President's Day

President's Day is set aside to honor all of the presidents - both current and past! The third Monday in February is set aside as President's Day. It is an official federal holiday. And there will be many different events honoring this day.

Since it is considered a federal holiday non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday receive wages for that day in addition to holiday pay. Private banks, stock and futures exchanges are generally closed on these days as well.

source
Wikipedia

President Day Links

• Presidents Day Sales (About 30 years ago a lot of stores closed on this day!)
  
  
• What I have found that is very interesting about the observance of this holiday is that different states have different official ways of observing this holiday. You can read more about it by clicking here
  
  
• Link to the official website of the White House's website for more information about President's Day
  
  

Fun Facts!

• In New Mexico, President's Day, at least as a state government paid holiday, is observed on the Friday following Thanksgiving
  
  
• This day is also used to honor war veterans
  
  
• Over time, as with many federal holidays, few Americans actually celebrate Presidents Day, and it is mainly known as a day off from work or school, although most non-governmental workers do not get the day off.
  
  
• Community celebrations often display a lengthy heritage. Historic Alexandria, Virginia, hosts a month-long tribute, including the longest running George Washington Birthday parade
  

Valentine's Day

Lincoln's Birthday

According to Wikipedia, Lincoln's birthday is a legal holiday in only some states. A lot of states recognize Lincoln's birthay as part of President's Day.

Although Lincoln's Birthday had never been designated as a federal holiday, it was observed as a state holiday in many parts of the country.

Here is a link to a site that has information about Abraham Lincoln and his life.

And here is a link to a site about the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, located in Springfield, Illinois

Ash Wednesday

In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays). It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

source
Wikipedia

Related Links:

• What is Ash Wednesday and what do Christians celebrate on Ash Wednesday?
  
  
• Catholic Encyclopedia - What Is Ash Wednesday
  
  
• Why Ashes on Ash Wednesday?

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

Here Is A List Of Federal Holidays

In the United States, a federal holiday is a holiday recognized by the United States Government. Non-essential federal government offices are closed. All federal employees are paid for the holiday; those who are required to work on the holiday receive wages for that day in addition to holiday pay. Private banks, stock and futures exchanges are generally closed on these days as well.

Currently there are 11 Federal Holidays

• New Year's Day - first day in January
  
  
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - third Monday in January
  
  
• Inauguration Day - January 20, every fourth year, following Presidential election
  
  Observed only by federal government employees in Washington, D.C., and certain counties and cities of Maryland and Virginia, in order to relieve congestion that occurs with this major event. Note: Takes place on January 21 if the 20th is a Sunday (although the President is still privately inaugurated on the 20th).
  
  
• Washington's Birthday - Third Monday in February - Often popularly observed as "Presidents Day" in recognition of other American presidents, such as Abraham Lincoln (who was born February 12). The legal name of the federal holiday, however, is "Washington's Birthday", not "Presidents Day". (historically observed on February 22, prior to passage of the Monday Holiday Bill by Congress)
  
  
• Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
  
  
• Independence Day - July 4
  
  
• Labor Day - First Monday in September
  
  
• Columbus Day - Second Monday in October
  
  
• Veterans Day - November 11
  
  
• Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November
  
  Traditionally celebrates giving thanks for the autumn harvest, and customarily includes the consumption of a turkey dinner. (historically observed on various days, but finally becoming so fixed to the fourth Thursday in November in the hearts and minds of Americans, that Americans rebelled (albeit politely) when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt attempted to move it to the third Thursday of November, at the request of numerous powerful American merchants)
  
  
• Christmas Day - December 25

source
Wikipedia

January Is Volunteer Blood Donor Month

In response to the general shortage during the winter months, January is Volunteer Blood Donor Month.

If you are of age, at least 110 pounds and in good health, consider giving blood through your local chapter of the Red Cross. With each donation, you will help save a life somewhere around the world.

To learn more about how you can donate blood or to host your own blood drive, read this article from the American National Red Cross.

Boxing Day

Wikipedia

Boxing Day is the day after Christmas, a public holiday in most countries in The Commonwealth. It originated as a day for giving gifts to employees and poor people. It has sporting traditions, especially fox hunting, and is the day when stores launch the most significant sales period in the retail cycle.

It is usually celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas Day;[1][2], but can move to 27 December or 28 December if 26 December is a Saturday or Sunday. The movement of Boxing Day varies between countries.

The public holiday is recognised in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

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

Christmas Day!

Fun Facts!

• Americans send three billion Christmas cards a year. If you have the average number of friends, you should get at least 12 cards a year.

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Christmas Freebies

If you are still looking for some "last minute" Christmas Freebies, then here are a few links that I have found:

• Freebies For Everyone
  
  
• ChristmasFreebies.com
  
  
• Screen Savers, Fonts, Graphics

First Day Of Winter

In the northern hemisphere, the Winter solstice is day of the year (near December 22) when the Sun is farthest south. However, in the southern hemisphere, winter and summer solstices are exchanged so that the winter solstice is the day on which the Sun is farthest north. The winter solstice marks the first day of the season of winter. The declination of the Sun on the (northern) winter solstice is known as the tropic of capricorn (-23° 27').

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, respectively, in the sense that the length of time elapsed between sunrise and sunset on this day is a minimum for the year. Of course, daylight saving time means that the first Sunday in April has 23 hours and the last Sunday in October has 25 hours, but these human meddlings with the calendar and do not correspond to the actual number of daylight hours. In Chicago, there are 9:20 hours of daylight on the winter solstice of December 22, 1999.

source
Holiday Smart.com