Americans have been celebrating Columbus Day since 1792. That year, New York City held the first Columbus Day celebration commemorating the 500th anniversary of Columbus landing in 1492. For decades and decades, American history books and school teaching told us Christopher Columbus discovered America. What those books and teachings did not give credit, to is the fact that Native Americans were already here. Native Americans truly discovered America. It also gave little mention, to the fact that Nordic explorers beginning with Leif Erikson had traveled down the eastern coast of Canada hundreds of years before Columbus arrived.

Today, we celebrate Columbus Day for what it accurately is. Columbus did discover the existence of the New World for Europeans who until then, believed the world was flat and ended somewhere in the Atlantic. Not believing the world was flat, his real goal was to find a way to the Orient. When Columbus landed in America, he did not reach the mainland. Rather, he landed on an island in The Bahamas the locals called Guanahani. Ultimately, Columbus made four trips across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World. However, he never set foot on the mainland.   Upon arrival, he renamed it San Nicolas. And, the focus of this day is now more on the discovery of the “New World”, and less on Columbus himself.

In recent years, Columbus has fallen out of favor with many people for several reasons. First, in 1492, Columbus did not land on the mainland of the American continent. Second, Leif Erikson and Native Americans preceded him. Also, Columbus and many other Europe discoverers were seen as cruel conquerors and looters. This has given rise to Indigenous People Day.

Did You Know? Anti-Columbus sentiment has grown in both North and South America. On Columbus Day, mock trials of Columbus are held in Peru.

Italian Americans are one exception to the rule. They still hold Italian Christopher Columbus in high esteem.

Billions of people around the world celebrate the Chinese New Year holiday. The date of the New Year changes every year. It is a 15-day celebration, beginning on the first day of the new moon, and ending on the full moon. The last day of the Asian New Year celebration is on the 15th day. It is called the Chinese Lantern Festival.

Chinese culture is amongst the oldest in the world. While the rest of the world is in the early years of but the third millennium, This culture is in its fifth millennium.

In Chinese astrology, every year is represented by an animal. The cycle is twelve years, with a different animal each year. To find out about your sign, and what it says about you, see Chinese Astrology.

Also called the Spring Festival, New Year is the biggest holiday in Asian culture. It is celebrated with festivities, fireworks, brightly colored lights, special meals with family, and gift giving. Like Christmas in the western world, most Chinese travel home to be with family for the new year celebration.

 Cinco De Mayo Day is a May 5 Mexican holiday. However, it is widely celebrated in the United States, especially among the Mexican people living here. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla. This single military battle signified the defeat of a European colonial power and a victory for the Mexican people. This single battle was the roots of Cinco de Mayo.

Note: Cinco de Mayo is not the celebration of Mexican Independence which is celebrated on September 16th. See Mexican Independence Day.

What Cinco de Mayo has come to be, is much more than one battle in the colonial history of Mexico. Rather, it has come to signify Hispanic and Mexican pride and a time to celebrate the rich culture.

Today,  this holiday is celebrated by Mexicans, and especially the Hispanic community in the U.S. It is a time of song, dance, partying, and in general a time to be proud to be of Hispanic descent.   

As a devoted chocoholic, this food holiday is the perfect holiday. It is Chocolate Day, a July 7 holiday. This holiday is also called World Chocolate Day and International Chocolate Day. And this is no surprise as this confectionery treat is wildly popular around the world.  This holiday exists so you can guiltlessly chocolate from the moment you wake up, until bedtime. That means you can enjoy it at every meal, and for snacks, too.

This day is the perfect opportunity to eat your favorite candy flavor in ample portions. As a chocoholic, do you really need another excuse to overindulge in your favorite food treat? Well, if you’re looking for another excuse, you’re in luck. There is a second, separate holiday called  National Chocolate Day in December. 

Chocolate is America’s favorite flavor. It’s the flavor of choice in candies, ice cream, cakes, breakfast cereal, toppings, and a whole host of desserts. Unequaled in popularity, it certainly deserves a day in its honor.

Did you know? Chocolate is a vegetable. It comes from the Cacao tree found in tropical rain forests.

Favorite Movie for a Chocoholic: Both Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and the remake titled Wonka (2013).

