)|Groundhog Day.
more ...
 Halloween
'-Lantern_2003-10-31.jpg caption = A
| jack-o'-lantern nickname = Hallowe'en, All Hallows Eve, All Saints' Eve,
| Samhain, Spooky Day, Snap-Apple Night observedby = Many Western nations,
| including the USA, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Canada, sometimes
| Australia and New Zealand date = October 31 celebrations = Trick-or-treating,
| Bobbing for apples, Costume parties, Carving jack-o'-lanterns longtype =
| Pagan, Religious, Cultural (celebrated mostly irrespective of religion)
| type=Pagan significance = There are many sources of the significance of
| Halloween
}} 'Halloween' is a tradition celebrated on the night of October 31, most
notably by children dressing in costumes and going door-to-door collecting
sweets, fruit, and other treats. Apart from this trick-or-treating, there are
many other traditional Halloween activities. Some of these include costume
parties, watching horror films, going to "haunted" houses, and traditional
autumn activities such as hayrides, some of these even "haunted". A more
complete coverage of Hallowen customs can be found at Halloween traditions.
Halloween originated as a Pagan festival among the Celts of Ireland and Great
Britain with Irish, Scots, Welsh and other immigrants transporting versions of
the tradition to North America in the 19th century. Most other Western countries
have embraced Halloween as a part of American pop culture in the late 20th
century.
Halloween is celebrated in most parts of the Western world, most commonly in the
United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and with increasing popularity in
Australia and New Zealand, as well as the Philippines. In recent years,
Halloween has also been celebrated in parts of Western Europe, such as Belgium,
France and Spain.
The term Halloween, and its older spelling 'Hallowe'en', is shortened from 'All-hallow-
even', as it is the evening before "All Hallows' Day"
more ...
 Hanukkah
'חֲנֻכָּה' or 'חנוכה'
English translation:
"Renewal/Rededication" (of the Temple in Jerusalem) |nickname=Festival of
Lights, Festival of Dedication |observedby=Jews in Judaism |begins=25 Kislev
|ends=2 Tevet or 3 Tevet |celebrations=Lighting candles each night of the
festival in a special Hanukkah menorah (or chanukkiyah) in a visible
location. Playing the dreidel (sevivon) game, eating foods fried in olive
oil, such as latkes (potato pankakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts).
|type=Jewish |significance=One of two rabbinically ordained festivals. The
Maccabees' successfully rebelled against Antiochus IV Epiphanes. The Temple in
Jerusalem was purified, and the wicks of the Menorah miraculously burned for
eight days with only enough oil for one day. |relatedto=Purim, as a rabbinically
decreed holiday, and Kwanzaa, which borrowed elements from Hanukkah
|date2005=sunset, December 25 to sunset, January 2 |date2006=sunset, December 15
to sunset, December 23 |date2007=sunset, December 4 to sunset, December 12
|date2008=sunset, December 21 to sunset, December 29 |date2009=sunset, December
11 to sunset, December 19 |date2010=sunset, December 1 to sunset, December 9 }}
'Hanukkah', also known as the 'Festival of Lights' or 'Festival of
Rededication', is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of
Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, while very rare in
occasion, early January (as was the case for the Hannukkah of 2005–2006). The
festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the
festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so
on.
In Hebrew script, the word Hanukkah is written חנכה or חנוכה. It is
most commonly transliterated to English as 'Hanukkah' or 'Chanukah'. Other
variations are discussed below.
more ...
 Kwanzaa
'Kwanzaa' (or 'Kwaanza') is a week-long secular holiday honoring African-
American heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year, almost
exclusively by African-Americans in the United States of America.
Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-
lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift-giving.
It was founded by controversial black nationalist Ron Karenga, and first
celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1 1967. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the
African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African
cultures.
__TOC__
more ...
 Labor Day
'Labor Day' is a United States federal holiday that takes place on the first
Monday of September. In 2006, Labor Day occurred on September 4.
more ...
 Mardi Gras
'Mardi Gras' (French for "Fat Tuesday") is the day
before Ash Wednesday, and is also called "Shrove Tuesday" or "Pancake Day". It
is the final day of Carnival (English: and Romance languages:). It is a
celebration that is held just before the beginning of the Christian liturgical
season of Lent. The feast should not be confused with the Swedish Fettisdagen
(Fat Tuesday) or the Polish Tłusty Czwartek (which translates to Fat Thursday).
more ...
