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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20251231
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20270107
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043929Z
UID:6910-1767139200-1799279999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Winter Break
DESCRIPTION:HAPPY WINTER BREAK & HAPPY NEW YEAR\nSCHOOL IS CLOSED\nSEE YOU AFTER WINTER BREAK
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/winter-break-2/
CATEGORIES:School Break,School Closed
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260723
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260724
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043915Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043915Z
UID:6902-1784764800-1784851199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Tisha B'Av
DESCRIPTION:Prayer\, fasting\, and abstinence mark Tisha B´Av as a day of mourning for tragic events in Jewish history. \nIs Tisha B´Av a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, some Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Tisha B´Av?\nTisha B´Av is celebrated on the 9th day of the month of Av in the Hebrew calendar\, which falls in July or August in the Gregorian calendar. \nDestruction of the Temples\nThis commemoration recalls the destruction of the two great temples of Jerusalem: Solomon´s First Temple razed by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586 BCE\, and the Second Temple\, destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE. \nOther tragedies are also recalled on this date\, such as the expulsion of Jews from England\, Spain\, and other countries\, and the massacre of Jewish people during the Crusades and the Holocaust. \nAs a result\, this holiday is generally considered the saddest day of the Jewish calendar. Tisha B´Av is also believed to be a day that is likely to produce tragic outcomes\, so many religious Jews do not hold weddings on this date. \nFive Prohibitions and Lamentations\nTraditionally\, the Talmud´s Book of Lamentations is read in the synagogue on Tisha B´Av\, followed by dirges known as kinot. \nOn the day\, there are prohibitions dictated by scripture and tradition\, including: \n\nNo eating or drinking.\nNo washing or bathing.\nUse of scented creams or oils is not allowed.\nWearing leather shoes is forbidden.\nThere are edicts against physical affection and sexual relations on this date.\n\nFor more religious people\, only sad texts from the Torah may be studied on Tisha B´Av. And some sit on low stools and sleep on the floor as a part of the mourning tradition. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/tisha-bav-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260726
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260727
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043813Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043813Z
UID:6861-1785024000-1785110399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Parents' Day
DESCRIPTION:Parental figures in the United States receive the recognition for the role they play in their children’s lives on Parents’ Day. The day aims to promote responsible parenting and to recognize positive parental role models. It celebrates the special bonds of love between parental figures and their children. \nIs Parents’ Day a Public Holiday?\nParents’ Day is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, July 28\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nWhat Do People Do?\nParents’ Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July each year. Citizens\, organizations\, and federal\, state\, and local governmental and legislative entities are encouraged to recognize Parents’ Day through proclamations\, activities\, and educational efforts to recognize\, uplift and support the role of parents in bringing up their children. \nThe Parents’ Day Council plays an active role in celebrating and promoting Parents’ Day through a range of events and activities.  For example\, the council honors “Parents of the Year” at local\, state and national levels. Those who have been nominated or selected are people who exemplify the standard and ideal of positive parenthood. Exemplary parents from each state are nominated for “National Parents of the Year”. \nParents’ Day is a popular time for people to send cards and gifts\, including flowers\, cakes and food hampers\, to those who play an important role as a positive parental figure in their lives. It is also a time for families to come together for lunches or dinners. Special tributes to parental figures who are seen as role models are made through local announcements\, at church services\, or at local community events. Parents’ Day proclamations and rallies have been held in recent times and involved organizations such as the United Civil Rights Councils of America. \nPublic Life\nParents’ Day is a national observance but it is not a public holiday in the United States. \nBackground\nParents’ Day promotes the message that the role of the parent is important in human development\, which requires investment\, focus\, and commitment. In 1994 President Bill Clinton signed into law a resolution adopted by the US Congress to establish the fourth Sunday of every July as Parents’ Day. This day is similar to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. According to the Congressional Resolution\, Parents’ Day is established for “recognizing\, uplifting\, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children” (cited in the National Parents’ Day Council website). \nSymbols\nImages of people engaged in active learning activities with their children are often used in photos\, posters\, paintings\, stickers and sketches to promote Parents’ Day. Images of flowers are also used to promote the day. The messages that organizations try to portray through these images are that: commitment is a core family value; parental responsibilities are important to children’s growth and development; and that unconditional love is needed for a strong bond between parental figures and their children. Parental figures include biological\, foster or step-parents.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/parents-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260803
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260808
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043857Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043857Z
UID:6889-1785715200-1786147199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Summer Break
DESCRIPTION:HAPPY SUMMER BREAK\nSCHOOL IS CLOSED\nSEE YOU AFTER SUMMER BREAK
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/summer-break-2/
CATEGORIES:School Break,School Closed
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260807
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260808
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T035725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035725Z
UID:6723-1786060800-1786147199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Purple Heart Day
