Dates to Celebrate Mother's Day Around the World

In the USA and Canada, Mother's Day is celebrated every second Sunday in the month of May.  This year the date is May 9, 2021.  Below are the Mother's Day dates by other countries for the year 2021.

Image credit:  Mom Gifts for Mother's Day and other special ocassions

- February 14: Norway

- March 3: Georgia

- March 8: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Bulgaria, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.

- March 14: Ireland and United Kingdom

- March 21: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria

- April 7: Armenia

- May 2: Angola, Spain, Hungary, Lithuania, Portugal, South Africa.

- May 8: South Korea

- May 9. Germany, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Brazil, Belgium, Chile, China, Canada, Colombia (except Norte de Santander), Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, United States, Estonia, Philippines, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Honduras, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Peru, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela.

- May 10: Belize, Qatar, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Guatemala, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Pakistan, Singapore

- May 14: Samoa

- May 15: Paraguay

- May 26: Poland

- May 27: Bolivia

- May 30: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Haiti, Sweden, Norte de Santander (Colombia), France, Tunisia

- August 12: Thailand

- August 15: Antwerp and Costa Rica

- October 14: Belarus

- October 17: Argentina

-November 16: North Korea

- November 28: Russia

- December 8: Panama

- December 22: Indonesia

• NOTE:  South Koreans do not celebrate Mother's Day or Father's Day. Instead, each year on May 8 they recognize Parent's Day. 

Whatever the specific day is in which you honor your mother, who would disagree that our mothers are worthy of double honor all year long?

Original Content Source: Found on Noise.Cash, posted by ferniruman

Holidays and Celebrations: Why I Don't Celebrate Kwanzaa?

The holiday or tradition called Kwanzaa celebrates seven (7) principles:

* Unity

* Self-Determination

* Collective Work and Responsibility

* Cooperative Economics

* Purpose

* Creativity

* Faith

It was established by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, USA.  Many people who do not consider themselves African-American or of African descent do not celebrate this holiday.  In other words, *It’s a black thang!*

It’s not really.  Just look at the principles in the list.  *Are they not applicable to all humankind?*

Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th through January 1st.

Like the Christmas holiday, it also includes gift-giving, a gathering of family and friends, and good eating!

There are those who object to or disagree with celebrating Kwanzaa.

They feel that instead of promoting unity, it encourages division, more specifically racial division.  Some say it was just made up for people who don’t want to celebrate Christmas and don’t want to acknowledge Jesus Christ or Christianity in any way.  There are other reasons but these two have been mentioned most often.

Here's why I don’t celebrate Kwanzaa.  

My reasons are very practical.  By the time the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays are over, I’ve usually run out of money!  Also, it was not a tradition I grew up with and since I practice the Kwanzaa principles so many other ways in my life already, I see no need to add on a new holiday.

I think that Peace and Goodwill could have been incorporated into the list of principles.

However, one might argue that those principles are under the umbrella of “Unity”.

OK!  I wouldn’t cause a division or split hairs over it.  

Overall, I like the concept of this holiday and can appreciate the symbolism. Especially!  I really like the candles.  I’m a candle lover!

Reference and Image Credit:  Holiday Calendar: Kwanzaa.

"The symbols of Kwanzaa include crops (mzao) which represent the historical roots of African-Americans in agriculture and also the reward for collective labor. The mat (mkeka) lays the foundation for self-actualization. The candle holder (kinara) reminds believers in the ancestral origins in one of 55 African countries. Corn/maize (muhindi) signifies children and the hope associated in the younger generation. Gifts (Zawadi) represent commitments of the parents for the children. The unity cup (Kkimbe cha Umoja) is used to pour libations to the ancestors. Finally, the seven candles (mishumaa saba) remind participants of the several principles and the colors in flags of African liberation movements -- 3 red, 1 black, and 3 green."

Quote Reference:  Edited by Dr. Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D., Kwanzaa- What Is It?, The Africa Center, University of Pennsylvania, Mar. 1990, www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Kwanzaa_What_16661.html.

Suggested #reading to encourage #culturaldiversity in children or yourself. “Together for Kwanzaa” by Juwanda G. Ford ~ https://t.co/mYspRqiv5G ~ #Kwanzaa is celebrated from Dec 26th through Jan 1st. #giftsunder5dollars #reading #booksforchildren #holidaysandcelebrations

— My Fox Nooze (aka Joie de Vivre Magazine) (@FoxMarks_ATX) January 3, 2020

Halloween History, Traditions and Superstitions

Presenting a quick discussion highlighting some interesting and fun facts about the Halloween holiday; mainly, its history and the superstitious beliefs associated with it.

The History (and My History) of Halloween

I attended Catholic school and can remember that one of my teachers was very adamant about NOT celebrating the Halloween holiday. She insisted that it supported pagan practices and traditions and it was a work of the devil. I did not want to disrespectful so I did what most well-mannered and well-behaved children did when their teachers said things they did not believe or agree with. I ignored her. Hey! I just wanted a pumpkin full of candy! LOL.  Plus, I enjoyed making jack-o-lanterns with my big sister.

