Fun Facts About Major Holidays: Veterans Day to MLK Day

The new year is quickly approaching. And with that comes New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. These two holidays help us go out with the old and in with the new, and there are also some New Year’s facts I am sure you might not have previously known.

1. New Year’s starts in Kiribati and ends in American Samoa – 2026 will first hit the island known as Kiribati before anywhere else. Meanwhile, the South Pacific Ocean territory known as American Samoa will be sitting in the year 2025 for most of the time Kiribati is celebrating January 1. Crazy, right?
2. New Year’s is about 4,000 years old – New Year’s Day has been celebrated since ancient Babylon times. Talk about a long-standing holiday!
3. The new year used to start in March – The former 11-day festival was celebrated in March before the Gregorian calendar came about. Now that January marks one full trip around the sun, it also marks a new year.
4. Americans keep their resolutions for around 36 days – I honestly thought the number would be much lower than this. Then again, there are some people who wind up keeping their resolutions all year long, so I guess that evens it out, right?
5. Pork and sauerkraut is a big thing in Pennsylvania – I never knew this until I went to school in Virginia, but pork and sauerkraut is not a well-known New Year’s tradition in many places.
6. Over 360 million glasses of sparkling wine are drunk on New Year’s Eve– I mean, is that really surprising? New Year’s Eve is the most heavily drunk on night, so let people drink whatever they want. Even if it is sparkling wine.
7. New Year’s Eve is more popular than New Year’s Day– This is the only holiday where the “eve” is more celebrated than the actual day. It’s also like the fourth most popular holiday of the year.
8. The Times Square New Year’s Eve party celebrated the launch of the New York Times– That’s right. The big ol’ party in Times Square was originally started because they wanted a way to celebrate the newspaper giant we all know today. They just did not realize it would become a massive event in the future with more than a million people attending.
9. The New Year’s ball has 32,256 LEDs– That’s a lot of lights! That’s probably more lights than are lit up in an entire neighborhood during Christmas. Well… that might be stretching it a little bit.
10. 2,000 pounds of confetti are dropped in Times Square– Imagine if this all got dropped on you at one time… For real though. That’s a whole lot of confetti to clean up on New Year’s Day!

And if you are wondering why the apostrophe in New Year’s, it’s because the New Year is possessive. It seems odd until you actually think about it more.

And on a more serious note, New Year’s Eve is the most drunken night of the year. So before you start knocking back a couple six packs tonight, remember to leave your keys at the door.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers

Martin Luther King Jr. is still one of the most influential activists of all time to this very day. But I’m sure even those who know about Dr. King could still learn a thing or two about him. That’s why we’ve got 10 facts about Martin Luther King Jr., including some MLK Day facts regarding the holiday we celebrate him on.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. is one of three historical figures with a day honoring him – He’s also just one of two Americans that have a day honoring him. President George Washington is the other American historical figure with a day honoring him. Meanwhile, Christopher Columbus is the third historical figure overall.
2. He was born Michael – Martin Luther King Jr. was born Michael Luther King Jr. That was until his father traveled to Germany and was inspired by the famous Martin Luther. At just five years old, Michael’s name was changed to Martin.
3. Dr. King’s racial justice passion began from a young age – While it is hard to know exactly when his passion truly started, Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate against racial injustice. You could say his parents probably knew he would become an activist pretty much right from the get-go.
4. Martin Luther King Jr. was jailed more than 20 times – While a lot of these arrests are said to be bogus, it’s still crazy to think about. This did not stop him from speaking his truth though and standing up for what he believed in.
5. Martin Luther King met his wife over the phone – Who says this is a new-age technique of meeting someone? The first time MLK ever talked to his wife was on the phone after their friend said they’d be right for each other. That definitely proved to be true.
6. MLK survived death before being assassinated – About a decade before his actual assassination, someone tried to assassinate Dr. King once before. Luckily he came out of that unscathed and had a lot more fight left in him after that attempt.
7. It did not take long for MLK Jr. Day to become official – In fact, it was only 15 years after he was assassinated that people were pushing for MLK Day. President John F. Kennedy declared Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday in the 80s. Then, in the early 2000s, it officially became a federal holiday.
8. MLK foretold his death – In fact, it was during his speech the day before he was assassinated. Essentially, he said he was not scared to die and see what was in store for him in the afterlife.
9. Martin Luther King Jr. questioned his faith – The renowned activist and minister did not always hold the beliefs he had later in life. In his teens he constantly caught himself questioning what was true and what was not. When he got to college, however, the questions died down and he decided he wanted to become a minister.
10. MLK Jr. received some 20-plus degrees – On top of receiving three academic degrees, the esteemed Dr. King also received 18-plus honorary degrees. On top of that, he received a world of awards, including a Nobel Peace Prize. Wow!