DESCRIPTION:Purple Heart Day is an observance that commemorates the creation of the Purple Heart Medal in 1782. \nIs Purple Heart Day a Public Holiday?\nThis is not a public holiday. Government and public offices\, businesses\, and schools are not closed on this day but may hold special events and outreach programs to commemorate the annual observance. \nThe holiday also encourages people to pay their respects to fallen soldiers\, to listen to the stories of soldiers and veterans\, and to thank them for their service to the nation. \nFrom the Revolutionary War to WW I\nThe Purple Heart was first created on August 7\, 1782 by the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army\, General George Washington. Then known as the Badge of Military Merit\, it was awarded to 3 Revolutionary soldiers in 1783. \nAfter the end of the American War of Independence\, no medals were awarded until 1932\, when the medal was revived on the bicentennial anniversary of George Washington’s birth. According to a circular dated February 22\, 1932\, Purple Heart Medals were to be awarded to those wounded or killed while serving in the United States Armed Forces as a result of enemy action on or after April 5\, 1917. The United States officially joined the First World War on April 6\, 1917. \n1.8 Million Awarded\nAt current estimates about 1.8 million Purple Hearts have been awarded since then. \nToday\, in addition to being awarded to those who fight wars overseas\, the Purple Heart is also given to military personnel who display bravery and valor as prisoners of war and while fighting certain types of domestic terrorists. \nA Symbol of Bravery\nThe Purple Heart is a heart shaped purple medal with a gold border. The front has a profile of George Washington\, while the back has the words for military merit inscribed on it. The medal is attached to a piece of purple silk with a silver border. \nPublic Life\nThe observance is also called the National Purple Heart Day\, Purple Heart Appreciation Day\, and Purple Heart Recognition Day. \nPurple Heart Day is an unofficial observance. This means that businesses\, government offices and public transport do not close on this day. \nVeteran and military organizations hold remembrance meetings for fallen heroes and special events to thank soldiers\, veterans\, and Purple Heart recipients on this day. Many people fly the American flags at their homes and businesses as a way to show their solidarity with the troops. \nThe Purple Heart Foundation\, the fundraising arm of the Military Order of the Purple Heart\, recommends donating time and money to the foundation or to other organizations working with Purple Heart recipients and their families on this day. They also encourage people to listen to soldiers and veterans and learn more about their life stories and their military service.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/purple-heart-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260815
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260816
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T034831Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034831Z
UID:6659-1786752000-1786838399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Assumption of Mary
DESCRIPTION:Catholic churches in the United States celebrate the feast of the Assumption on August 15 each year to honor the belief that Jesus’ mother was taken to heaven. \nIs Assumption of Mary a Public Holiday?\nAssumption of Mary is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany Christians in the United States attend mass (church service) and have big feasts to celebrate Mary’s rise into heaven on Assumption Day. Although it is not celebrated as extravagantly as other countries\, there are many states that have festivals with music\, dancing\, food vendors\, artwork\, parades and firework shows to celebrate this event. \nOne of the largest Assumption Day celebrations is in Cleveland\, Ohio\, where there is a four-day festival that starts on August 12. The festival celebrates the Feast of Assumption in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood. \nPublic Life\nAssumption Day\, which is on August 15\, is not a public holiday in the United States so schools\, government offices and businesses are open. Public transport providers run to their usual schedules. In New York City\, the laws regarding which side of the street you can park on are suspended for Assumption Day. \nBackground\nAssumption Day is considered a Holy Day of Obligation\, but if it falls on a Saturday or on a Monday\, it is not obligatory by the church to attend mass.  This was amended in the church calendar by US (United States) bishops in 1991.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/assumption-of-mary-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260826
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260827
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T040023Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040023Z
UID:6740-1787702400-1787788799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Women's Equality Day
DESCRIPTION:Women’s Equality Day celebrates the anniversary of the adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States’ Constitution on August 26\, 1920. \nIs Women’s Equality Day a Public Holiday?\nWomen’s Equality Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nA 40-Year Journey\nThe amendment\, which was and still remains a major landmark in the women’s rights movement in the United States\, was first introduced in the Congress in 1878 by California Senator Aaron A. Sargent on the behest of suffragists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Because of this\, the first version of the amendment is often called the Anthony Amendment\, after Susan B. Anthony\, who was arrested for voting in the Presidential elections in 1872. \nArrested for Voting\nThe journey to gain the right to vote for women was a long one – voting rights had been extended to all male citizens of the United States by the 14th Amendment in 1868. The 15th Amendment\, which was passed in 1870\, prohibited the central or any state government from denying an American citizen the right to vote based on their “race\, color\, or previous condition of servitude. Despite this\, women were not allowed to vote in most states and were often arrested when they tried to cast their ballots during elections under the two amendments. \nWidespread Opposition\nOpposition to voting by women was widespread and the amendment did not get to the see the light of the day again until 1914 when it was once gain brought up in the US congress. In May 1919\, two-thirds of the Congress voted in favor of the amendment and it was sent to the states for ratification. \nWhile there are still many issues that the women’s rights movement has been working and fighting for\, the amendment ensured that women could make their voices heard and affect policy change. \nCelebrating Equality\nWomen’s Equality Day was first celebrated in 1971 after the Congress passed a resolution to mark the occasion annually. The proposal to do so was made by Representative and feminist Bella Abzug. The purpose behind the creation of this holiday was to raise awareness about the importance of gender equality in society and to recognize the hard work and sacrifices made by the pioneers in the suffrage movement. \nWomen’s rights organizations and groups that work in the area of voting rights celebrate this day by holding seminars and workshops that address issues and problems currently faced by women in the country. Schools and educators take the day as an opportunity to educate students of the long and often difficult journey of the women’s rights movement to gain basic human rights. \nBecause this is an observance and not a national holiday\, businesses\, public and private organizations and schools remain open on this day.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/womens-equality-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260826
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260827
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043914Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043914Z
UID:6900-1787702400-1787788799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:The Prophet's Birthday (Tentative Date)