 Martin Luther King Day
'Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.', often called 'Martin Luther King Day', is a United States holiday honoring the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is the only United States federal holiday commemorating an African American and one of only four to commemorate an individual person.[The other three federal holidays honoring individuals are: Washington's Birthday (often called President's Day), Columbus Day, and Christmas Day. See http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05/usc_sec_05_00006103----000-.html 5 USC 6103.]
Martin Luther King Day was founded as a holiday promoted by labour unions in
contract negotiations. After King's death in 1968, Rep. John Conyers introduced
a bill in Congress to make King's birthday a national holiday, highlighting
King's activism on behalf of trade unionists. Unions did most of the promotion
for the holiday throughout the 1970s. In 1976, trade unionists helped to elect
Jimmy Carter, who endorsed the King Day bill. After that endorsement, union
influence in the King holiday campaign declined, and the King Center turned to
support from the corporate community and the general public. The success of this
strategy was cemented when musician Stevie Wonder released the single "Happy
Birthday" to popularize the campaign in 1980 and hosted the Rally for Peace
Press Conference in 1981. 6 million signatures were collected for a petition to
Congress to pass the law, termed by a 2006 The Nation article as "...the
largest petition in favor of an issue in US history."
Opposition to the bill was led by Senator Jesse Helms, who questioned whether
MLK was important enough to receive such an honor. He was also critical of
King's opposition to the Vietnam War and accused King having Communist
connections.
President Ronald Reagan was also opposed to the holiday, and also insinuated
that King was a Communist. He relented in his opposition only after Congress
passed the King Day Bill with an overwhelming, veto-proof majority (338 to 90 in
the House of Representatives and 78 to 22 in the Senate).
At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, Reagan signed a bill
creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on
January 20, 1986.
On January 17, 2000, for the first time, Martin Luther King Day was officially
observed in all 50 U.S. states.
more ...
 Memorial Day
'
headstones on Memorial Day |observedby=United States |date= |date=May {{Last
Monday in May}} |observances=visiting cemeteries |longtype=Federal (and most
U.S. states) |type=national |significance=Honors war dead }}
'Memorial Day' is a United States federal holiday that is observed on the (most
recently observed May 29, 2006). It was formerly known as 'Decoration Day'. This
holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to
their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the
American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in
any war or military action. One of the longest standing traditions is the
running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with
Memorial Day since 1911.
more ...
 Mother's Day
's Day (film)|Mother's day.
{{Infobox Holiday | |holiday_name=Mother's Day |observedby=Most countries
|date=Varies regionally |type=Historical |relatedto=Father's Day }} .
'Mother's Day' is a holiday honouring mothers, celebrated (on various days) in
many places around the world. Mothers often receive gifts on this day.
Mother's Day is a strange time of year for mail in many countries. In 1973, mail
delivery through the U.S. Postal Service was delayed for eight days because of
the amount of mail. Telephone networks are also at their busiest on Mother's
Day. Mother's Day is the number one holiday for flowers purchased throughout the
year.
more ...
 Mother-in-Law Day
more ...
 New Year
'New Year' is an event that happens when a culture celebrates the end of one
year and the beginning of the next. Cultures that measure yearly calendars all
have 'New Year' celebrations.
more ...
 Nurse's Day
'International Nurses Day' ('IND') is celebrated around the world every May 12.
This day is celebrated to remember of all the valuable contributions nurses make
to the society.
Background The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has celebrated this day
since 1965. In January 1974, the decision was made to celebrate the day on May
12 as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, who is widely
considered the founder of modern nursing. Each year, ICN prepares and
distributes the International Nurses' Day Kit. The kit contains educational and
public information materials, for use by nurses everywhere.
As Florence Nightingale is no longer seen as a role model in some parts of the
world, demands have arisen, for example by the British public sector union
UNISON, to transfer this day on another date. 21 May, the birthday of Elizabeth
Fry (1780-1845), has been suggested. Elizabeth Fry founded the Institution of
Nursing Sisters and is also known for her work with prisoners.
Themes The 2003 theme was "Nurses: Fighting AIDS stigma, working for all". The
2004 theme was "Nurses: Working with the Poor; Against Poverty". The 2005 theme
was "Nurses for Patients Safety: Targeting counterfeit medicines and substandard
medication".
