Relaunch of blog on January 1, 2015

I am taking the time between now and January 1, 2015 to gather the information I need to sustain this blog on a daily basis. I have tried to get information each day for the next days blog and this was not working then I tried to do next weeks but still found myself having problems keeping up do to things like travel.  So I feel I need to look for as much information a head of time as possible. I will keep adding things that I find up to the actual day and add those things to the daily post but want to have the time to contact people when I can to get their imput as well and with luck take this to the next level.

I do hope you will come back and take a look then and I may make some test posts between now and then to get more up to speed on my writing.

As always I would love to hear what holidays and festivals you like or know of, I don't need experts but people who enjoy learning and sharing experiences they have had or know about.

Have a great day!

Jeffrey

Independence Day Niger, August 3

A country in west central Africa that received its independence on August 3, 1960. Throughout the country there are festivals celebrating the independence but they have also repurposed this day to be an arbor day as well. Every person in the country is supposed to plant a tree to help fight desertification.

Virgen de los Angeles and Republic Day Macedonia, August 2

August 2

Virgen de los Angeles - Patron Saint of Costa Rica

On August 2, 1653, the story goes that a local woman found a representation of the Virgin Mary. She tried to take this somewhere and twice it reappeared back at the location where she found it. The people then built a shrine in the location where it was. In 1824, it was taken as the patron saint of Costa Rica. Many people from around the country will walk the distance from the capital to the shrine every year on this day, some 22 kilometers, some even making the last of the journey on their knees.

Happy Virgen de los Angeles!

Republic Day Macedonia

Celebrating two events that both happened on this day that contribute to the current country of Macedonia, located in part of the area that was once the Turkish Empire,  The first of these events was the Llinden Uprising in 1903, when for a short time there was a Macedonian Republic. Then in 1944, the first assembly of ASNOM, helped to establish what today is the current nation. The holiday has been celebrated since 1944. It also happens to fall on Saint Elijah day, a holiday that has been important in the area for many many years. On this day there will be a parade of horses from the Capital Skopje to where the Uprising happened, Krusevo.

Happy Republic Day Macedonia!

Celebration of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833, Minden Day and Yorkshire Day, August 1

August 1

Celebration of the Slavery Abolition Act 1833

This was the Act of Parliament of Great Britain that outlawed slavery in the British Empire save for a few areas that were covered by other acts. Today mostly celebrated as part of Carnival in the Caribbean, it still an important turning point in the West's understanding and treatment of their fellow human beings. In reality it only freed those who were six years and younger, but did mark the beginning of the end of slavery in the Empire.

Minden Day

Soldiers of certain British regiments wear roses on their head gear on this day to mark their regiments involvement during the Battle of Minden during the 7 years war in 1759. It was thought to be a turning point during the war.

Yorkshire Day

A day to celebrate the distinctive culture of the people of Yorkshire, the day was chosen to coincide with both Minden Day and the Abolition of Slavery. Minden Day as one of the regiments during the battle was from there and the Abolition of Slavery was because a key figure in the championing of the cause in the British Parliament was from Yorkshire.  Through out the county events happen to show off Yorkshire pride.

Happy Yorkshire Day

Ka Hae Hawaii day, July 31

Hawaii, having the distinction of being one of the only areas that the United States having been taken within it’s borders that had a reigning monarch at one time and diplomatic relationships throughout the world, the flag of Hawaii represents this. It is the only state flag that has the Union Flag of Great Britain in featured prominently and was used during its time as a Kingdom, republic and territory. A day to celebrate the flag of Hawaii was established as recently as 1990.

Happy Ka Hae Hawaii!