DESCRIPTION:Eid Milad ul-Nabi (Mawlid\, Milad–un-Nabi) celebrates the Prophet Muhammad’s life. It falls on the 12th or 17th day of the Islamic month of Rabi’ al-awwal. Some Muslims in the United States mark this occasion by fasting or holding communal meals\, special prayers or outdoor celebrations. \nIs The Prophet’s Birthday a Public Holiday?\nThe Prophet’s Birthday is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThere are mixed beliefs on how one observes Muhammed’s birthday. Some people see the Prophet’s birthday as an event worthy of praise. Others view the celebration of birthdays as contradictory to Islamic law.  Both sides cite the Hadith (narrations originating from the words and deeds of the Prophet Muhammed) and events from Muhammed’s life to support their views. \nMawlid\, or Milad\, is celebrated with large street parades in some countries. Homes and mosques are also decorated. Some people donate food and other goods for charity on or around this day. Others listen to their children read out poems about events that occurred in the Prophet Muhammed’s life. Mawlid is celebrated in this way in many communities across the United States\, the United Kingdom\, Canada\, or Australia. \nHowever\, many Muslims also do not participate in celebrations on this day. Instead\, they may mark the occasion by spending more time to read the Koran. Muhammed is said to have been born on a Monday and some scholars see fasting during the hours of daylight on Mondays as another way to celebrate his birth. \nPublic Life\nMawlid is a public holiday in many Islamic countries but not in Australia\, Canada\, the United Kingdom and the United States. Many schools\, stores\, businesses and organizations are open. Islamic schools\, stores\, businesses and organizations may be closed for part of or all of the day. Public transit systems usually operate to their regular schedule. \nBackground\nMuhammed was born in Mecca\, now in Saudi Arabia\, in the year 570 of the Gregorian calendar. The precise date of his birth is unclear. However\, Sunni Muslims observe Muhammed’s birthday on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi’ al-awwal\, while Shi’a Muslims mark it on the 17th day of this month. The 17th day of Rabi’ al-awwal commemorates the birth of the sixth Shi’a iman\, Ja’far al-Sadiq. \nThe term Mawlid is used in Egypt and Sudan to refer to the birthdays of both Muhammed and local Sufi saints. The birthdays of about 3000 Sufi saints are marked or celebrated. Some of these birthdays are large celebrations that attract visitors from various countries. One of the most notable of these is the celebration of Ahmed el-Bedawi’s birthday. Ahmed el-Bedawi lived about 700 years ago and is believed to be buried under the Mosque of Sheikh el-Said Ahmed el-Bedawi. The site attracts millions of visitors\, including those who sleep in the mosque and in tents on the streets surrounding it. \nThe word Mawlid\, or Milad\, depending on the method of transliteration used\, comes from the Arabic word for birth and usually refers to the anniversary of Muhammed’s birth. This observance is also known as Mevlid Serif in Turkish\, Mawlūd Sharīf in Urdu and Maulidur-Rasūl in Malay.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/the-prophets-birthday-tentative-date-2/
CATEGORIES:Muslim
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260827
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260828
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043829Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043829Z
UID:6873-1787788800-1787875199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Raksha Bandhan
DESCRIPTION:Raksha Bandhan (or Raksha Bandhana) is a Hindu festival that celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters\, and families\, on the full moon of the Hindu month of Shravana (Shravan Poornima)\, or around July and August. This day is also called Brother and Sister Day. \nIs Raksha Bandhan a Public Holiday?\nRaksha Bandhan is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThe festivities of Rakhi Bandhan begin at day break where people wear new clothes and gather for worship. Traditionally\, the sister ties a rakhi or raksha bandhan\, a bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads and amulets\, around their brother’s wrists while offering a prayer of happiness and prosperity. The brother then offers his sister gifts such as a piece of jewelry or money\, while promising to protect her under any circumstances. During this exchange\, the brother and sister traditionally offer each other sweets. \nAfter performing all these rituals\, the whole family gathers together to enjoy in the festivities. They celebrate with food\, sweets\, gifts\, music and dance. It is a day to reflect on family memories as well as other family members who live far away. \nIn Nepal\, the festival is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists. The Brahmins put the rakhis around everyone’s wrist and it is worn until Diwali. \nPublic Life\nRaksha Bandhan is a restricted holiday in India\, so government offices and many businesses are closed on this day. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia\, Canada\, the United Kingdom\, and the United States. \nBackground\nRaksha Bandhan is based on the battle between the deities and the demons where the king of the deities\, Lord Indra feared that they were going to lose to the demons. The wife of the king\, Indrani (Shashikala) prepared a sacred thread with her religious power and tied it around her husband’s right wrist in hopes that it would protect him from the demons. Her hopes came true when the deities defeated the demons later that day and Lord Indra returned to her safely. \nThe occasion involves more than a celebration among brothers and sisters but also a pledge of moral\, cultural and spiritual values. The festival and rituals of Raksha Bandhan has become so important to Hindus that brothers and sisters try to visit each other in order to bring back the solidarity of the family\, binding the family together in an emotional bond of love. \nSymbols\nRakhi has been a symbol of seeking help or protection from the powerful ones by the weaker ones. The translation behind this ceremony comes from the word Raksha meaning protection and Bandhan meaning the verb to tie.  The Raksha bandhan or rakhi symbolizes a “thread of protection”.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/raksha-bandhan-2/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260904
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260905
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043657Z
UID:6809-1788480000-1788566399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Janmashtami