::The focus was on counterfeit medicines because they are problematic in both
:developed and developing countries. Although it is impossible to find out
:exactly how many drugs are counterfeit, the World Health Organisation estimates
:that one in ten drugs sold worldwide has no medical effect at all and that in
:poor countries up to 25% of drugs are counterfeit. ICN also states that nurses
:have the responsibility to advise the public on the dangers of buying medicines
:through the Internet.
The 2006 theme was "Safe staffing saves lives".
Nursing week The U.S. and Canada celebrate their National Nursing Week each year
from May 9 to May 15 each year. It was established in the U.S. by President
Richard Nixon in 1974.
more ...
 Passover
'פסח' (Pesach) |Translation:
"Passover" |observedby=Judaism and Jews |begins=15th day of Nisan |ends=21st day
of Nisan in Israel, and among some liberal Diaspora Jews; 22nd day of Nisan
outside of Israel among more traditional Jews |celebrations=Two festive Seder
meals (in Israel only one), and reciting the Haggadah, eating of matzo, maror
(bitter herb), drinking four cups of kosher wine and filling the Cup of Elijah.
And in the times of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Korban Pesach. |date2006=April
12 |date2007=April 2 |date2008=April 19 |type=Jewish |significance=One of the
Three Pilgrim Festivals. Celebrating the Exodus and freedom from slavery of the
Children of Israel from ancient Egypt that followed the Ten plagues.
Beginning of the 49 days of Counting of the Omer |relatedto=Shavuot ("Festival
[of] Weeks") which follows 49 days from the second night of Passover. }}
'Passover' (Hebrew: פסח; transliterated as 'Pesach' or 'Pesah'), also called
חג המצות (Chag HaMatzot - Festival of Matzot) is a Jewish holiday which
is celebrated in the northern spring. It begins on the 15th day of Nisan (on the
Hebrew calendar), which falls between March 15-April 30. Passover commemorates
the Exodus and freedom of the Israelites from ancient Egypt. As described in the
Book of Exodus, Passover marks the "birth" of the Jewish nation, as the Jews'
ancestors were freed from being slaves of Pharaoh and allowed to become servants
of God instead.
Together with Sukkot ("Tabernacles") and Shavuot ("Pentecost"), Passover is one
of the three pilgrim festivals (Shalosh Regalim) during which the entire Jewish
populace made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, at the time when the Temple in
Jerusalem was standing.
In Israel, Passover is a 7-day holiday, with the first and last days celebrated
as a full festival (involving abstention from work, special prayer services and
holiday meals). In the Jewish diaspora outside Israel, the holiday is
traditionally celebrated for 8 days, with the first two days and last two days
celebrated as full festivals. The intervening days are known as Chol HaMoed
(festival weekdays).
The primary symbol of Passover is the matzo, a flat, unleavened "bread" which
recalls the hurriedly-baked bread that the Israelites ate after their hasty
departure from Egypt. According to Halakha, matzo may be made from flour derived
from five types of grain: wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rye. The dough for matzo
is made when flour is added to water only, which has not been allowed to rise
for more than 18–22 minutes prior to baking.
Many Jews observe the positive Torah commandment of eating matzo on the first
night of Passover at the Passover Seder, as well as the Torah prohibition
against eating or owning Chametz which includes any leavened products —
such as bread, cake, cookies, beer, whisky or pasta (or anything whose dough has
been mixed with a leavening agent or which has been left to rise more than 18
minutes) — for the duration of the holiday.
more ...
 President's Day
's Birthday |image=Washington
(3).jpg |caption=Lansdowne portrait of President Washington by Gilbert Stuart
|official_name=Washington's Birthday |nickname=Presidents' Day, various U.S.
state designations |observedby=United States |date= |date2005= |date2006=
|date2007= |observances='Presidents' Day': Shopping, school history projects.
'Washington's Birthday': Community, historical celebrations; honoring veterans
and purple heart recepients; Congressional recognition. |longtype=Federal (and
most U.S. states) |type=national |significance=Honors hero of American
Revolution, chairman of Constitutional Convention, first U.S. President
|relatedto=Lincoln's Birthday }} 'Presidents' Day' is the common name for the
United States federal holiday officially designated as 'Washington's Birthday'.
It is celebrated on the third Monday of February.
