Memorial Day

In Flander's Field
by John McCrae

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow,
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky,
The larks, still bravely singing, fly,
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead.
Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved and now we lie,
In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you, from failing hands, we throw,
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us, who die,
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow,
In Flanders Fields.

Vesakha (Buddha) Day

The moment of revealing four noble truths by Buddha 2600 years ago to his first 5 disciples.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo performers at the White House

Birthdays!

A birthday cake and candles with the traditional English greeting

May Day Traditions

Making a Maypole at home is easy

Arbor Day

Large live oak, called the "Big Tree," found in Goose Island State Park in Rockport, Texas

Royal Wedding Trees

Trees inside Westminster Abbey, photo by BBC.

Beltane

Beltane fire festival Beastie Drummers, 2006

Text about Beltane here...

Walpurgis Night

Walpurgisnacht in Heidelberg

Preparing for May Day

Red Hat Society Day

Red Hat ladies plotting world domination.

"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth."
~~Jenny Joseph, from "Warning" (1961)

Easter

Easter eggs dyed in a rainbow of colors.

St. George's Day

Saint George oil painting by Raphael

Good Friday

Icon of the Crucifixion, 16th century, byTheophanes the Cretan (Stavronikita Monastery, Mount Athos)

Earth Day

A bee looks for pollen in the spring daffodils.

Earth Day began in the United States in 1970 as a way to bring public attention to environmental and conservation issues.  Since that time, Earth Day celebrations have spread worldwide with an estimated 1billion people participating in some way.

Towns, cities, and states often have celebrations in large public areas such as parks with the focus on ways that individuals can positively impact the environment through recycling, conservation, composting, energy reduction and other topics.  As "going green" has become a more mainstream concept in the United States, many families routinely make small changes in their daily lives in order to better preserve limited natural resources.

How are you planning on observing Earth Day?  Will you head over to a park in your neighborhood to celebrate the Earth?

Holy Thursday (Also known as Maundy Thursday)

Christ Washing the Feet of the Apostlesby Meister des Hausbuches, 1475 (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin).

The Thursday prior to Easter commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ detailed in the Christian Bible.  A ceremony devoted to the washing of the feet is traditional in many Christian Churches.  This practice is a beautiful one that invites all participants to be both the servant and the served.  The act of feet washing allows the washer to feel humility & submission while being of service to others while at the same time honors the person whose feet are being washed.

In ancient civilizations, where sandals were the primary footwear, walking could be dusty business.  In order to honor guests, good hosts would provide water for feet washing and often a servant to clean the feet.  To show respect and honor the guest, a host might choose to do the washing themselves.  It appears that this custom was the root of the Biblical passage in the Gospel of John 13: 1-15 that many churches base this ceremony on.

In our daily lives, ceremonies that teach us both humility and honor are few & far between.  Could you show your appreciation and respect for  your friends and family in some novel way?

San Jacinto Day

San Jacinto Battle Flag

In Texas, traditions loom large.  When your state was once a separate country, there's a level of pride in place & heritage that sometimes surpasses any reasonable expectations.

Each April 21, reenactors gather at the San Jacinto Monument outside Houston to commemorate the climactic battle in the Texas Revolution when Sam Houston's outnumbered but motivated forces managed to soundly defeat the Mexican army commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Santa Anna, who was then the President of Mexico, was captured and held for three weeks until he signed the peace treaty that led to the Republic of Texas becoming an independent country.

What local historical traditions can you share with your family & friends?  Marking important milestones in history allow us all to feel connected to the passage of time & experience our daily lives in the context of larger events.  Take a moment to explore the history of your town or state; you'll find lots worth celebrating and almost certainly learn something you never expected to discover!