DESCRIPTION:Krishna Janmashtami (Krishnashtami\, Saatam Aatham\, Gokulashtami\, Astami Rohini\, Srikrishna Jayanti\, Sree Jayanthi\, Janmashtami) is one of the most important Hindu festivals that celebrates the birth of Krishna\, the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu. It is celebrated on the eighth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrava\, which is usually in August or September. \nIs Janmashtami a Public Holiday?\nJanmashtami is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany people fast until the sighting of the new moon\, which is followed by a full night vigil that commemorates the birth of Krishna at midnight. There are ceremonies and prayers at temples\, as well as rituals that are performed in different areas such as bathing the idol of the infant Krishna\, dressing it in new clothes and jewelry\, and then placing his image in a silver cradle with toys. \nSome areas have performances such as folk dramas that depict scenes from Krishna’s life in Mathura. Other areas have rituals that include pots that have money\, curds\, and butter that are hung high over the streets\, and boys form human pyramids to try to break the pot\, which is held in Maharashtra and known as Govinda. The event is accompanied with a feast of 108 dishes\, a number that has come to be identified as religious by the faithful. Traditional processions are held as part of the celebrations. \nPublic Life\nKrishna Janmashtami is a gazetted holiday in India so government offices and many businesses (including local offices and shops) are closed. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia\, Canada\, the United Kingdom and the United States but some cities may hold large celebrations for the Janmashtami festival. \nBackground\nThere are numerous legends that tell the life of Krishna. He is known for his mischievous pranks such as tricking people out of their freshly churned butter or stealing clothes while they bathed in the river. Krishna is known for defeating the 100-headed serpent\, Kaliya\, by dancing it to submission. \nSymbols\nThere are many paintings\, sculptures and classical dances that depict the life of Krishna\, which typically show him as a child dancing and holding a ball of butter. He is also often shown as the divine lover\, playing the flute and surrounded by adoring women. \nThe climbing games reflect the stories of Krishna\, who as a boy loved milk and butter so much that they had to be kept out of his reach. \nLadies draw patterns of little children’s footprints outside that are walking towards their house to symbolize the entry of the infant Krishna into his foster-home or their homes.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/janmashtami-2/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260907
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260908
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043659Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043659Z
UID:6813-1788739200-1788825599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Labor Day
DESCRIPTION:Labor Day is a federal holiday on the first Monday of September every year. It has its roots in the American labor movement. \nIs Labor Day a Public Holiday?\nThis is a state public holiday. State government offices are closed. Some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day. \nWhat Day Is Labor Day?\nLabor Day is on the first Monday of September every year and is a national holiday in the US. It has its origins in the labor movement and is a day to celebrate American workers. \nPeople celebrate Labor Day with picnics\, sports events\, and street parades. The American football season begins on—or around—Labor Day. \nWhy don’t the US celebrate in May\, like the rest of the world? \nLabor Day Weekend\nLabor Day has become the unofficial end of summer—after Labor Day Weekend\, kids are back to school. \nFor many\, it is the last chance to take a break before school starts again for the fall session\, and people take advantage of the long weekend to take a last summer trip. As a result\, there may be extra traffic on highways and at airports. \nHistory of Labor Day\nLabor Day has deep roots in the 130 years of the labor movement and its efforts to improve working conditions in America. It is also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day and is celebrated on May 1 internationally. \nWith the growth of the Industrial Revolution came the demand for labor and trade unions. Around the 1850s\, eight-hour movements across the world aimed to reduce the working day from ten to eight hours. At its first congress in 1886\, the American Federation of Labour called for a general strike in Chicago on May 1 to demand an eight-hour day\, which culminated in what is known today as the Haymarket affair. \nWhen Was the First Labor Day?\nThe first Labor Day celebration was the Labor Day parade in New York City on September 5\, 1882. Its origins stem from the Central Labor Union’s and other labor organizations’ desire to create a holiday for workers. Oregon was the first state to pass it as a legal holiday in 1887\, and by the end of the same year\, Colorado\, Massachusetts\, New Jersey\, and New York had passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. President Grover Cleveland made it a federal holiday in 1894. \nWho Founded Labor Day?\nAccording to the US Department of Labor\, it is not completely clear who first suggested the Labor Day holiday. Some sources say that Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. Others argue that Peter J. Mcguire\, co-founder of the American Federation of Labor\, suggested a holiday for the ‘laboring classes’ in 1882. \nThe holiday was set on the first Monday in September because this was considered a more politically neutral date than May 1. Another reason was to add a holiday to bridge the long gap between Independence Day in July and Thanksgiving in November.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/labor-day-3/
CATEGORIES:Federal Holiday,School Closed,State Holiday
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260909
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260910
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T034720Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034720Z
UID:6649-1788912000-1788998399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:California Admission Day
DESCRIPTION:September 9 is California Admission Day in the United States. It celebrates the time when California became the 31st state in 1850. \nIs California Admission Day a Public Holiday?\nThis is a state public holiday. State government offices are closed. Some schools and businesses may also be closed on this day. \nCelebrate California Admission Day\nSome state public offices\, organizations\, businesses\, museums and schools have special events to celebrate the state’s history on this day. \nPublic Life\nCalifornia Admission Day is a legal observance but most public offices\, schools\, and businesses generally do not close. However\, some municipalities in California observe it as a holiday with closed offices. This includes the City of Monterey\, the site of the first California Constitutional Convention\, held in 1849. \nAbout California Admission Day\nIn 1849\, leaders from around the future state of California drafted California’s first constitution\, which was approved on November 13 that year by a vote of 12\,064 to 811. In January\, 1850\, the State Legislature began its first two-year session. On September 9\, 1850\, California became the 31st entry into the Union. \nOn September 9\, 1924\, California’s “Bear Flag” flew over the White House to honor the date of California’s admission. In 1984\, however\, Governor George Deukmejian signed legislation changing its observance to a “personal” option. In recent times\, Californian governors have made public proclamations\, inviting the public to observe the day.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/california-admission-day-2/
CATEGORIES:State Holiday
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260912
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260913
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043840Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043840Z
UID:6877-1789171200-1789257599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Rosh Hashana
