Category: Seasonal
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Harriet Tubman: a Moses to her People
Harriet Tubman (1820? –1913) was an African American whose brave rescues helped hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom. She became the most famous leader of the Underground Railroad, a network that aided those fleeing to free states or Canada. Many called her Moses, after the Biblical figure who led the Jews out of Egypt.…
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The Remarkable Journey of Benjamin Boardley: From Slavery to Steam Engines
Early life Benjamin Boardley was born into slavery in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, in March 1830. It’s believed he learned to read and write by studying alongside his master’s children. Maryland State Manumission records show that his owner was John T. Hammond. As a teenager, Bradley worked in a printing office, where he revealed his…
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ROSA LEE PARKS
Rosa Lee Parks (1913–2005) was an African American woman who made history in 1955 by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Her quiet act of defiance sparked the civil rights movement in the United States. A seamstress by trade, Parks was arrested for breaking a city law…
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Understanding Tu B’Shevat: Jewish New Year for Trees
When Is Tu B´Shevat? Tu Bishvat: Tu B’Shevat (or Tu Bishvat) marks the “birthday of the fruit trees” under Jewish law, and is often celebrated by a symbolic meal and tree planting activities. This Jewish holiday occurrson the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot (ראש השנה לאילנות), literally “New Year to the Trees”. In…
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Candlemas Day
Candlemas Day, observed on February 2, is a Christian festival that celebrates the Presentation of the Lord, when baby Jesus was brought to the Temple by his parents in keeping with Jewish tradition. Falling 40 days after Christmas, it marks the close of the Christmas season.Candlemas gets its name from the old tradition of blessing…
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Understanding Groundhog Day: History and Traditions
Groundhog Day comes from a tradition brought to America by people from Germany and Great Britain. They believed it was a time to predict the weather for the next six weeks. According to legend, the groundhog, or woodchuck, wakes from its long winter sleep on February 2 and pokes its head out of its burrow.…
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Events in February: Fun Days and Historical Remembrances
This page gives a list of some Holidays and other events that occur in February. Some of the events are fun days. Others are for remembering only. Information is attached to many of the events. Have fun reading, learning, and/ or celebrating. February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, which…
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Celebrate Book Lovers Day: Key Dates for Readers
The content highlights various literary events and author birthdays throughout the year, encouraging reading and celebrating the contributions of writers, librarians, and literary characters.
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Understanding the Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross, also called the Way of the Cross, Way of Suffering, or Via Dolorosa, is a series of fourteen images depicting scenes from the day of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, each accompanied by prayers. It is inspired by the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, a traditional route symbolizing the path Jesus walked from…
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Comprender las Estaciones de la Cruz
El Vía Crucis, también llamado Camino de la Cruz, Camino del Dolor o Vía Dolorosa, es una serie de catorce imágenes que representan escenas del día de la crucifixión de Jesucristo, cada una acompañada de oraciones. Se inspira en la Vía Dolorosa de Jerusalén, una ruta tradicional que simboliza el camino que Jesús recorrió desde…