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was certainly never afraid to stand up for himself and for his people, and for that we are getting ready to celebrate MLK Day. He was one-of-a-kind and this world would look a little different had he not become the man he did.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers

April Fool’s Day is a lighthearted holiday celebrated on April 1st each year. While its exact origins are unclear, the holiday has a long history dating back to ancient times. That’s why we wanted to take the opportunity to look at April Fool’s Day history.

Over the centuries, April Fool’s Day has evolved into a day of pranks and practical jokes, with people playing tricks on one another for amusement. Let’s dive into the fascinating history of this playful holiday and discover how it has become a beloved tradition around the world.

Ancient Origins:

The origins of April Fool’s Day can be traced back to ancient Roman festivals, such as Hilaria and Saturnalia, where people engaged in playful pranks and role reversals.

The origins of April Fool’s Day can be traced back to ancient Roman festivals, such as Hilaria and Saturnalia. During these festivals, people would engage in playful pranks and role reversals, where slaves would become masters and vice versa. These festivities were a way to celebrate the arrival of spring and the renewal of life.

The tradition of playing pranks on April 1st continued throughout the centuries, with different cultures adding their own twists to the holiday. In France, for example, April Fool’s Day is known as “Poisson d’Avril,” and it is customary to stick paper fish on people’s backs as a prank. Today, April Fool’s Day is celebrated around the world, with people playing tricks on one another for amusement and laughter.

Adoption by Western Cultures:

April Fool’s Day became popular in Western cultures during the late Middle Ages, with various countries adopting their own traditions and customs.

In England, April Fool’s Day became popular during the 18th century, with people playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. One famous prank involved sending someone on a “fool’s errand,” where they would be given a letter or message that instructed them to go on a wild goose chase or perform a ridiculous task.

In Scotland, the holiday is known as “Hunt-the-Gowk Day,” with the word “gowk” referring to a cuckoo bird, which is seen as a symbol of foolishness. On this day, people would send each other on foolish errands or try to trick them into looking for nonexistent items.

In the United States, April Fool’s Day gained popularity during the 19th century, with newspapers publishing fake stories and hoaxes to entertain their readers. Today, April Fool’s Day is celebrated with pranks, jokes and hoaxes both in person and online, with many companies and brands getting in on the fun by creating elaborate and humorous pranks for their customers and followers.

The Gregorian Calendar Change:

In 1582, France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, moving New Year’s Day from late March to January 1st. Those who resisted the change and continued to celebrate New Year’s in late March became the target of pranks and jokes.

The switch from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1582 had a significant impact on the celebration of New Year’s Day. In France, where the change was first implemented, New Year’s Day was moved from late March to January 1st.

However, not everyone immediately accepted this change. Those who continued to celebrate New Year’s in late March became the target of pranks and jokes on April Fool’s Day. They were called “April fools” and were often subjected to ridicule and trickery.

This tradition of playing pranks on April 1st continues to this day, with people around the world participating in the playful and lighthearted spirit of April Fool’s Day.

Media Influence:

The rise of newspapers and media in the 18th and 19th centuries helped popularize April Fool’s Day, with publications playing elaborate pranks on their readers.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, newspapers and other forms of media began to play a significant role in society. This newfound influence also extended to April Fool’s Day, with publications using the holiday as an opportunity to play elaborate pranks on their readers. These pranks ranged from fake news stories to outlandish advertisements, all designed to deceive and entertain.

As the popularity of newspapers grew, so did the tradition of April Fool’s Day pranks. Today, media outlets around the world continue to participate in the playful spirit of the holiday, often creating elaborate and humorous stories to fool their audience.

Modern Pranks:

Today, April Fool’s Day is celebrated worldwide, with individuals, companies, and even governments participating in pranks and hoaxes. The internet and social media have further amplified the reach and creativity of these pranks.

In the modern era, April Fool’s Day has taken on a whole new level of creativity and reach thanks to the internet and social media. With platforms like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, individuals, companies, and even governments can easily share their pranks and hoaxes with a global audience.

From fake product launches to viral videos, the possibilities for April Fool’s Day pranks are endless. In fact, some companies have become known for their annual April Fool’s Day pranks, with people eagerly awaiting their latest joke each year. The internet has truly transformed April Fool’s Day into a worldwide celebration of humor and trickery.

Written by Ubersuggest

The Paralympics, a global sporting event held every four years, is a testament to human resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit. This extraordinary competition provides a platform for athletes with disabilities to showcase their talents, compete at the highest level, and inspire millions around the world.