DESCRIPTION:Jewish families usher in the Hebrew calendar´s New Year with a trumpeting ram´s horn and sweet apples with honey. \nIs Rosh Hashanah a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed during the two-day celebration. \nWhen Is Rosh Hashanah?\nThe Jewish New Year starts on the first day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between early September and early October in the Gregorian calendar. \nA Blast From a Ram´s Horn\nIn the Old Testament\, the New Year is referred to as Yom Teruah (“a day of shouting or blasting.”) Many Jewish people in the United States attend Rosh Hashanah services at a synagogue to hear the trumpet-like blasting of a shofar (hollow ram´s horn). \nIn most temples\, this ancient instrument is blown for 100 blasts on each day of the holiday. The trumpeting of the horn is meant as a kind of wake-up call to inspire the worshipers to reflect on their lives\, repent\, and focus again on divinity. \nIn recent years\, the haunting sound of the shofar has found its way into popular culture\, most notably appearing in Jerry Goldsmith´s score for the film “Alien.” \nDays of Awe\nTraditionally\, Rosh Hashanah marks the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve and starts a period known as the High Holy Days or Ten Days of Awe. \nThe biblical belief is that God judges all creatures during this stretch of time\, writing the names of the righteous into the “Book of Life” and giving those who are not yet fully righteous the chance to perform teshuvah (repentance). \nBecause of this belief\, religious Jewish communities think of Rosh Hashana as a particularly good time to settle disputes\, pray\, and do good deeds. \nAnother custom for some Jews is tashlich (a casting off of sin). Pieces of bread representing the sins of the past year are tossed into a moving body of water such as a river to drift away\, allowing the person to feel cleansed and able to start again with a clean slate. \nApples and Honey\nMany Jewish families in the United States host festive meals on Rosh Hashana. Apples and honey\, round challah bread with raisins\, and sweet carrot tzimmes are served\, representing hope for the year to come. A prayer is often recited over the table that translates as: “May it be Your will to renew for us a good and sweet year.” \nPomegranates are also part of the holiday feast\, often served after a prayer that reads\, “may our merits be many like the (seeds of the) pomegranate.”
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/rosh-hashana-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260913
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260914
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043742Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043742Z
UID:6839-1789257600-1789343999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:National Grandparents Day
DESCRIPTION:Many families in the United States observe National Grandparents Day on the first Sunday of September after Labor Day. This day honors grandparents. \nIs National Grandparents Day a Public Holiday?\nNational Grandparents Day is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, September 8\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany people honor their grandparents through a range of activities such as gift-giving\, card-giving\, and for children to invite their grandparents to school for a day where they participate in special lessons or special assembly programs. Many school students take part in story-telling activities that relate to their grandparents\, as well as art or poster competitions where children often use a story about their grandparents in their artwork. \nAbout four million greeting cards are sent within the United States each year on National Grandparents Day. This day is also an opportunity for people to appreciate and express their love to their grandparents through kind actions such as making a phone call or inviting their grandparents for dinner.  People living in retirement villages or nursing homes may receive a visit from their grandchildren or loved ones on this day. \nPublic Life\nNational Grandparents Day is an observance and not a public holiday in the United States. \nBackground\nNational Grandparents Day has more than one origin. Some people consider it to have been first proposed by Michael Goldgar in the 1970s after he visited his aunt in an Atlanta nursing home\, Spending $11\,000 of his own money in lobbying efforts to have the day officially recognized\, he made 17 trips to Washington DC over a seven-year span to meet with legislators. \nOthers consider Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade\, a housewife in West Virginia\, to have been the main driver for the day of observance. Throughout the 1970s McQuade worked hard to educate the people about the important contributions senior citizens made and the contributions that they would be willing to make if asked. She also urged people to adopt a grandparent\, not for one day a year and not for material giving\, but for a lifetime of experience. \nIn any event National Grandparents Day was finally signed into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. Marian McQuade received a phone call from the White House to advise her of this event. Many people believe that National Grandparents Day was inspired by her efforts. A presidential proclamation on September 6\, 1979\, made this day official – it designated Sunday\, September 9\, 1979\, (being the “first Sunday of September following Labor Day”) as National Grandparents Day. \nEach year the President is requested to issue a proclamation to: designate the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day; and to call on people\, groups and organizations to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. \nSymbols\nThe official song of National Grandparents Day is “A Song for Grandma And Grandpa” by Johnny Prill. The official flower for the day is the “forget-me-not” flower.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/national-grandparents-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260914
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260915
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043630Z
UID:6794-1789344000-1789430399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Ganesh Chaturthi
DESCRIPTION:Ganesh Chaturthi is a festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha\, the Hindu god of wisdom and success. It is also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi and can last up to 10 days during the Hindu Month of Bhadra\, which usually falls between mid-August and mid-September. \nIs Ganesh Chaturthi a Public Holiday?\nGanesh Chaturthi is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nArtistic clay models of Lord Ganesha that range from 3/4″ of an inch to over 25 feet tall are made two to three months prior to the festival. Many of these statues are put into specially made mandapas or pandals that are decorated with flower garlands and lights so that they can be displayed inside homes. Many Hindus attend temple on this day and offer Lord Ganesha coconut and sweet pudding. \nThe festival includes many public activities such as local communities competing to put up the biggest statue and best pandal of Lord Ganesha\, cultural activities such as singing\, art presentations\, yoga demonstrations\, music and theater performance\, as well as community services such as free medical check-ups\, blood donations\, and charities for the poor. \nLord Ganesha is worshipped for ten days\, and on the 11th day after the final offering of coconuts\, flowers and camphor are made\, a procession accompanied with dancing and singing is taken through the streets with people carrying the images and statues of Ganesha. The idol is immersed into the river or sea to symbolize Lord Ganesha’s journey back to his home in Kailash and taking with him all of the misfortunes of man. \nPublic Life\nGanesha Chaturthi is a gazetted holiday in some countries so government offices and many businesses may be closed. It is a restricted holiday in India so government offices and most businesses remain open. Individuals have the flexibility to take time off to celebrate the holiday if they choose. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia\, Canada\, the United Kingdom\, and the United States but some cities may hold large celebrations for the occasion. \nBackground\nGanesha Chaturthi is a major traditional Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesh\, the elephant-headed son o f Shiva (the God of Destruction) and Parvati. Lord Ganesha is widely worshiped as the god of wisdom\, prosperity\, and good fortune. It is believed that Lord Ganesha was born on a fourth day (chaturthi) of the fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Magh\, thus making a festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Ganesha to be named Ganesha Chaturthi. \nIndian freedom fighter and social reformer Lokmanya Tilak transformed the annual festival into a large\, well-organized public event after 1893. Tilak encouraged the installation of large public images of Lord Ganesha in pavilions\, and also established the practice of submerging all public images of the deity into rivers\, seas\, or other pools of water. Tilak’s support of the festival facilitated community participation and involvement. It served as a meeting ground for people of all communities and began many community activities such as intellectual discourses\, poetry recitals\, performances of plays\, musical concerts\, and folk dances. \nSymbols\nThe statues of Ganesha are made in various poses. Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant\, four podgy hands joined to a large belly with each hand holding its own symbolic object. Lord Ganesha holds a trishul or trident in one hand to punish\, an ankush or goad (made from his very own broken tooth) in another to control the mind\, a lotus in the third to bless the well-being of humanity\, and a rosary (which is sometimes replaced by modaks\, his favorite sweet) in the fourth for happiness. Some say that his large ears signify listening to God\, while his large forehead is to develop great intellect. His large stomach shows his capacity to empathize with the troubles of devotees\, while his long trunk symbolizes his deep scriptural wisdom.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/ganesh-chaturthi-2/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260915
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260916
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T035110Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035110Z
UID:6685-1789430400-1789516799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:First Day of National Hispanic Heritage Month
DESCRIPTION:Is First Day of National Hispanic Heritage Month a Public Holiday?\nThis is not a public holiday. Government and public offices\, businesses\, and schools are not closed for this observation but may hold special events and outreach programs to commemorate the beginning of the month-long annual observation. \nNational Hispanic Heritage Month traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. During this month and throughout the year\, the National Park Service and our partners\, share history\, heritage\, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/first-day-of-national-hispanic-heritage-month-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260917
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260918
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T034943Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034943Z
UID:6665-1789603200-1789689599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
DESCRIPTION:Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17 commemorates the formation and signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17\, 1787. It is dedicated to all US citizens. \nIs Constitution Day and Citizenship Day a Public Holiday?\nConstitution Day and Citizenship Day 2024 is a state holiday in Arizona and an observance in 50 states. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThe United States president may issue each year a proclamation calling on government officials within the nation to display the country’s flag on government buildings on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day\, as well as inviting the people to observe this event in schools\, churches\, or other suitable places\, with appropriate ceremonies. \nVarious civil and educational authorities and individuals throughout the United States observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day through a range of events and activities each year. For example\, the Center for Civic Education provides lesson topics on Constitution Day and Citizenship Day for students at different levels. The US Department of Education provides various resources on the event as the department is responsible for implementing Constitution Day legislated mandates. Among these is the requirement for educational institutions that receive federal funds to hold an educational program on the United States Constitution on September 17 each year. \nPublic Life\nMany people observe Constitution Day and Citizenship Day\, which is not a federal public holiday\, in the United States. \nBackground\nOn Constitution Day and Citizenship Day\, an event which falls during Constitution Week\, many people in the United States recognize the anniversary of the nation’s constitution and the efforts and responsibilities of all citizens. With regard to the nation’s constitution\, in the summer of 1787 delegates convened in Philadelphia to create “a more perfect union” and to craft the country’s constitution. They worked to develop a framework that would provide balance and freedom\, taking into account federal and state interests\, as well as individual human rights. The delegates signed the Constitution of the United States on September 17 that year. By June 21\, 1788\, the constitution was effective\, having been approved by nine of the 13 states. \nWith regard to recognizing citizens\, newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst advocated a day to celebrate US Citizenship in 1939. In 1940 the Congress created “I Am an American Day” to be celebrated in the third Sunday in May. On February 29\, 1952\, President Harry Truman signed into law “Citizenship Day”. It was established to replace I am an American Day. On August 2\, 1956\, the Congress requested that the president proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as “Constitution Week”. One more change was made to the event when a federal law enacted in December 2004 designated September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day”. \nWhen Constitution Day falls on a Saturday\, Sunday or on another holiday\, the day must be held on a weekday during the preceding or following week. This was the case in 2005\, when Constitution Day was generally observed on Friday\, September 16\, and 2006 when the holiday was observed on Monday\, September 18. \nIn Arizona\, the holidays is called Constitution Commemoration Day. It is a state holiday observed on September 17 when September 17 is a Sunday. When September 17 falls on any other weekday\, the holiday is observed on the previous Sunday. \nSymbols\nPositive images of United States citizens of all backgrounds have been used to promote the “Citizenship” element of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. The colors (red\, white and blue) of the United States flag\, as well as images of the flag\, have also been used in artwork for promotional material for the day. Painted images of the constitution’s founders are also used to illustrate the importance of the meaning behind the day and the words “We the People”\, which are written in the constitution\, have been highlighted in promotional material to symbolize unity and cooperation within the nation.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/constitution-day-and-citizenship-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260918