But as an adult, I was a little curious about the history of Halloween. It turns out my teacher was right. It was derived from pagan customs. More specifically, it is a modification of activities associated with an ancient Celtic ritual of Samhain, which was a festival that celebrated the changing of the seasons from summer to winter. Uumm? That doesn’t exactly sound devilish.

Amanda Pagan wrote a post titled “A Brief History of Halloween”, which was published in the official blog for the New York Public Library. Her explanation of the holiday’s history is very colorful. As it is a library blog, she also provided a list of a dozen books as recommended reading if you want to know more. Halloween may have had religious import or application in the beginning but as of today, for most people (including me), the day no religious significance at all. It’s just a day set aside for apple-bobbing, eating tricks and treats, visiting haunted houses that simultaneously frighten you and make you laugh, dressing up in funny costumes, and maybe binge-watching some scary movies. Nothing more.

Halloween Superstitions

Black cats, witches, and pumpkins? Oh my! Where do all of these superstitions come from? Obviously, since the holiday is derived from a Celtic ritual, the superstitions that are prevalent to this day have Celtic roots. I personally don’t believe these superstitions, especially not the one about black cats being bad luck. Some believed black cats were witches in disguise or witches reborn or they were just witch-helpers. If you do the research you will find a lot of information pertaining to all of the folklore about black cats. You’ll find everything except the name of the person who started it!

There are numerous superstitions linked to this holiday. If you are interested in an explanation of the various beliefs about everything from bats and black cats to ghosts and spirits to spiders and trick or treat, check out this “Guide to Halloween Superstitions”.

* * *

Fun Links of Interest:

Halloween History – How Halloween Has Traveled the Globe | SAPIENS

The History of Halloween: A timeline through the centuries | Make It Grateful

Samhain Folklore, Superstitions and Legends | Learn Religions

12 (Mostly) Spooky Halloween Superstitions | Mental Floss

Original Source

1. Halloween has been around longer for 2,000 years. Dating back to an ancient Celt festival called Samhain, the exact origins of Halloween is challenging to pin down since many religions have adopted their own versions. However, it is widely accepted that Halloween has always been a day to honor the dead and ward off evil spirits.
2. Irish immigrants popularized the holiday in the United States! During the potato famine, Irish immigrants introduced several Halloween traditions to neighboring communities. 
3. Halloween is the 2nd largest commercialized holiday. In 2020 Americans spent approximately $8 billion alone. The majority being on costumes and candy, imagine that!
4. Illinois is the pumpkin state! Every year, Illinois farmers pump out approximately 500 million pounds of gourds! 
5. Skittles are American's #1 trick or treat candy! Skittles have ranked #1 for the past 11 years. I mean, who doesn't love them?
6. The City of Keene, New Hampshire holds the Guinness World Record for the most lit jack-o'-lanterns on display (a whopping 30,581).

Source for these 6 Halloween Fun Facts.

Holidays and Celebrations: Do You Celebrate Japanese New Year?

The beauty of the United States of America is in its diversity.  People of different ethic groups and/or nationalities celebrate holidays and traditions that other groups are not even aware of.  But it's cool when I find out about them.  For example, I had a lot of Chinese friends so I learned to check every year to determine when Chinese New Year would occur.  My Japanese friends never mentioned their new year celebration.  But now I think I know why.

• The Japanese New Year (正月, Shōgatsu) is an annual festival with its own customs. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day (元日, Ganjitsu). However, some traditional events of the Japanese New Year are partially celebrated on the first day of the year on the modern Tenpō calendar, the last official lunisolar calendar which was used until 1872 in Japan.  (Source:  Wikipedia)  

It's January 1st, same day as America's New Year.  However, the traditions are different.  In case you didn't know, Japanese New Year is the most important holiday in Japan.  Did you know the kadomatsu (image below) is a traditional decoration for the new year holiday?

Other customs and traditions include bell-ringing in the Buddhist temples on New Year's Eve, sending postcards (just like sending Christmas cards), children receiving gifts of money from adults, and various forms of entertainment and of course ... great food!!

I subscribe to a newsletter called "Just One Cookbook". The publisher shares easy Japanese recipes. In the newsletter I received for the week ending December 4, 2020, she shared lots of information in order for you to prepare for Japanese New Year!

• ​What is Oshogatsu​
• ​Menu Roundup​
• ​A 5-Day Osechi Cooking Timelime​
• ​How to Pack Osechi Ryori​
• ​Popular Side Dishes & Desserts to Serve with Osechi Ryori

* * *

Planning to celebrate Japanese New Year?

Whatever you're celebrating Happy Holidays!

**

Do You Celebrate Persian New Year?

Do You Celebrate Chinese New Year?

How American Presidents Helped Create the Thanksgiving Holiday (Guest Post)

Presidential Thanksgiving Facts

Did you know that no one knows the exact date the first Thanksgiving meal was celebrated on? The best historians could come up with was somewhere in the fall of 1621. So how did Thanksgiving become a national holiday designated on the last Thursday of November? The answers to these questions are deep within the history of United States politics.