What are the Paralympics?

The Paralympics, a parallel event to the Olympics, is a multi-sport competition featuring athletes with a range of disabilities. The Games are designed to promote physical fitness, sportsmanship, and social integration among people with disabilities. The Paralympics feature a wide range of adaptive sports, including swimming, athletics, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair tennis, and many more.

The Paralympics are also held in the same host city as the Summer Olympics, providing their athletes with a sense of cohesion and inclusion.

History of the Paralympics

The history of the Paralympics dates back to the early 20th century, when Sir Ludwig Guttmann, a German-born British neurologist, organized sporting events for injured soldiers during World War II. These events eventually evolved into the modern-day Paralympics, which were first held in Rome in 1960.

The Paralympics have evolved significantly over the years. Initially limited to athletes with spinal cord injuries, the Games have expanded to include individuals with a wide range of disabilities, including visual impairments, amputations, cerebral palsy and more.

Popular Paralympic Adaptive Sports

The Paralympics feature a diverse range of adaptive sports, each tailored to meet the specific needs of athletes with different disabilities. Some of the most popular adaptive sports include:

• Swimming: Athletes compete in various swimming strokes, including freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.
• Athletics: Track and field events like running, jumping, and throwing are popular Paralympic disciplines.
• Wheelchair Basketball: This fast-paced sport requires exceptional skill, coordination, and teamwork.
• Goalball: A team sport designed for athletes with visual impairments, goalball involves throwing a ball with bells inside towards the opponent’s goal.
• Wheelchair Tennis: A singles or doubles sport played on a tennis court, with players using specialized wheelchairs.
• Powerlifting: Athletes compete to lift the heaviest weight possible in various weight classes.
• Paralympic Archery: A precision shooting sport where athletes use adapted bows and arrows.

The Paralympic Spirit

The Paralympic spirit is characterized by courage, determination and inspiration. Paralympic athletes overcome significant challenges to achieve their goals, serving as role models for people of all ages and abilities. The Games promote inclusivity, diversity, and sportsmanship, encouraging a sense of unity and understanding.

Athletes from all corners of the globe come together to compete, celebrate their achievements, and inspire others. The Paralympics demonstrate that disability does not define an individual’s potential and that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.

Why are the Paralympics Important?

The Paralympics play a crucial role in:

• Challenging Stereotypes: The Games help to break down stereotypes about people with disabilities, showcasing their abilities and potential.
• Promoting Inclusivity: The Paralympics foster a more inclusive society by celebrating diversity and recognizing the contributions of athletes with disabilities.
• Inspiring Others: Paralympic athletes serve as role models, inspiring people of all ages and abilities to overcome challenges and achieve their dreams.
• Raising Awareness: The Paralympics raise awareness about disability issues and challenge stereotypes.

Overcoming Adversity

Paralympic athletes often face significant challenges in their lives, including physical limitations and societal barriers. By overcoming these obstacles and pursuing their athletic dreams, they inspire millions of people around the world. Their stories of courage, resilience, and perseverance serve as powerful reminders of the human spirit’s indomitable nature.

Conclusion

The Paralympics are more than just a sporting event; they are a celebration of human achievement and a testament to the power of the human spirit. By showcasing the extraordinary talents of athletes with disabilities, the Paralympics inspire and empower people around the world.

Written by Google Gemini

Veterans Day is coming up this Friday, November 11. It is a great opportunity to honor all those (past and present) who have served in our military. However, as the day is coming up in less than a week, I wanted to dive into 10 Veterans (Day) facts. Some you might have known already and some might be a shock to you. It will be a combination of both Veterans Day facts and veterans facts, so brace yourselves.