As the official title of the federal holiday, Washington's Birthday was
originally implemented by the federal government in 1880 in the District of
Columbia and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices. As the first
federal holiday to honor an American-born citizen, the holiday was celebrated on
Washington's actual birthday, February 22. In 1971 the federal holiday was
shifted to the third Monday in February.
In the late 1980s, with a push from advertisers (see detail below), the term
President's Day began its public appearance. The theme has expanded the focus of
the holiday to honor another February President, Abraham Lincoln, and often
other Presidents of the United States as well. Although Lincoln's birthday,
February 12, was never a federal holiday, approximately a dozen state
governments have officially renamed their Washington's Birthday observances as
"Presidents' Day", "Washington and Lincoln Day", or other such designations. It
is also interesting to note that "Presidents' Day" is not always an all-
inclusive term. In Massachusetts, while their state holiday honors "Washington's
Birthday", there is also a Presidents' Day Proclamation honoring the Presidents
that have come from the New England area. Alabama uniquely observes the day as
"Washington and Jefferson Day," even though Jefferson's birthday was in
April.http://shpda.state.al.us/holidays.html
In Washington's home state of Virginia the holiday is legally known as "George
Washington Day."
more ...
 Ramadan
'Ramadan' (in Arabic:
رمضان, Ramadhan) – or 'Ramzan' in several countries –
and it is the ninth month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, established in the
year 638. It is considered the most venerated, blessed and spiritually-
beneficial month of the Islamic year. Prayers, fasting, charity, and self-
accountability are especially stressed at this time; religious observances
associated with Ramadan are kept throughout the month. God prescribes daily
fasting for all able, adult Muslims during the whole month of Ramadan, beginning
with the sighting of the new moon.
According to the fuqaha – Islamic jurists and legislators – in 2006
the month of Ramadan (1427 AH) began on September 23 (Middle East, East Africa,
North Africa and West Africa) and September 24 elsewhere (including Turkey,
North America, Southeast Asia, and the rest of the Middle East). In Pakistan,
excluding some parts of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), it was September
25. In NWFP it was September 25. It will last through October 22 or October 23.
more ...
 Rosh Hashanah
's horn |observedby=Judaism and
Jews |official_name=Hebrew: 'ראש השנה' |nickname=Jewish New Year
|begins=First day of Tishrei |ends=Second day of Tishrei |observances=Praying in
synagogue, shofar. Festive meals with round challah-bread and apples dipped
in honey. Fish head, pomegranates. New fruits on the second night. |type=Jewish
|significance=Jewish new year according to the Hebrew calendar. Commemorates
both the Creation of the world and the birth and binding of Isaac.
Beginning of the ten "Days of Awe" prior to Yom Kippur. |relatedto=Yom Kippur
which follows. |date2006= sunset, September 22 – sunset, September 24
|date2007= sunset, September 12 – sunset, September 14 |date2008= sunset,
September 29 – sunset, October 1 |date2009= sunset, September 18 – sunset,
September 20 |date2010= sunset, September 8 – sunset, September 10 |date2011=
sunset, September 28 – sunset, September 30 }}
'Rosh Hashanah' () (Hebrew: 'ראש השנה', {{unicode|ro’sh ha-
shānāh|}}) is literally translated as "head of the year", and idiomatically
refers to the Jewish New Year. The term first appears in the Bible, in Ezekiel
40:1.
In fact, Judaism has four "new years" which mark various legal "years", much
like 1 January marks the "New Year" of the Gregorian calendar. Rosh Hashanah is
the new year for people, animals, and legal contracts. The Mishnah also sets
this day aside as the new year for calculating calendar years and sabbatical
(shemitta) and jubilee (yovel) years.
The Torah refers to the day as "The Day of the Blowing of the Shofar" (Yom
Terua, Leviticus 23:24), and rabbinic literature and the liturgy itself describe
Rosh Hashanah as "The Day of Judgment" (Yom ha-Din) and "The Day of Remembrance"
(Yom ha-Zikkaron). Some midrashic descriptions depict God as sitting upon a
throne, while books containing the deeds of all humanity are opened for review,
and each person passing in front of Him for evaluation of his or her deeds.
This holiday is the first of the Yamim Noraim (Hebrew, "Days of Awe"), the
most solemn days of the Jewish year; the Yamim Noraim are preceded by the month
of Elul, during which Jews are supposed to begin a self-examination and
repentance, a process that culminates in the ten days of the Yamim Noraim known
as Asseret Yemei Teshuva - The Ten Days of Repentance, beginning with Rosh
Hashanah and ending with the holiday of Yom Kippur.
more ...
