Employee Appreciation Day

Even though I work from home and have a Working From Home blog I know that there are still many, many people who work outside of the home and who also work for other companies big and small.

That's why I can appreciate such a day as Employee Appreciation Day which honors employees everywhere. (Just in case you're wondering, yes, there is also a Boss's Day which occurs in September too).

Here is an excerpt about Employee Appreciation Day

"Celebrations today should be created and executed by your company. Recognitions vary widely, and may include a lunch, snack, cakes, or other munchies, and small recognition gifts. Don't expect a day off. Chances are, it just won't happen.

Origin of "Employee Appreciation Day" -

According to David Nuualiitia "Employee Appreciation Day first arrived on calendars in 1995. One of Recognition Professionals International’s founding Board members, Bob Nelson, together with his publishing company, Workman Publishing, created Employee Appreciation Day as a way of focusing the attention of all employers, in all industries on employee recognition."

There are a lot of local and company specific celebrations for Employee Day and week. They are spread across the year.
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source

Holiday Insights.com

Winter Solstice

Because I am also a hedgewitch the seasons are something that I am greatly interested in.

During the winter solstice - it marks the beginning of winter and is also the shortest day of the year.

CROWLEY HAILS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: Hispanic Heritage Month 2009 is set to run from September 15 to October 15 and Congressmember Joseph Crowley (D- Queens/The Bronx) feels there should be special pride in celebrating it this year.

"We helped to raise the first Latina U.S. Supreme Court Justice, our own Judge Sonia Sotomayor," he noted. "Her swearing-in was a tremendous moment for New York and the nation and we should continue to celebrate this achievement throughout the year."

Mother's Day!

A day to honor and give thanks to Mother's all over the world!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Here is a list of what is opened and closed on this day

What's open and closed today, the holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:

• Most schools and government offices will be closed, but many businesses will be open. Many workers do not have the day off as a holiday.

• Most Metro buses will operate with a reduced weekday schedule, featuring more services than on weekends but somewhat less than normal weekdays, with some route or individual trip cancellations.

• State ferries will be on regular weekday schedules.

• Some basic services, such as garbage pickup, will be on regular schedules, and some transfer and recycling stations will be open.

• Most banks and credit unions will be closed.

• Post offices will be closed; no home delivery except for express mail.

• Public libraries and state-owned liquor stores will be closed.

Thanksgiving

Here is a link to a very heartwarming story about a woman who opened her home to others for Thanksgiving!

In the article she has said that her and her family faced a lot of hardship in the past and were very nearly homeless (I don't know if this had anything to do with their home being foreclosed on or whether or not their home was in the foreclosure process) but her life has turned around and she wanted to show her gratitude by helping others!

Columbus Day - Some Thoughts / Opinions....

Why is it we celebrate Columbus Day??

They forced their way into native settlements, slaughtering everyone they found there, including small children, old men, pregnant women, and even women who had just given birth. They hacked them to pieces, slicing open their bellies with their swords as though they were so many sheep herded into a pen.
They even laid wagers on whether they could manage to slice a man in two at a stroke, or cut an individual's head from his body, or disembowel him with a single blow of their axes. They grabbed suckling infants by the feet and, ripping them from their mothers' breasts, dashed them headlong against the rocks. Others, laughing and joking all the while, threw them over their shoulders into a river, shouting: 'Wriggle, you little perisher.'

Ya' know, I was afraid someone would ask that question.

No doubt, there's no call for celebration in the Father's testimony of the shameful deeds that occurred during that chapter of human history, or in the years that followed on this continent. As a member of the Pagan community, reading them drives home the point of how important it is to respect and honor the preservation of all native cultures.

There's also the fact that Columbus wasn't the first to 'discover' the New World. Far from it.



But...I think most people celebrate the spirit of the holiday, which marks the first voyage across the Atlantic. At least that's how I look at it.

If anyone were to ask me, and I'm sure that won't happen, I'd suggest the holiday be revamped into a memorial day instead of a celebration...for the plight of our Native Americans and a truthful understanding of their 'history' and culture. - That's an excellent idea! I'd suppport it. Should we write to our congressmen? Seriously. - That's a good idea as I was serious.

Especially IF you have any congressmen in your state that care. Unfortunately there are none of those sorts here. But I would gladly write to others---if there are any of that nature left in Congress thesedays. I only know of one or perhaps 2 that might consider it and the gathering of support of their peers (for the little people) has been what they did well in the past...perhaps you are aware of others?

Why not try?

Labor Day!

Surprisingly enough Labor Day falls on the first day of September - which happens to be a Monday! I don't think I ever recall Labor Day coming so early!

If I were a suspicious kind of person I would think President Bush had something to do with it just to get people back to work!

Father's Day!

A special day to celebrate Dads all over the world! Married dads and single dads - all of them - this is their special day!

Mother's Day!

A time to celebrate Mothers everywhere!

Mother's Day Links:

• Mother's Day Flowers And Gifts
  
  
• Mother's Day Celebration website
  
  
• Mother's Day Poems
  
  
• Mother's Day Clipart
  
  
• Mother's Day Ideas!

Earth Day

Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress.

Our government has a lot of different websites relating to Earth Day. It is also celebrated on an international scale as well!

One of the most simplest and basic things that you can do to help celebrate Earth Day would be to plant a tree or start a garden. Both of these activities helps to make our environment better!

Here is a link to a site that lists things that people can do to help celebrate Earth Day.

GroundHog Day

Groundhog Day or Groundhog's Day is a holiday celebrated in United States and Canada on February 2. In weather lore, if a groundhog, also known as a woodchuck, marmot, or ground squirrel, emerges from its burrow on this day and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If the groundhog sees its shadow, it will return into its burrow, and the winter will continue for 6 more weeks

source
Wikipedia

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa (or Kwaanza) is a week-long festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African American heritage.[1] It is observed from December 26 to January 1 each year.

Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. It was created by Dr. Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967, timed to coincide with Christmas so that it would be remembered. Dr. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures.

source
Wikipedia

Other Links With More Information About Kwanzaa

• The Official Kwanzaa Website
  
  
• Everything About Kwanzaa
  
  
• Kwanzaa Recipies
  
  
• Kwanzaa Crafts
  
  
• The Truth About Kwanzaa