Tag: holidays

Blue Christmas

US Adult Literacy2 Comments

Watch 16-year-old David Thibault from Quebec do an incredible imitation of Elvis Presley. It’s a song originally sung by Elvis called “Blue Christmas” (the lyrics are below):

“Blue Christmas”

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you

I’ll be so blue just thinking about you

Decorations are red on a green Christmas tree

It won’t be the same, dear, if you’re not here with me

And when the blue snowflakes start falling

That’s when those blue memories start calling

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white

But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas

You’ll be doing alright with your Christmas of white

But I’ll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas

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Fourth Fun Facts

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From Cleveland.com:

Did you know the following facts?

• The Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941.

• The stars on the original American flag were in a circle so all the Colonies would appear equal.

• Benjamin Franklin thought the turkey was a better choice as the national bird than the bald eagle.

• The number of Americans who will spend the holiday at other people’s homes is approximately 41 million.

• The first official Fourth of July party was held at the White House in 1801.

• Approximately 150 million hot dogs are consumed on this day.

• Presidents John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe all died on the Fourth. Adams and Jefferson died on the same day within hours of each other in 1826.

• The percentage of American homes with an outdoor grill is 87 percent.

• The amount of chicken purchased the week before the holiday is 700 million pounds.

• The Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 men from 13 colonies.

• In 1776, there were 2.5 million people living in the new nation. (Today there are 311 million.)

• There are more than 30 towns nationwide that have the word “Liberty” in their names.

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Monday Is Memorial Day

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From Wikipedia:

Memorial Day is a United States holiday which occurs every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It typically marks the start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.

Many people visit cemeteries, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries.

Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, living or dead.

Watch the video below for more info, then take the quiz to test your comprehension:

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Michael’s Mother’s Day Thought

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Michael’s Mother’s Day Thought

Mother, It was your eyes I saw first.
Mother, It was your smile that first let me know I was alive.
Mother, It was your milk that I tasted first.
Mother, It was your words that first encouraged me to read.
Mother, It was your touch that first soothed my boo boo.
Mother, It was your ears that first heard my cries.
Mother, It was you who told me that first was not  important when I had to stand in the back of the line.
Mother, It was you who told me that first was not important when I lost the race.
Mother, It was you who told me that first didn’t matter because you loved me no matter what number.

I was always an obedient child, Mother, and never disagreed with you.

But today on Mother’s Day, I want to say that you were wrong about being first.

To me, first is the most important thing because first is how I think of my Mother.

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Today Is Earth Day

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From timeanddate.com:

Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth’s environment. It is celebrated on April 22 every year.

What do people do

Earth Day is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.  Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.

Public Life

Earth Day is not a public holiday and public life, with regard to transport schedules and opening hours for schools and businesses, is not affected.

Background

The April 22 Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

Symbols

Symbols used by people to describe Earth Day include: an image or drawing of planet earth; a tree, a flower or leaves depicting growth; or the recycling symbol. Colors used for Earth Day include natural colors such as green, brown or blue.

A few questions for you:

Do you recycle all your paper, cardboard, plastic, and metal?

Do you drink tap water instead of bottled water?

Do you bring your own bag to the store instead using new plastic bags?

Do you turn off the lights and appliances when you’re not using them?

Do you use public transportation?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, think about how you can turn it into a “yes”!

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