 Shavuot
'שבועות' or 'חג שבעות'
|nickname=Translation: "Feast of Weeks"
|observedby=Judaism and Jews
|begins=6th day of Sivan
|ends=7th (in Israel 6th) day of Sivan
|celebrations=Festive meals. All-night Torah study. Recital of Akdamut liturgical poem in Ashkenazic synagogues. Reading of the Book of Ruth. Eating of dairy foods. Decoration of homes and synagogues with greenery.
|type=Jewish
|significance=One of the Three Pilgrim Festivals. Celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments by God to the Children of Israel at Mount Sinai, 50 days after the Exodus from ancient Egypt. Commemorates the wheat harvest and the offering of the first-fruits in the Land of Israel. Culmination of the 49 days of Counting of the Omer.
|relatedto=Passover which precedes Shavuot.
}}
'Shavuot', also spelled 'Shavuos' (Hebrew: שבועות (Israeli Heb. [ʃa·vu·'ʕot], Ashkenazi [ʃə·'vu·əs]) "[Feast of] Weeks"), is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (corresponding to late May/early June). It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and the day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. It is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim) mandated by the Torah.
Unlike the other two pilgrimage festivals (Passover and Sukkot), the date on
which Shavuot occurs is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Rather, its
occurrence is directly linked to the occurrence of Passover. Beginning on the
second day of Passover, the Torah mandates a 49-day (seven-week) counting period
(the Counting of the Omer), which culminates in the 50th day, Shavuot. This
counting of days and weeks expresses anticipation and desire for the Giving of
the Torah. At Passover, the Jewish people were freed from being slaves to
Pharaoh; at Shavuot they accepted the Torah and became a nation committed to
serving God.
Shavuot has many aspects and as a consequence is called by several names. In the
Torah it is called 'Feast of Weeks' (Hebrew: חג השבועות, Hag ha-
Shavuot, Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10); 'Festival of Reaping' (Hebrew: חג
הקציר, Hag ha-Katsir, Ex. 23:16), and 'Day of the First Fruits' (Hebrew
יום הבכורים, Yom ha-Bikkurim, Numbers 28:26). The Mishnah and Talmud
refer to Shavuot as 'Atzeret' (Hebrew: עצרת, a solemn assembly), as it
provides closure for the festival activities during and following the holiday of
Passover. Since Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Christians gave it the
name Pentecost (πεντηκόστη, "fiftieth [day]"). However, the actual
Christian commemoration of Pentecost occurs on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
In modern Israel and among Karaite and Reform Jews, Shavuot is celebrated for
one day. In the Jewish diaspora outside Israel, the holiday is celebrated for
two days, on the sixth and seventh days of Sivan.
more ...
 Simhat Torah
'שמחת תורה'
|nickname=Translation: "Rejoicing with/of the Torah" |observedby=Judaism and
Jews |date=23rd (in Israel 22nd) day of Tishrei |celebrations=Dancing in
synagogue as all the Torah scrolls are carried around in a circle seven times.
|type=Jewish |significance=The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. Final
Parsha from Deuteronomy is read in synagogue. Everyone called to the Torah
reading. Conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Rejoicing with the Torah.
|relatedto=Culmination of Sukkot (Tabernacles) }}
'Simchat Torah' (שמחת תורה) is a Hebrew term which means "rejoicing
with/of the Torah". The annual cycle of reading the Torah is completed and begun
anew, with the last section of Deuteronomy and the first section of Genesis read
in succession after a festival parade of the Torah scrolls amidst singing,
dancing and (typically) a moderate consumption of alcohol. It is one of the
happiest days in the Jewish calendar.
more ...
 St. Patrick's Day
's Day
|image=Chicago River dyed green, focus on river.jpg
|caption=The Chicago River, dyed green for the 2005 St. Patrick's Day celebration.
|observedby=Irish people
Irish citizens
Roman Catholics
Many others take part in some practices
|date=March 17
|celebrations=Parades
Wearing of green
Drinking of alcohol
|longtype=National, Ethnic, Christian
|type=Christian
|significance=Catholic feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland
}}
.
