Dyeing Easter eggs is a long-standing tradition that goes back hundreds of years. It is believed that Persians first colored eggs, followed by ancient Egyptians and then Greeks. In all of these cultures, colored eggs were exchanged to celebrate the arrival of spring. Eventually, colored eggs became a symbol of fertility and rebirth of nature. The idea of dyeing eggs was brought into the […]
Its Mardi Gras week and many people are ready to join the festivities in their area. Mardi Gras celebrations have been around in the United States since the early 1700s, and are most commonly associated with New Orleans. The name Mardi Gras literally translates into “Fat Tuesday,” which is happening this year on March 5, and always on the day before Ash Wednesday. It […]
Today is National Fruitcake Day! Are you Team Fruitcake or Team No Way?? Fruitcake is found more often this time of year than at any other time, as it’s traditionally associated with the holiday season. The slightly sweet cake is made with candied or dried fruit pieces, nuts and spices. Many people make and/or gift fruitcake to friends, neighbors and loved ones. But it is […]
Thanksgiving is upon us, friends. And that means that the Black Friday madness is sure to follow. The day after Thanksgiving, or Black Friday, is traditionally the day that kicks off the holiday shopping season in America. It’s a day when stores lower prices, offer crazy discounts and open early or even stay open all night. The term “Black Friday” refers to an […]
June 14 is Flag Day in America. It’s a day to hang your stars and stripes to show respect and unity for our country. But do you know how Flag Day came to be? June 14, 1777 is the day that the United States officially adopted the flag as its national symbol. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed a presidential proclamation that designated June 14 […]
While the calendar tells us that spring is here, the weather outside lately has been telling us something to the contrary. We are certainly used to seeing lots of rainy days in April, but the cooler temps are not always welcome. Everyone knows that “April showers bring May flowers,” so if we can just hold on for sunnier days ahead… There happens to […]
Even if you don’t own a calendar, you can tell it’s almost Valentine’s Day just by stepping into any store or turning on the television. Yes, February 14 is upon us, so it’s best to be prepared. While there is no exact timeline to determine when Valentine’s Day started, it can be traced back to early religious celebrations of Saint Valentinus. In 18th Century England, […]
The second day of February is Groundhog Day in the United States. If that conjures up visions of Bill Murray in your head, you are not alone. In fact, the 1993 movie Groundhog Day does a pretty accurate job of capturing some of the excitement and events surrounding the holiday in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. As you probably know, Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow every year […]
For many people, this time of year is filled with making lists, travel, sweet treats and a busy social calendar. It also means that people will be feeling the effects of lighter wallets, too. Holiday spending (and often overspending) is something that happens to a lot of Americans this time of year. We shop for our families, for our employees and maybe even a […]
With Veterans Day coming up this week, we thought this would be a great chance to learn more about how the holiday started and why it’s observed in the United States. Veterans Day was actually established as “Armistice Day” in 1919, which marked the end of World War I, and eventually became a national holiday in 1938. President Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change […]