Not all calendars have all of the celebrated holidays listed on their pages, so an overdue review might be in order. Look at a calendar as we conduct this review.
Jan. 1, New Year’s Day — not only the traditional day to start the new year, but the time to enjoy traditional festivities such as the Rose Bowl Parade and football game. It is also a day to recover from the exciting night before, the prelude to New Year’s Day, when in Times Square the nation watches as the ball descends on schedule to proclaim that another New Year is here.
People who remember the words now sing “Auld Lang Syne,” which keeps alive the memory of Robert Burns, the Scottish Poet Laureate who wrote the song many years ago. See how a holiday brings memories alive.
The second important federal holiday is the third Monday in January, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday is celebrated. The Civil Rights Movement, a very important event in our country, was credited to him as its determined leader.
Then comes George Washington’s birthday, which was first celebrated as a holiday in 1879. Most of us remember the 22nd of February. In 1968, Congress changed the date from the 22nd to the third Monday in February. People now consider it as an all-President’s Day, but Washington’s name remains since he was No. 1. It was also another three-day weekend.
We skip April Fool’s Day since it appears to be losing its effect.
The last Monday in May is Memorial Day, which respects the war dead from the Civil War onwards. The numbers are sobering.
The Fourth of July or Independence Day commemorates our separation from British rule. The entire country celebrates with displays of fireworks, with Washington D.C. providing a memorable program to remind us. Fontana will continue to offer fireworks to its residents, although big fireworks displays can be seen in nearby locales.
The country relaxes during the summer until we reach Labor Day, the first Monday in September, which celebrates the achievements of workers in the U.S. It is also the unofficial end to summer, which still has several weeks to go.
With a flip of the calendar, we come to a very important day in our history, Oct. 12, acknowledged as the day Christopher Columbus discovered the New World and America. The event is now recognized on the second Monday in October, another three-day celebration. New York City has its Columbus Circle with statue in Manhattan.
Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, which honors all our veterans. World War I ended at 11 a.m. on the 11th month in 1918. The U.S. was in it from April 1917 to November 1918.
Thanksgiving Day is held on the fourth Thursday in November. It gives thanks for the autumn harvest and includes the sharing of turkeys at family reunions. Unofficially, the end of the year holiday season starts with Thanksgiving. It is a powerful day for the U.S. economy. Just look at the ads and the airline schedules.
Dec. 25 is Christmas, which celebrates the Christian birth of Jesus. It is a strong religious holiday with heavy church attendance. For the children, it is the day for the appearance of Santa Claus, and the editorial “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” appears in numerous newspapers all over the country.
The calendar is exhausted after a year of interesting reviews of history.
In addition to the national holidays, there are the state celebrations. This consists of a heavy slate of celebrations with no days off. Just to mention a few, we have Mardi Gras, Civil War events and personalities, and other state days of remembrance. In California, we have Cesar Chavez Day. Other days which people acknowledge and celebrate include St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Good Friday, and Mother’s Day.
These days of remembrance and celebration are good for the soul. Participate as often and as fully as you can.