'Saint Patrick's Day' (Irish: Lá 'le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially 'Paddy's Day', is the feast day which annually celebrates Saint Patrick (386-493), the patron saint of Ireland, on March 17. It is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland (a bank holiday in Northern Ireland); the overseas territory of Montserrat; and the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by
many of non-Irish descent. Celebrations are generally themed around all things
green and Irish; both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular
version of the holiday by wearing green, eating Irish food and imbibing Irish
drink, and attending parades. The St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, Ireland is
part of a five day festival, with over 500,000 people attending the 2006 parade.
The largest St. Patrick's Day parade is held in New York City and it is watched
by 2 million spectators. The St. Patrick's day parade was first held in New York
City on March 17, 1756 when the Irish soldiers marched through the city. Parades
also take place in other Irish towns and villages. Other large parades include
those in Belfast, Manchester, Birmingham, London, Coatbridge, Montreal, Boston,
Chicago, Kansas City, Savannah, Denver and Scranton and Toronto. Large parades
also take place in other places throughout Europe and the Americas, as well as
Australia and Asia.
As well as being a celebration of Irish culture, Saint Patrick's Day is a
Christian festival celebrated in the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland
(among other churches in the Anglican Communion) and some other denominations.
The day always falls in the season of Lent. In church calendars (though rarely
in secular ones) Saint Patrick's Day is moved to the following Monday when it
falls on a Sunday. It is traditional for those observing a lenten fast to break
it for the duration of Saint Patrick's Day.[http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/stpatricksday/?page=history
"The History of the Holiday." History Channel. (URL accessed March 15,
2006)]
In many parts of North America, Britain, and Australia, expatriate Irish, those
of Irish descent, and ever-growing crowds of people with no Irish connections
but who may proclaim themselves "Irish for a day" also celebrate St. Patrick's
Day, usually by drinking alcoholic beverages (lager dyed green, Irish beer and
stout, such as Murphys, Smithwicks, Harp or Guinness, or Irish whiskey, Irish
Cider, Irish Coffee or Baileys Irish Cream) and by wearing at least one article
of green-colored clothing.
more ...
 Sukkot
'סוכות' or
'סֻכּוֹת'
English translation: "Booths" or "Tabernacles"
|nickname=Festival of Ingathering (i.e. the harvest festival) |observedby=Jews
in Judaism |begins=15th day of Tishrei |ends=22nd day of Tishrei (until 21st in
Israel) |date2006=sunset, October 6 to sunset, October 13 / 14
|date2007=sunset, September 26 to sunset, October 3 / 4
|date2008=sunset, October 13 to sunset, October 20 / 21
|date2009=sunset, October 2 to sunset, October 9 / 10
|date2010=sunset, September 22 to sunset, September 29 / 30
|observances=Living in the #The_sukkah|sukkah, waving the Four Species,
dancing hakafot in Synagogue. |type=Jewish |significance=One of the three
pilgrim festivals. God protected the Children of Israel in booths after the
Exodus. Time of rejoicing with the end of judgment after Yom Kippur. |relatedto=
Shemini Atzeret (Eight Day of Assembly) & Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of/with the
Torah), the three pilgrim festivals }} 'Sukkot' (סוכות or סֻכּוֹת
sukkōt, also transliterated as 'Succoth' or 'Sukkos', (Hebrew: "booths")) and
also known as the 'Feast of Booths', the 'Feast of Tabernacles', 'Tabernacles',
or the 'Feast of Ingathering', is a Biblical pilgrimage festival that occurs in
autumn on the 15th day of the month of Tishri (early- to late-October). In
Judaism it is one of the three major holidays known collectively as the three
pilgrim festivals|Shloshet ha-Regalim (three pilgrim festivals), when
historically the Jewish populace travelled to the Temple in Jerusalem.
The word 'Sukkot' is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning booth or hut.
During this holiday, Jews are instructed to construct a temporary structure in
which to eat their meals, entertain guests, relax, and even sleep. The sukkah is
remininscent of the type of huts in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during
their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, and is
intended to reflect God's benevolence in providing for all the Jews' needs in
the desert.
In Israel (and among Reform Jews), Sukkot is a 7-day holiday, with the first day
celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals.
Outside the land of Israel, the first two days are celebrated as full festivals.
The remaining days are known as Chol HaMoed (festival weekdays). The seventh
day of Sukkot is called Hoshanah Rabbah and has a special observance of its own.
