International Sushi Day By Sharon Schweitzer To find the origins of sushi we must look at a dish called narezushi. Narezushi is salted fish stored in fermented rice for months at a time. Southeast Asia and Japan both had their own version of the dish, the rice was discarded and the fish was [...]
Father’s Day By Sharon Schweitzer We hold an incredibly special place in our hearts for our fabulous fathers and we observe with intrigue as cultures worldwide celebrate father figures. U.S. Americans prepare to honor fathers, father-figures, and male role-models on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, and we share the unique traditions of ten countries [...]
Honoring Old Glory: Flag Protocol on National Flag Day By Sharon Schweitzer Annually, on June 14, the United States celebrates the Star Spangled Banner on National Flag Day. Celebrated on the anniversary of the Flag Resolution, signed by the Second Continental Congress in 1777, US citizens are called to hoist the stars and [...]
Dragon Boat Festival By Sharon Schweitzer The Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Double Fifth Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday with more than two thousand years of history. It begins on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. Because the fifth month is considered an unlucky time of year, many traditions [...]
International Clothesline Week By Sharon Schweitzer International Clothesline Week was first started in 2006, and is celebrated from the first Saturday of June to the next, all around the world. This year it takes place from June 1st-8th. It is a week-long celebration initially created to enlighten people about more sustainable living. Do [...]
Graduation Gift Giving By Sharon Schweitzer May and June are the months of college, high school, nursing, trade school and university commencements. A time filled with exams, finals, papers, and bells ringing freedom. Graduation parties and open houses are common as students celebrate meeting their goals, after years of challenging work, and begin [...]
Memorial Day By Sharon Schweitzer Do you know the true meaning, culture, and history of Memorial Day? Find out with these ten quiz questions! ____ 1. The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1922. ____ 2. Memorial Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. ____ 3. In 2000, President [...]
Mother’s Day By Sharon Schweitzer In many countries and cultures, our love of our mothers crosses international borders. Depending on which part of the globe you call home, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different days and in different seasons. The history of this holiday in the U.S. began in the early 20th century [...]
Cinco De Mayo By Sharon Schweitzer Everyone knows what May 5th, or Cinco De Mayo, means tacos, margaritas, fun, and fiesta. But did you know that without what happened on this fateful day, the United States may have not existed as we know it today? The first Cinco de Mayo celebrations didn’t include margaritas—those [...]
Japan’s Golden Week By Sharon Schweitzer Golden Week is a significant week-long holiday in Japan, comprising four national holidays - Showa Day, Constitution Memorial Day, Greenery Day, and Children's Day. These holidays fall between April 29th and May 5th every year, and it's customary for people to take a break from their work [...]