Did you know that no one knows the exact date the first Thanksgiving meal was celebrated on? The best historians could come up with was somewhere in the fall of 1621. So how did Thanksgiving become a national holiday designated on the last Thursday of November? The answers to these questions are deep within the history of United States politics.

George Washington made the first proclamation of Thanksgiving in 1789. The proclamation was not to give thanks to the pilgrims but to give public thanks and prayers for the ability to peacefully establish a form of government for their safety and happiness. George Washington then again made the proclamation in 1795. Then New York officially made Thanksgiving Day as an annual holiday in 1817.

Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to become the national bird but Thomas Jefferson had opposed it. And it is believed that Benjamin Franklin then decided to name the male turkey 'tom' to spite Thomas Jefferson's rejection of his idea. Thomas Jefferson did offer proclamations of Thanksgiving as governor but was hesitant to do so as president as he believed in the separation of church and state.

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln set aside the last Thursday of November as the day to celebrate Thanksgiving by giving his proclamation to the nation where by he asked for his fellow citizens to give prayer and public thanks. His proclamation was about giving thanks for the bounties which the United States enjoyed as well as population growth but to also give prayer that the civil war will come to an end and bring unity back to the nations in peace and prosperity.

When the United States fell into the great depression, it was upon President Roosevelt's shoulder to lead a nation through difficult times. In 1939 President Roosevelt restored Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November in an effort to extend the Christmas shopping season to stimulate the economy. In 1941 Congress passed legislation to declare Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday and is to be celebrated on the last Thursday of November every year.

2008 has proven to be an historic year in politics with so many firsts. So as you sit around the dinner table celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends, just like the Pilgrims before us. Don't forget to also give thanks to the Presidents and Congress in history for make Thanksgiving Day and national Holiday.

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
Family Articles | March 18, 2009

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lillian G. W. is a marketing executive for global consumer brands, media, and high tech businesses. She loves writing about shopping, product reviews, fashion, travel, green innovation, arts & entertainment. She spots consumer trends, explores and assembles ideas, and provides creative solutions to business challenges. She writes for IMshopping.com.

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Recapping 2019 My Top Tweets From A to Z

During 2019, for a period of several weeks, I published a post series at Virily titled "Top 5 Tweets".  These were tweets I selected because the tweeters shared content of interest to me which I thought others might also find interesting.  I covered the entire alphabet:  A to Z.

Feel free to visit my post series "Top 5 Tweets".  If you don't have time to visit, below the alpha list find just a few of the tweets that I shared throughout the year of 2019.  The blogging experts were right with this tip.  It is fun to publish a post series.  I had a blast! ☺

~ Letter A ~ Letter B ~ Letter C ~ Letter D ~ Letter E ~ Letter F ~ Letter G ~ Letter H

~ Letter I ~ Letter J ~ Letter K ~ Letter L ~ Letter M ~ Letter N ~ Letter O ~ Letter P

~ Letter Q ~ Letter R ~ Letter S ~ Letter T ~ Letter U ~ Letter V ~ Letter W ~ Letter X ~ Letter Y ~ Letter Z

♦  Hashtag #Epitwitter

“Science Needs More Public Faces - Scientific American Blog Network”
... the hashtag #Epitwitter is a bonafide tool in accessing a large community ... It's use for #scientificcommunications can connect scientists everywhere via #socialmedia #SciComm ~ https://t.co/qngoSWGMLu pic.twitter.com/urkITAKFZf

— Treathyl Fox (@cmoneyspinner) July 1, 2019

♦  Hashtag #ownyourdata

Data rights are human rights. #ownyourdata

Facebook's role in Brexit — and the threat to democracy (Carole Cadwalladr | TED2019) https://t.co/HkWtcTq8tu via @TEDTalks

— Niels Op de Becq (@NielsOpdeBecq) September 7, 2019

♦  Hashtag #plantbased

This is big. Change is coming! #plantbased #vegan #climatechange https://t.co/9yXCQdZM6Z

— Joanna Jones (@JoannaJones6) September 17, 2019

♦  WHO ~ World Health Organization

For the first time, in the International Classification of Diseases #ICD11, WHO is classifying #gaming disorder as an addictive behaviour disorder so now we can measure how many people are affected https://t.co/6RX9SSZY1T pic.twitter.com/rOLxvVBcLL

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 12, 2019

♦  Politics:  Trump and Xi

'Trump and Xi Take Wall Street's Bulls for a Ride With All Time Market Highs'

See what's happening right now in the markets in real time here: https://t.co/kq23fu0Bcp#comic #cartoon #investingcom #investing #trump #usa #china #xi @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/4iUAhxRzDx

— Investing.com (@Investingcom) November 5, 2019

♦  Holiday Traditions ~ Trail of Lights

We're excited to partner with @ATXLights to help fight hunger during the holiday season. Their amazing light display is back from December 10-23. We'll be collecting healthy, non-perishable food donations at the trail for families in need. Start getting your donations ready! pic.twitter.com/4ETkTlfF56

— CentralTexasFoodBank (@CTXFoodBank) November 19, 2019

♦♦♦ 
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

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