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| Fun Facts A "Month by Month" guide with lots of interesting things to learn More fun facts here |
January January 1- an Official Date of New Year Celebrations The Roman emperor Julius Caesar officially declared January 1 to be a New Year in 46 B.C. Romans worshiped God Janus who had two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward. The month of January was named after this Roman God and it gave an idea to the emperor to establish January as a gate to the New Year. Jan 1, 1735 (Paul Revere's Birthday) Paul Revere (1735 - 1818) was an American patriot known for riding on a borrowed horse from Boston to Lexington on April 18, 1775 to warn the colonists that British troops were approaching. The next day, when the British arrived, the colonial minutemen were waiting for them. January 3, 1959 Alaska became the 49th state. What's the 50th? You're right, Hawaii! January 19, 2008 is National Popcorn Day So...Go eat some popcorn! January 1, 1892 - Ellis Island Opened Ellis Island served as the entrance to America for everyone from other countries (immigrants) arriving between 1892 and 1954. Although some were turned away, 98 percent of those examined at Ellis Island were allowed into the country. Ellis Island is in New York Near the Statue of Liberty My family came from Italy to Ellis Island. Where did your relatives come from? Ask your parents December Facts Although many celebrate Christmas, many do not. There are SO many customs and religions....too many to mention, so let's Celebrate Winter! December 1, 1955 - Rosa Parks Day African-American Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her bus seat to a white passenger. One year later, on December 20, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregated bus seating illegal. During that year, the forty-two year Montgomery seamstress lead a peaceful bus boycott that became a model for other civil rights protests. December 5, 1901 - Walt Disney's Birthday December 7, 1941 - Pearl Harbor attacked by Japan During this attack in Hawaii, the United States suffered 3,700 deaths, along with damage to twenty-one ships and 300 planes. December 18, 1865 - Slavery abolished December 22 - Winter Solstace Around the 12th century, the remnants of the former Saturnalia traditions of the Romans were transferred to the Twelve Days of Christmas (25 December – 5 January). Christmas during the Middle Ages was a public festival, incorporating ivy, holly, and other evergreens, as well as gift-giving. |
| February Most of us think of Valentines Day this month. Here's where it started: Valentine's Day falls on the feast day of two Christian martyrs named Valentine. The customs of Valentine's Day has nothing to do with the lives of the saints. The customs come from an ancient Roman festival called Lupercalia which took place every February 15. The festival honored Juno, the Roman goddess of women and marriage - and Pan,the god of nature. Feb 21st 2008 Really Cool! Total Lunar Elipse The moon is cold and has no light but it shines by sunlight reflected on it's surface. Feb 3 - Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act Since the Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973, many species have been saved from extinction, including the bald eagle, the humpback whale, and the American bison. February 14, 1859 - Birthday of George Ferris Happy Ferris Wheel Day! He built the first Ferris Wheel in 1893 for the Worlds Fair. It was Fifty-Cents to ride and the fair made over $726,000! George was a bridge builder from Pennsylvania |
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