The day immediately following Sukkot is a separate holiday known as Shemini
Atzeret, "the Eighth (Day) of Assembly." In Israel, the celebration of Shemini
Atzeret includes Simchat Torah. Outside the land of Israel, Shemini Atzeret
is celebrated on the day after Sukkot and Simchat Torah is celebrated on the day
after that, bringing the total days of festivities to eight in Israel and nine
outside Israel.
more ...
 Sweetest Day
'Sweetest Day' is an observance celebrated primarily in the Great Lakes region and parts of the Northeast United States on the third Saturday in October[http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/21/Floridian/A_sweet_day_for_Hallm.shtml St Petersburg Times]. It is described by Retail Confectioners International, as "much more important for candymakers in some regions than in others (Detroit, Cleveland and Buffalo being the biggest Sweetest Day cities)" and an "occasion which offers all of us an opportunity to remember not only the sick, aged and orphaned, but also friends, relatives and associates whose helpfulness and kindness we have enjoyed."[http://www.retailconfectioners.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=60196&module_id=3418 Retail Confectioners International -- Sweetest Day] Sweetest Day has also been referred to as a "concocted promotion"[The Cleveland Plain Dealer October 15, 2005] created by the candy industry solely to increase sales of candy. Persistent claims have also been made that Sweetest Day was manufactured by the American Greetings Company or Hallmark Cards in order to boost sales. In 2006, Hallmark marketed 151 greeting card designs for Sweetest Day. American Greetings marketed 178.[http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06/10/21/sweetest.day.html Mount Vernon News]
more ...
 Tax Day
'Tax Day' is the day that income taxes are due from most employed American
citizens. Although income tax was first collected once during the civil war, it
was not collected yearly until 1913 when the 16th Amendment was added to the
Constitution giving Congress the legal authority to tax people's incomes. It has
been on April 15 but in the event that it falls on a weekend or holiday it moves
to the next closest Monday or business day.
more ...
 Thanksgiving
's Day which conclude the American holiday
season, and Columbus Day. |nickname=Turkey Day |date=October {{Second monday in
october}} (Canada)
November {{fourth thursday in november}} (USA)
}}
:For'thanksgiving' as a religious or theological idea, see gratitude.
:For'Thanksgiving', the band fronted by Adrian Orange, see Thanksgiving (band).
:For the British tradition of'Thanksgiving''', see Harvest festival.
'Thanksgiving', or 'Thanksgiving Day' is an annual one-day holiday to give
thanks (traditionally to God) at the close of the harvest season. In the United
States, Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. In
Canada, it is celebrated on the second Monday in October. In the United Kingdom,
Thanksgiving is another name for the Harvest festival, held in churches across
the land on a relevant Sunday to mark the end of the local harvest. This
tradition was taken to North America by early settlers.
more ...
 Thanksgiving - Canada
more ...
 Tu B'Shvat
's tithes
|relatedto=Rosh Hashanah, the new year for the Jewish calendar
|date2006=February 13 |date2007=February 3 |date2008=January 22
|date2009=February 9 |date2010=January 30 |date2011=January 20
|date2012=February 8 |date2013=January 26 |date2014=January 16
|date2015=February 4 |date2016=January 25 |date2017=February 11
|date2018=January 31 |date2019=January 21 |date2020=February 10 }}
'Tu Bishvat' (or 'Tu Bi'Shevat') (ט"ו בשבט) is a minor Jewish holiday
(meaning there are no restrictions on working) and one of the four Rosh
Hashanahs ("New Years") mentioned in the Mishnah, the basis of the Talmud. Tu
Bishvat is the Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot (ראש השנה לאילנות ) "new
year of the trees". The name Tu Bishvat comes from the date of the holiday, the
15th day of Shevat (שבט). Shevat is the name of a Hebrew calendar month and
ט"ו, read as "Tu," is how the number 15 is represented by Hebrew numerals
using the Hebrew alphabet. Haredi Jews call the day by its original full name,
Hamishah Asar BeShevat (חמישה-עשר בשבט) - "The Fifteenth of Shevat".
s are derived from grapes
more ...
 Valentine's Day
's Day |image=Valentines Day
Chocolates from 2005.jpg |caption=Saint Valentine |observedby=Western and Western-
influenced cultures |date=February 14 |official_name=St Valentine's Day
|observances=Sending greeting cards and gifts, dating. |type=christianity
|longtype=cultural, multinational |significance=Lovers express their feelings to
each other |relatedto=The Night of Sevens, a Chinese holiday that also relates
to love. }} 'Saint Valentine's Day' or 'Valentine's Day' falls on February 14.
