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February
2004
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Black
History Month This observance began in 1926 when Dr. Carter
G. Woodson, an African American concerned with the absence
of black history in history books, initiated Negro History
Week. In 1976, the month-long celebration was established
as a time to reflect on the history, teachings, and achievements
of African Americans. Read more at www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmintro1.html
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National
Freedom Day This day commemorates the signing of the Thirteenth
Amendment which abolished slavery in 1865. Presidential proclamation
established the date in 1949. |
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Id
al-Adha On this Muslim holy day known as the Feast of Sacrifice,
Moslems attend a service in their mosque and those who are not
pilgrims perform a ritual slaughter of a sheep to commemorate
the ransom (animal) God provided when Abraham was about to sacrifice
his son. This day marks the end of the Pilgrimage or hajj rites
at Mina, Saudi Arabia, near Mecca, and is celebrated by Muslims
throughout the world. |
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Lantern
Festival This is the last day of the Chinese New Year when
the full moon occurs. A lantern festival takes place at night
with both lantern displays and parades of children carrying
lanterns. |
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Abraham
Lincoln's Birthday The sixteenth president of the United
States, Lincoln served as President from 1861 until he was assassinated
in 1865. His birthday, actually February 12, is observed on
the third Monday in February as President's Day (see February
16). He is best remembered for the Emancipation Proclamation
in which he declared freedom for all slaves in the area of the
Confederacy not under Union control and his Gettysburg Address
which dedicated the battlefield to the soldiers who had perished
there and called on the living to finish the task that the dead
soldiers had begun. |
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St.
Valentine's Day An occasion to celebrate love and exchange
greetings and gifts. Read more at www.historychannel.com/exhibits/valentine/history.html |
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President's
Day This Federal holiday is observed on the third Monday
in February. It combines the observance of George Washington's
(first President) birthday and Abraham Lincoln's (sixteenth
president) birthday. |
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Frederick
Douglas Day This African American journalist, who published
an antislavery paper called the North Star, was known as a brilliant
speaker and leading abolitionist. He fought to end slavery in
the United States in the decades leading up to the Civil War
He died on this date in 1894. His birth date is unknown. |
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George
Washington's Birthday Born in 1732, Washington became the
first president of the United States on April 30, 1789 and served
two terms. Prior to his Presidency, he served as Commander in
Chief of the Continental Army and was a prime mover in steps
leading to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in
1787. |
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Orthodox
Lent Eastern Orthodox and Greek Orthodox Lent begin this
day and lasts until April 10. It is a period of fasting and
penitence before Easter. |
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Mardi
Gras or Shrove Tuesday This is the day to celebrate and
feast (on pancakes, doughnuts, and the like) before the Christian
church season of Lent begins when Christians are called to fasting. |
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Ash
Wednesday This is the first day of Lent, a period of fasting
and penitence observed by Christians. Many choose to go to church
to have ashes imposed on their forehead in the sign of the cross.
This symbolizes that they belong to Jesus who died on a cross
and reminds them of their mortality. The ashes come from burning
palms from the previous Palm Sunday. |
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Lent
This 40-day period begins in Western Christian churches
on Ash Wednesday and ends on April 10, the Saturday before
Easter. In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent ends at sundown
on April 8, the Thursday before Easter, with the beginning
of the Lord's Supper. Sundays are not counted as part of the
40 days because they commemorate the Resurrection. Lent calls
Christians to a period of reflection and repentance in preparation
for Easter.
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