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260919
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043743Z
UID:6841-1789689600-1789775999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:National POW/MIA Recognition Day
DESCRIPTION:The United States’ National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed across the nation on the third Friday of September each year. Many Americans take the time to remember those who were prisoners of war (POW) and those who are missing in action (MIA)\, as well as their families. \nIs National POW/MIA Recognition Day a Public Holiday?\nNational POW/MIA Recognition Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany Americans across the United States pause to remember the sacrifices and service of those who were prisoners of war (POW)\, as well as those who are missing in action (MIA)\, and their families. All military installations fly the National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag\, which symbolizes the nation’s remembrance of those who were imprisoned while serving in conflicts and those who remain missing. \nVeteran rallies take place in many states\, such as Wisconsin\, in the United States on National POW/MIA Recognition Day. United States flags and POW/MIA flags are flown on this day and joint prayers are made for POWs and those missing in action. National POW/MIA Recognition Day posters are also displayed at college or university campuses and public buildings to promote the day. Remembrance ceremonies and other events to observe the day are also held in places such as the Pentagon\, war memorials and museums. \nPublic Life\nNational POW/MIA Recognition Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States but it is a national observance. \nBackground\nThere are 1\,741 American personnel listed by the Defense Department’s POW/MIA Office as missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War\, as of April 2009. The number of United States personnel accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is 841. About 90 percent of the 1\,741 people still missing were lost in Vietnam or areas of Laos and Cambodia under Vietnam’s wartime control\, according to the National League of Families website (cited in the United States Army website). \nThe United States Congress passed a resolution authorizing National POW/MIA Recognition Day to be observed on July 18\, 1979. It was observed on the same date in 1980 and was held on July 17 in 1981 and 1982. It was then observed on April 9 in 1983 and July 20 in 1984. The event was observed on July 19 in 1985\, and then from 1986 onwards the date moved to the third Friday of September. The United States president each year proclaims National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Many states in the USA also proclaim POW/MIA Recognition Day together with the national effort. \nSymbols\nThe National League of Families’ POW/MIA flag symbolizes the United States’ resolve to never forget POWs or those who served their country in conflicts and are still missing. Newt Heisley designed the flag. The flag’s design features a silhouette of a young man\, which is based on Mr Heisley’s son\, who was medically discharged from the military. As Mr Heisley looked at his returning son’s gaunt features\, he imagined what life was for those behind barbed wire fences on foreign shores. He then sketched the profile of his son as the new flag’s design was created in his mind. \nThe flag features a white disk bearing in black silhouette a man’s bust\, a watch tower with a guard on patrol\, and a strand of barbed wire. White letters “POW” and “MIA”\, with a white five-pointed star in between\, are typed above the disk. Below the disk is a black and white wreath above the motto “You Are Not Forgotten” written in white\, capital letters. \nThe flag can also be displayed on Armed Forces Day\, Memorial Day\, Flag Day\, Independence Day and Veterans Day.  The flag can be displayed at the Capitol\, the White House\, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial\, national cemeteries\, various government buildings\, and major military installations.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/national-pow-mia-recognition-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260921
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260922
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043942Z
UID:6914-1789948800-1790035199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Yom Kippur
DESCRIPTION:The Jewish Day of Atonement is marked by reflection\, fasting\, and solemn prayers for forgiveness. \nIs Yom Kippur a Public Holiday?\nWhile Yom Kippur is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this day. \nWhen Is Yom Kippur?\nThe Day of Atonement (or Repentance) is observed on the tenth day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between mid-September and mid-October in the Gregorian calendar. \nIt marks the end of the ten-day period known as the High Holy Days\, (also referred to as Yamim Noraim or Days of Awe) that begin with the Jewish New Year\, Rosh Hashanna. \nA Time To Right Wrongs\nYom Kippur is considered the ideal time in the Jewish calendar to repent and start the new year cleansed of sin. \nThe traditional belief is that God writes one´s fate into the Book of Life on the Jewish New Year and worshipers have the ten day period between that day\, known as Rosh Hashana\, and Yom Kippur to atone for sins and pray for forgiveness. \nAt the end of Yom Kippur\, it is said that God seals the Book of Life and one’s fate is set for the coming year. \nFasting\, Self-Denial\, and Charity\nIn the Book of Leviticus\, the Torah (Jewish Bible) states that Yom Kippur should be a day of “self-denial.” Many Jews honor that principle by fasting on the holiday to cleanse the spirit and build empathy for those who suffer from hunger. \nSome religious Jews take the self-denial principle further\, refraining from bathing\, using cosmetics\, wearing leather shoes\, and having sexual relations on Yom Kippur. \nAnother act of repentance is making donations to charity in the week before the holy day. Kapparot is an ancient giving tradition followed by some Orthodox Jews that involves swinging a bag of coins or even a live chicken overhead while praying\, then donating those items to the poor. \nBagels and Boundaries\nAfter the final Yom Kippur service\, hungry worshippers often gather for a break-fast meal. In the United States\, bagels with lax (smoked salmon)\, blintzes (crepes with filling)\, and sweet kugel (noodle pudding) are particular favorites for the occasion. \nSome Jewish Americans can find themselves caught in a conflict between their jobs and the sacred status of Yom Kippur. In 1965\, the great baseball player Sandy Koufax refused to pitch in a World Series game because it fell on the holiday. His replacement that day failed miserably and told the manager after the game: “I bet you wish I was Jewish too.” \nFive Prayer Services\nOrdinary days for religious Jews include three prayer services\, but Yom Kippur is celebrated with five\, and some ceremonies feature confessions of sins. \nOn the first night\, the ancient prayer Kol Nidre is recited. Much of the next day is usually spent at the synagogue with special ceremonies including Yizkor\, a remembrance of loved ones who have passed on. \nAt dusk\, services conclude with the Ne ila (closing) prayer and the ritual blowing of a hollow ram´s horn to mark the time when the Gates of Prayer will be closed. \nFrom the Time of Moses\nYom Kippur´s biblical roots stretch all the way back to the time of Moses. The narrative says that after wandering in the desert for years following their flight from Egypt\, the tribes of Israel famously strayed from monotheism and started worshiping a golden calf while Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. \nThe Torah says that Moses smashed the stone tablets in anger when he returned and discovered the religious betrayal. So he climbed back to the top of the peak to ask for divine forgiveness for the people\, finally returning with a new set of commandments on the day that is now marked as Yom Kippur.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/yom-kippur-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260922
