CorriePersian New Year, also called Norooz or Nowruz, was originally a Zoroastrian festival, is today celebrated by Iranian people around the world and marks the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. and the beginning of the new year. In 2013, Norooz falls on March 20. Norooz is a joyous occasion filled with activities including spring cleaning, … Read more
Pi Day occurs annually on March 14, which also happens to be Albert Einstein’s birthday. On this day, math geeks, mathletes, professors, teachers, students, and anyone interested in celebrating mathematics come together to eat pie and pizza (and have pie eating contests), play games, party, sing songs, and tell jokes and stories about pi – … Read more
National Doctors’ Day was proclaimed an official holiday by U.S. President George H.W. Bush in 1991 and is observed annually on March 30. Doctors’ Day honors all physicians who make a difference in the lives of their patients every day. The date of the observance – March 30 – is the date the first general … Read more
In the United States, March 1 is National Pig Day, a time to celebrate America’s favorite barnyard animal – the pig! The holiday originated in Texas and quickly spread to include official celebrations in several Midwestern states. Why do people love pigs? They’re pink and round, they make funny noises, sometimes come in spots, are … Read more
National Tooth Fairy Day in the United States is February 28 a day set aside to honor the tradition observed by many parents when a child begins to lose their baby or “milk” teeth at around age five or six. Although rituals about the disposal of children’s teeth have ancient origins, and people in many … Read more
In the United States, Presidents Day – the third Monday in February – is a federal holiday which used to be called Washington’s Birthday, and originally celebrated the birthday of the first American president, George Washington. Today, Presidents Day honors all U.S. presidents, although Washington and Abraham Lincoln (who also has a birthday in February) … Read more
Valentine’s Day is observed on February 14 each year in North America, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, and France. The holiday has surprisingly ancient origins, and may have its beginning in the Roman festival of Lupercalia. The later martyrdom of two Christian clerics named Valentine caused the Catholic Church to declare the feast day of … Read more
Groundhog Day is celebrated every February 2 in the United States. Each year, Punxsutawney Phil in Philadelphia and other groundhogs (and occasionally prairie dogs) across the nation are coaxed of their holes. According to folklore, if the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. However, if he doesn’t, an early … Read more
The New Year for Trees, Tu B’Shevat, begins in 2013 on the evening of January 25 and ends the evening of January 26. This is a period when, according to Jewish tithing law, the age of fruit trees is calculated. Tu B’Shevat is also known as the Jewish Arbor Day. It’s become the custom in … Read more
January is National Blood Donor Month, a time when many individuals and organizations highlight the urgent need for volunteer blood donations. Most healthy people are eligible to give blood, but less than 10% of eligible potential donors actually do so. Every day, patients in hospitals and treatment facilities receive blood transfusions. Without the donations of … Read more