South Korea on the World’s Stage By Polina Anastassieva, Sharon Schweitzer This past July, in partnership with the World Affairs Council of Austin, St. Edward’s University, Stratfor, and Neil-Cochran Museum, an event on South Korea was held. The two speakers, Dr. Jooyoun Lee, a professor at St. Edward’s University, and Roger Baker, an [...]
Obon Festival Tokyo, Japan - July 29, 2016 : Bon Odori Dancers at the Sugamo Bon Odori Festival in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, Japan. Bon dance, is a style of dancing performed during Obon. By Sharon Schweitzer Obon Festival is an annual Japanese ritual observed from the 13th to the 15th of [...]
National Vinyl Record Day By Sharon Schweitzer Music enthusiast and founder of the first nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the cultural influence of vinyl, Gary Freiberg created National Vinyl Record Day as a way to honor the art behind the music, collecting, and recording. Also known as a phonograph record, the first [...]
National Book Lovers Day By Sharon Schweitzer A day for all those who love to read, National Book Lovers Day encourages you to find your favorite reading place, a good book (whether it be fiction or nonfiction) and read the day away. Book Lovers Day appreciates the medium that has withstood and preserved [...]
Sailor Moon Day By Sharon Schweitzer Sailor Moon Day, celebrated on August 6th every year, celebrates one of the most popular manga and anime series, Sailor Moon. The series starts with a small, very talkative black cat and a young girl, Usagi Tsukino. Usagi received a brooch that helped transform her into the [...]
Matice Slovenska Day By Sharon Schweitzer Matica Slovenská Day (Deň Matice Slovenskej) is a remembrance day in Slovakia held on August 4th each year. This day commemorates the establishment of Slovakia’s primary scientific and cultural institution. It was founded in 1863, in a town named Martin, as part of the Slovak nation’s effort to [...]
International Day of Friendship By Sharon Schweitzer The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in [...]
World Tofu Day By Sharon Schweitzer World Tofu Day is annually observed on July 26th, in honor of tofu, a plant-based alternative to meat that is manufactured from soybeans. Tofu has seen a surge in popularity as more people switch to a plant-based diet. For vegans and vegetarians, it is particularly appreciated and [...]
Rational Harmony Day By Sharon Schweitzer Singapore’s identity as a cosmopolitan nation has evolved. The first of two racial riots in six weeks occurred in Singapore on July 21st, 1964, resulting in 36 deaths and over 500 injuries. Many racist events that have recently gone viral have elicited strong emotions and soul-searching about [...]
Cricket in the United States By Polina Anastassieva It is thought that cricket may have been invented during Saxon or Norman times by children living in the Weald, an area of dense woodlands and clearings in south-east England. Little boys bowled into either a tree stump or a sheep pen gate. The crossbar on [...]