If ever there was confusion about when to celebrate a holiday, this is it. We’ve done extensive research, and what we have found is there are several Children’s Day holiday observances around the world. They share in common the global goals of supporting and protecting the youth of the world. Among the days are Universal Children’s Day, International Children’s Day, and National Children’s Day.

Now, the question is, which day do you celebrate? Well, why not all of them, as our children are precious to us?

Bubble baths are so much fun. We wish everyday could be Bubble Bath Day. Today is a fun day to relax an enjoy the warm and soothing pleasures of a bubble bath.  Best of all, it can be enjoyed by kids and adults. For kids, it’s playtime. For adults, it’s soothing pleasure, and perhaps ….playtime.

On Bubble Bath Day, there are a couple of ways to enjoy your bubble bath. It depends upon how old you are.

For kids, it’s simple…. Just fill the tub with bubbles and toys. Then hop in and play!

For the ladies, its time to relax! Fill the tub with bubbly water. Hop in and just enjoy the soothing water and bubbles. Before hoping in, set the mood with candles placed (safely) around the bathroom and tub. Add a music, playing softly on the sink counter.

For the guys: Don’t feel left out! With permission, you can hop in, too! Get in touch with your feminine side, and make sure the candles are lit. You can relax and/or play. The proper sequence is relax, play, relax. We highly recommend both!

Oh, and don’t forget your rubber duckie!

Boxing Day is celebrated in England, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and other former British commonwealth countries. Like Christmas, this December 26 holiday is a day of giving. And, it is a day off for servants. The recipients are servants who worked on Christmas Day, and the poor and needy within the community. It is a legal holiday in these countries. This is also St. Stephans Day, where Boxing Day gets some of its roots. On St. Stephans Day, churches opened their collection boxes to the poor.

Boxing Day was an expression of appreciation and thanks, much like Christmas tips are today.  

The roots of the holiday goes back to the Middle Ages. On this day, members of the merchant class would take boxes, fill them with food and fruits, and give them to servants, tradespeople, and the less fortunate. In the case of servants, they would work on Christmas Day, so it was only fitting that immediately after Christmas, they would be given a day off to celebrate.

Usually celebrated the day after Christmas, some would celebrate the following Monday when Christmas fell on a Friday or Saturday.

Today, the giving of boxes includes filling boxes with food and clothing for the needy and performing volunteer work. Monetary gifts to charity are also common.

Today is Boss’s Day, an October 16 holiday that your fearless leader is certain to enjoy. Now here is a day that gives you a chance to both tell and show the boss what you really think of him or her. And, it is an opportunity to give your boss the appreciation that he or she truly deserves. So go right ahead and give it to him…..give it to him good! After all, it only comes around once a year.

Backyard enthusiasts and people in general love birds. Bird watching is one of the world’s most popular hobbies. Unsurprisingly, there are three holidays to celebrate and enjoy with our Avian friends. They are Bird Day, National Bird Day, and International Migratory Bird Day. Each bird holiday has its own special date. We hope you plan on enjoying all three holidays. We know we will!

People young and old love them. Bird watching is a favorite pastime of millions of people. It is the most popular of hobbies that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Along with this popularity, it comes as no surprise that there is more than one day established to recognize, appreciate, and enjoy them. We suggest you celebrate all of these days.

Movie of the Day: The Birds, by Edgar Allan Poe

Now, let’s help to remove some of the confusion around these three distinctly different days…. read on

Every once in a while, you come across a special day that just doesn’t seem to have much rhyme or reason. Bean Day, a January 6 holiday, appears to be one of those days. It was created to celebrate the British 1990s sitcom “Mr. Bean”. This short-lived television show was about a “child in a grown man’s body”. The show lasted just 15 episodes. This day gets plenty of recognition from Ecard companies and calendar-oriented sites.  

You can celebrate this holiday by learning more about this humorous television character. Also, you can celebrate this day by eating beans. After all… they’re good for the heart…. the more you eat them, the more you ……”

Did You Know?  Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois has a hugely attractive piece of art formally called “Cloud Gate”. Residents fondly nicknamed it “The Bean” (pictured below). It has become one of Chicago’s most popular “must-see” attractions.