It is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by
sending Valentine's cards, often anonymously. The holiday is named after two
men, both Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with
romantic love in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love
flourished.
The day is now most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in
the form of "valentines". Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped
outline and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten
notes have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards. The Greeting Card
Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each
year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the
year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase
approximately 85 percent of all valentines.
In the United States, the marketing of Valentine's Day has tagged it as a
"Hallmark holiday".
more ...
 Veteran's Day
's Day |nickname=Armistice Day |observedby=United States
|date=November 11 (or nearest weekday) |observances=Parades, school history
projects, shopping |longtype=Federal (and most U.S. states) |type=national
|significance=Honors the 24.9 million military veterans in the United States
|relatedto=Armistice Day }}
'Veterans Day' is the American name for the international day called
'Armistice Day'. It falls on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of
the armistice that ended World War I. It is both a federal holiday and a state
holiday in all states. The same day is observed elsewhere as Remembrance Day or
Armistice Day. All major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the
11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of
the Armistice. Armistice Day was first commemorated in the United States by
President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, and many states made it a legal holiday.
Congress passed a resolution in 1926 inviting all Americans to observe the day
and made it a legal holiday nationwide in 1938.
The holiday has been observed annually on November 11 since that date - first as
Armistice Day, later as Veterans Day. When holidays in the United States, with
the exception of New Year's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Independence Day
were moved to Mondays to create long holiday weekends, the celebration was moved
to the fourth Monday of October. However, after protests by veterans groups it
was moved back to November 11th in an effort to make the holiday more important.
Unfortunately for those groups, the result was the opposite. Even though it is a
federal and state holiday, it is formally observed in most parts of the United
States only by government offices and banks. Most schools and almost all
businesses stay open on regular schedules. As a result, most public transit
systems are on regular schedules. Most businesses cite the holiday's proximity
to Thanksgiving (when many businesses close for a four-day weekend) as the main
reason for staying open on Veterans Day; but most schools and businesses also
stay open on Columbus Day, a full month earlier.
On November 11, 1953, the citizens of Emporia, Kansas staged a Veterans Day
observance in lieu of an Armistice Day remembrance. Congressman Ed Rees of
Emporia, Kansas subsequently introduced legislation in the United States House
of Representatives to officially change the name of Armistice Day to Veterans
Day http://www.patriotism.org/veterans_day/. Following a letter-writing
campaign to secure the support of all state governors in the observance of this
new holiday, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day (enacted June
1, 1954), to honor those who served.
The day has since evolved as a time for honoring living veterans who have served
in the military during wartime or peacetime, partially to complement Memorial
Day, which primarily honors the dead. There has been some discussion of whether
a person's veteran status depends upon his/her retirement or discharge from any
of the armed forces. However, the term applies to any that have honorably served
their country or that have served in a war zone as directed by their superior
officers or as directed by lawful orders given by their country.
more ...
 Yom Kippur
'יום כיפור' or 'יום הכיפורים'
|nickname=Day of Atonement |observedby=Judaism and Jews |date=10th day of
Tishrei |observances=Fasting, prayer |type=Jewish |significance=Judgment day for
individuals and all people. Day of Atonement for sins, and for the Golden calf.
|relatedto=Rosh Hashanah, which precedes Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, which follows
Yom Kippur. |date2006=sunset, October 1 – sunset, October 2 |date2007=sunset,
September 21 – sunset, September 22 |date2008=sunset, October 8 – sunset,
October 9 |date2009=sunset, September 27 – sunset, September 28
|date2010=sunset, September 17 – sunset, September 18 |date2011=sunset,
October 7 – sunset, October 8 }}
'Yom Kippur' (; Hebrew:'יום כיפור', ) is the Jewish holiday of the 'Day
of Atonement'. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, the
seventh[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=2093&letter=A
Atonement: Day Of] of the Religious
Calendar.[http://biblicalholidays.com/Excerpts/hebrew_calendar.htm Biblical
Holidays: The Hebrew Calendar] (Leviticus 23:27-28) The Bible calls the
day Yom HaKippurim (Hebrew, "Day of the Atonements"). It is one of the Yamim
Noraim (Hebrew, "Days of Awe"). The day is commemorated with a 25-hour fast
and intensive prayer.
more ...
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