1. Veterans Day used to be Armistice Day – Back in 1918 during the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month (November 11), the temporary cessation of hostilities between Germany and the allies was celebrating its one-year anniversary. It is easy to figure out why this was such a huge celebration, and its legacy is carried out by Veterans Day to this day.
2. Veterans Day is always celebrated on November 11 – The 11th day of the 11th month is still an important day in American history. It is particularly important among for the troops. That’s why we celebrate our veterans on this day every year.
3. Veterans Day is not Veteran’s Day – It is common misconception that Veterans Day uses an apostrophe with the word “veteran.” Heck, when I started putting this together I thought that was the case. However, it is just “Veterans” Day with no apostrophe.
4. Veterans Day celebrates ALL armed forces members – While Memorial Day is a day in May that memorializes those veterans we lost, Veterans Day celebrates them all. Whether you are active duty or retired, this is a day to remember you and thank you for your service.
5. Other countries have their own Veterans Day – Canadians wear red poppy flowers to honor the veterans lost in war on “Remembrance Day.” Great Britain holds parades, services and two minutes of silence to honor those lost on “Remembrance Day.” Australia celebrates Memorial Day in a similar way to America.
6. Veterans Day is huge at Arlington National Cemetary – There should be no surprise here. On the 11th hour they start off their ceremony with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Solder.
7. Veterans Day is not an automatic day off school – Every school district gets the choice of whether they want to give kids a day off school on Veterans Day.
8. Over 300,000 WWII American veterans were alive in 2020 – There were 16 million Americans who served in World War II. These stats are amazing considering the war had been over for 75 years at that point.
9. There are over 20 million living veterans in the US (as of 2018) – 20.3 million to be exact. That means there are a lot of veterans for us to thank. Don’t be shy when it comes to Veterans Day (or any day in general) and thanking a veteran for their service.
10. Veterans’ lives are not easy when they return home – While I’m sure this does not surprise you, it is something that truly goes without saying, especially during Veterans Month. They feel like strangers in their own homes a lot of times and may deal with PTSD. Let’s respect them and realize they might not be the easiest people to deal with considering all they went through.

Veterans Day is a great opportunity to thank a veteran, but this should not be the only day of the year we show our appreciation for them. They have fought for our freedoms and deserve to be treated with respect and honor. So go and thank a veteran no matter what day it is, but especially this Veterans Day.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers

Thanksgiving Day is on Thursday, and with the November holiday quickly approaching we wanted to present you with 10 intriguing Thanksgiving facts you may not already know. Happy learning!

1. Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 – This was a three day festival with 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag Indians. Boy have we come a long way since then.
2. Thomas Jefferson refused to celebrate – That’s right. One of our Founding Fathers would not declare days of thanksgiving like the rest of his counterparts. He felt it would lead to state-sponsored religious worship. Thankfully the rest of the presidents did not follow suit and declared a day of giving thanks.
3. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is almost 100 – The massive float-bearing parade was started in 1924. The only difference was it centered around having live animals from the Central Park Zoo featured in the festivities.
4. Calvin Coolidge received a… raccoon??? – Not only did he receive it, but he received it alive and was supposed to serve it up for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead he decided to pardon it like presidents today pardon turkeys and he even kept it as a pet.
5. Deer and seafood were original Thanksgiving staples – Before we ate turkey and stuffing we had deer and seafood. The Wampanoags would bring seafood such as mussels, lobster and bass to their Thanksgiving feasts. That actually sounds pretty good.
6. The Butterball hotline answers 100,000 questions a year – Ah yes, the land of 100,000 turkey related questions. The famous turkey supplier has to answer a huge number of questions regarding how to cook a turkey and so much more.
7. People consume an average of 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving – The daily suggestion is 2,000 calories. It’s no wonder people tend to put on some extra holiday weight.
8. Americans eat 704 millions pounds of turkey (or 44 million birds) on Thanksgiving – This was back in 2017, but still. To put it in perspective, thats three million more turkeys than are served up on Christmas and Easter. Combined!
9. The Detroit Lions claim to fame is Thanksgiving – This impoverished NFL franchise has been playing on ever Thanksgiving Day since 1934 (with the exception of World War II). Too bad their losing record on Thanksgiving foreshadows their overall record as a football franchise.
10. We might not have Thanksgiving if not for “Mary Had A Little Lamb” – Well… not quite, but still. Back in 1863, the author of this poem (Sarah Josepha Hale) had called President Abe Lincoln for the umpteenth straight year. Only this time he listened and proclaimed Thanksgiving as an official national holiday.

The more you know, right? Thanksgiving Day is one of the most memorable holidays each and every year, and now that you have extra knowledge about this day, you can have even more appreciation for the November holiday.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers

Black Friday is quickly approaching, which is why I wanted to take this opportunity to spit some facts at you. Below are 10 interesting Black Friday facts that I felt the need to share with you.

