Please enjoy my collection of holiday celebrations and stories since 1994.
Holiday Treasures by InfoStarBase
Holiday is a contraction of
holy and day, holidays originally represented special religious days. This word has evolved in general usage to mean any extra special day of rest (as opposed to regular days of rest such as the weekend). Countrywide, Holidays stands for when everybody plans for holidays or a break. Under many belief systems, days of rest are necessary for ritual or spiritual rejuvenation.
- Celebration or Observance
- Break from Routine
- Variety of Types
The total number of holidays varies widely by country and culture. Here are some general estimates.
Something for Everyone
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of King’s birthday, January 15. It is one of three United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.
Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day or Saint Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In the West, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine’s cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine.
The Easter Page
Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. Christians believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead two days after his crucifixion, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day, or Easter Sunday, two days after Good Friday.
Halloween
Halloween, celebrated on October 31st, is characterized by various traditions and festivities. Its roots are in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It was believed that on this night, the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred.
“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”
Saturnalia
Saturnalia, or the festival of Saturn, was celebrated in ancient Rome at the end of the vintage and harvesting to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. As part of the festivities, masters served their slaves–an acknowledgment of the equality of rank and lack of class distinctions which existed during the golden age (supposedly ruled over by Saturn). Other observances included the exchanging of gifts, offering of sacrifices, and unrestrained merrymaking.
Santa Claus
It is believed that the real St. Nicholas was born sometime around 280 A.D. in Patara, near Myra in modern-day Turkey. According to legend, his extraordinary kindness led him to give away all of his inherited wealth as he traveled the countryside helping the sick and poverty-stricken. Admiration for his philanthropy eventually grew into the legend of Santa Claus.
