WRITTEN BY MELINA DE LA CRUZ
1,500 years ago St Patrick passed away on March 17th and the Irish who followed him created the holiday of St Patrick's Day to honor his memory. He was a patron Saint of Ireland and its National apostle. He was a slave from Wales who returned to Ireland and helped bring Christianity to the people after escaping. He is most well known for having explained the Holy Trinity using the Shamrock (a three-leafed clover) that is now known as The Legend of Saint Patrick. St Patrick's Day as we know it is celebrated with beer, parades, and the color green. The first celebration where a parade took place was not in Ireland but in America. On March 17th, 1601 a Spanish colony in Florida was organized by Ricardo Artur. A century later Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched in New York in 1772 to honor St Patrick. Over the following years, Saint Patrick's Day became a way to honor Irish soldiers' heritage. One big tradition in America is the annual dying of the Chicago River green. This started in 1962 when workers in the city used dye to trace illegal sewage discards but realized it was a fun way to celebrate the holiday. That same year in 1962 they released 100 lbs of green vegetable dye into the river. Because of the environmental damage, they now only use 40 lbs of dye and the river only stays green for hours instead of a week. One of the most popular icons for the holiday is the leprechaun. The original name for the small creature was lobaircin which meant small-bodied fellow. The belief in leprechauns comes from the Celtic belief in fairies. Many folktales include leprechauns as cranky souls responsible for the mending of shoes of other fairies. Leprechauns are known for their tricky and mischievous behavior in trying to protect their gold. They also have their own holiday, May 13th, but are celebrated mostly on St Patrick's Day. WRITTEN BY NATHANIEL TKACH
Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements and history of African Americans. It is celebrated in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and even locally here in California. In California Black History Month is celebrated with many events such as, Los Angeles Black History Month Festival, and The Black History Parade and Festival in Pasadena California. The Los Angeles Black History Month Festival is on February 19th, In the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports Complex in Los Angeles and The Pasadena Parade and Festival is on the 18th in Robinson Park Recreation Center. They’re both celebrations of African-American culture, history, and achievements. There will be floats, dancers, bands, and vendors representing various aspects of African-American culture. The day will be full of music and laughter, with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to celebrate and learn. Both The Los Angeles Black History Month Festival and The 2023 Black History Parade and Festival will be incredible experiences. The origins of Black History Month can be traced back to 1915, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History began to organize the celebration of the accomplishments of African Americans. Woodson chose the second week of February to honor the birthdays of former president Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist Frederick Douglass. In 1976, the U.S. government officially recognized Black History Month. Since then, the celebration has grown in popularity and has become an important part of many school curriculums. During Black History Month, many communities host events and activities to honor African American culture and history. These events include lectures, film screenings, art exhibitions, and concerts. Schools often use the month to educate students about the history and achievements of African Americans. Black History Month is also an opportunity for everyone to learn about the history of African Americans and to recognize the role they have played in shaping the United States. It is a time to appreciate the courage and resilience of African Americans and to recognize the struggles they have faced throughout history. Black History Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans, recognize their struggles, and to learn more about their history. It is also a time to appreciate the role African Americans have played in shaping our nation and to reflect on how far we have come in achieving racial equality. WRITTEN BY: MELINA DE LA CRUZ AND BREANNA RAMIREZ
While most think that Valentine’s Day is a holiday created by greeting card companies, there is much more history and depth to it. Valentine's Day was originally a celebration in the 8th century for Saint Valentine. In the 15th century it later changed to a romantic love associated holiday. Valentine's day comes from both Christian and ancient Roman traditions. The Catholic Church recognizes different saints either named Valentine or Valentinus. Most legends say that Valentine was a priest who was discovered performing marriages for young lovers in secret and was therefore ordered to be beheaded. Other legends say that Valentine was imprisoned when he sent the first “valentine” to his lover. There is no one story that tells the truth of the start of the day of love. Valentine’s Day became popular during the Middle Ages. In France and England it was believed that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season. This added to the idea that Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance. As for how the theory of the holiday being created by a greeting card company, in the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Every year 145 million Valentine's Day cards and flowers are handed out with love. The day is usually spent on private dates with either a significant other or friends. Valentine's Day at VAAS was filled with lots of love and joy. Valentine’s day grams were passed out to students in their sixth period by the Senior Leadership class. The grams included greeting cards, an artificial rose, a teddy bear keychain, and (for seniors only) a graduation tassel. We hope you had a happy Valentine’s Day! WRITTEN BY ANGELINA BESHARA AND BREANNA RAMIREZ
We all know the holidays Christmas and Hanukkah, but did you know there's a third one? It’s called Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a holiday dedicated to celebrating African-American culture with family and communities from December 26 to January 1. The holiday concludes with a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. The 7 days of Kwanzaa represents Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). The week-long celebration may include songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large feast on December 31, called a Karamu. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Karenga in the 1960’s. The holiday was created for African Americans to have the opportunity to connect with their African roots and strengthen their bonds in a time of racial unrest. Maulana Karenga created a way of uniting and empowering the African American community in the aftermath of the deadly Watts Rebellion. Part of the celebration is the lighting of candles on the Kinara. The colors of Kwanzaa are black, red and green; black for the people, red for their struggle, and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. Therefore, there is one black candle. The candle represents the people or unity, and gets placed in the center of the Kinara. Three red and three green candles. These are the mishumaa saba (the seven k) and they represent the Seven Principles that are also represented by the seven days of the holiday. Kwanzaa is a day of having loved ones around. We all have differences , but one thing we all can agree on is celebrating special days with special people. |
AuthorDana Barbee Archives
May 2023
Categories |