1. Black Friday has been around since the 19th century – Well, sort of. While the idea of post-Thanksgiving sales was not a thing until 1924, Black Friday was originally coined as a stock market term. It was used to describe the 1869 stock market crash.
2. Black Friday began in Philly – Yes, we have the City of Brotherly Love to thank for the biggest in-store shopping day of the year. Police coined it Black Friday when tourists flooded retail stores before the Army/Navy game back in the 1960s.
3. Shoppers spend around $1,000 on Black Friday – Oh the irony of saving. While you are bound to save big on Black Friday, you are also bound to spend a lot of money. I guess that’s the price of doing business.
4. Black Friday shoppers might have determined the timeline of Thanksgiving – Because the last Thursday of the month sometimes lands on November 30, shoppers complained Black Friday was too close to Christmas at times. That’s why Thanksgiving lands on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
5. Free shipping is a huge Black Friday commodity – Despite Black Friday starting in physical store, it has expanded to a lot of people ordering online. That’s why a lot of people look for free shipping now when it comes to Black Friday shopping.
6. Black Friday has been boycotted – Outdoor stores like REI encourage their employees to get outside instead of shopping or working. Maybe other stores will start to do the same so their employees don’t have to work on Thanksgiving night.
7. It’s Black Friday for plumbers too – Flooded stores means flooded bathrooms. There are more clogged toilets and overflowing sinks on Black Friday than any other day of the year. (I’m sure it doesn’t help that people stuffed their faces with tons of food the day before).
8. The best day to buy toys is… before Black Friday?! – That’s right. If you want to guarantee you get the hottest toys while getting a good deal on them, you should buy them the day before Thanksgiving.
9. Shoppers look for deals at the beginning of November – You know how a lot of stores started opening for Black Friday on the evening of Thanksgiving Day? Yeah, apparently that’s not early enough for some people. Shoppers start looking for deals during the first week of November.
10. Shoppers will wait around two and a half hours in line for Black Friday deals – So you are saying they could have caught most of Avengers Endgame while waiting for deals? That’s quite a long time to wait in line to save some dough.

There is no question Black Friday is a crazy day for shoppers and retailers alike. It’s a great day to save money for the upcoming Christmas season. It’s just odd we go right from showing our thankfulness to pushing people down to get the best TV in the store.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers

Christmas may not be until next weekend, but I still wanted to take this opportunity to present you with 10 Christmas facts you may not have known. Some facts are about the day itself, while others are things associated with Christmas itself.

1. Christmas gifts have Christian and Pagan origins – For Christians, Christmas gift-giving is a way to mimic the fact that the Three Wise Men brought Jesus gifts the day he was born. Pagans also gave offerings to their gods as well. With that, it is believed by some that December 25 was chosen as Christmas Day because it coincided with Saturnalia – the day to honor the god Saturn.
2. Christmas trees have been a thing since the 1500s – During the 16th century, Egyptians and Romans used Christmas trees. They used evergreen trees (fir/pine), wreaths and garland. Only they decorated their Christmas trees with fruits and nuts instead.
3. Stocking hanging was started by accident – Apparently there is a legend about a poor man who didn’t have enough money to even buy his three daughters new socks. So, they hung their socks up to dry by the fire. Santa then decided to drop a bag of gold down their chimney and it just so happened to land in the daughters’ freshly washed socks. The more you know.
4. The NORAD was discovered by accident too – The North American Aerospace Defense Command started tracking Santa back in the 1950s, but do you know why? It’s all because a young child in the 50s was calling NORAD to find out where Santa was at. From then on, they decided to track Santa’s Christmas Eve whereabouts.
5. Xmas is Greek – I’ve personally always found it off that people call Christmas “Xmas.” While I thought it might be called Xmas by others to appease those who don’t believe in Christ, it actually still does mean Christmas. It is just the Greek was of saying it, as X is the first letter of Christ in Greek.
6. The Japanese eat KFC on Christmas – We all know there are not a lot of people in Japan who celebrate Christmas the way Americans do. However, did you know they still celebrate it? They just celebrate it with a bucket of three-months-prior preordered fried chicken in their hands.
7. One in three men wait to buy Christmas presents until Christmas Eve – I’m not going to lie, I’ve definitely done this a time or two… or maybe more. So this number does not surprise me at all. However, it is still crazy to think 33 percent of us guys wait until the day of to do some (or all) of our Christmas shopping.
8. The 12 Days of Christmas equals 364 presents – Think about it. The song does not say you only buy the present stated on that day. You buy the present stated for that day and all previous ones. So for example, on the third day you are giving three french hens, four turtle doves and three partridges.
9. Santa Claus used to interchangeably wear green, purple or blue – That was until Coca Cola got involved. Back in the 1930s, they got their creative team involved and they decided to dress Santa in red and white (with black boots). The look has stuck for nine decades since.
10. Rudolph was born from a marketing gag – Montgomery Ward department store asked copywriter Robert May to put together a Christmas story they could give to customers as a promotional gimmick. Well, 2.4 million copies (in the first year) later and it was a hit. Now we can’t imagine Christmas without Rudolph’s bright red nose lighting up the sky.

Christmas is arguably the most popular holiday in American culture, and after walking through these 10 facts it is not hard to see why. It is something that people have always been drawn to, and it is a day that will live in US culture for forever and a day.

Written by Nathaniel Chambers