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260923
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043842Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043842Z
UID:6879-1790035200-1790121599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:September Equinox
DESCRIPTION:There are two equinoxes every year: one in March and one in September. In September\, the Sun crosses the equator from north to south. \nSun Crosses Celestial Equator\nThe September equinox is the moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator—an imaginary line in the sky above Earth’s equator—from north to south. This happens on September 22\, 23\, or 24 in most years. \nWhy Does the Sun Move North and South?\nDuring the course of a year\, the subsolar point—the spot on the Earth’s surface directly beneath the Sun—slowly moves along a north-south axis. Having reached its northernmost point at the June solstice\, it starts moving southward until it crosses the equator on the day of the September equinox. The December solstice marks the southernmost point of its journey. \nThe subsolar point moves north and south during the year because the Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.4° in relation to the ecliptic\, an imaginary plane created by Earth’s path around the Sun. In June\, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun\, and the subsolar point is north of the equator. As the Earth travels toward the opposite side of its orbit\, which it reaches in December\, the Southern Hemisphere gradually receives more sunlight\, and the subsolar point travels south. \nWhy Is It Called “Equinox?”\nOn the days of the equinoxes\, the Earth’s axis is perpendicular to the Sun’s rays\, meaning that all regions on Earth receive about the same number of hours of sunlight. In other words\, night and day are\, in principle\, the same length all over the world. This is the reason it’s called an “equinox\,” derived from Latin\, meaning “equal night.” \nHowever\, this is literal translation not entirely true. In reality\, equinox days don’t have exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of dark. \nThe Equinoxes and the Seasons\nThe March and September equinoxes mark the beginning of the spring and autumn seasons on Earth\, according to one definition. The equinox in September is the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of spring south of the equator. \nWhy Does the Date Vary?\nThe date of the equinoxes and solstices varies because a year in our calendar does not exactly match the length of the tropical year—the time it takes the Earth to complete an orbit around the Sun. \nToday’s Gregorian calendar has 365 days in a common year and 366 days in a leap year. However\, our planet takes about 365.242199 days to orbit the Sun. This means that the timing of the equinoxes and solstices slowly drifts apart from the Gregorian calendar\, and the solstice happens about 6 hours later each year. Eventually\, the accumulated lag becomes so large that it falls on the following date. \nTo realign the calendar with the tropical year\, a leap day is introduced (nearly) every four years. When this happens\, the equinox and solstice dates shift back to the earlier date again. \nOther factors influencing the timing of the equinoxes and solstices include variations in the length of a tropical year and in the orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth\, such as the “wobble” in the Earth’s axis (precession).
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/september-equinox-2/
CATEGORIES:Season
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260926
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260927
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043627Z
UID:6790-1790380800-1790467199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:First Day of Sukkot
DESCRIPTION:Known as the Feast of Tabernacles\, Sukkot recalls the biblical story of the Jewish people´s years of wandering in the desert after their exodus from Egypt. \nIs Sukkot a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, some Jewish-run organizations are closed during Sukkot. \nWhen Is Sukkot?\nSukkot is observed for seven days starting on the fifteenth day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which falls in September or October in the Gregorian calendar. \nA Sukkah to Recall Wandering\nAlso known as the Feast of the Booths\, this holiday recalls an important story of suffering from the book of Exodus. For forty years\, the Israelites wandered in the desert after fleeing from Egypt\, taking shelter in temporary dwellings before finding a homeland in Canaan. \nTo recall that time of trial\, Jewish families usually construct a sukkah\, or primitive shelter\, out of palm branches\, bamboo\, pine\, and other wood to host guests for meals. \nThanksgiving\nThese simple structures are also meant to represent the huts used by farmers to shelter from the Sun in the fields\, so the celebration is also thought of as a form of harvest festival. The timing of Sukkot matches the end of the harvest season in Israel. \nOpen Sky\nSukkot shelters and rituals have some unique features with symbolic meanings in Judaism. For example\, all sukkah must have holes in the roof to be able to view the sky\, or God’s heaven\, as a reminder that the divine is the only true form of security. \nThe Four Species\nEach day of the festival features a waving ceremony with the Four Species—four plants mentioned in the Torah as being connected to Sukkot. They are: \n\nPalm (lulav)\nWillow (aravah)\nMyrtle (hadass)\nCitron or citrus fruit (etrog)\n\nReligious Jews tie together bundles of branches of these species\, and wave them while reciting prayers (except on Shabbat\, or the sabbath) during the holiday. \nWhile there are no particular foods associated with Sukkot\, stuffed dumplings known as kreplach and fresh fruits and vegetables are often served to guests in the sukkah. \nBeating the Willows\nAt the end of the holiday\, a special ritual takes place at the synagogue. The Torah\, or holy scriptures\, are taken from the ark and worshippers circle the temple seven times while praying. The service concludes with a blessing and a traditional beating of a willow branch on the earth to call for rainfall and a good harvest. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/first-day-of-sukkot-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260927
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260928
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043640Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043640Z
UID:6798-1790467200-1790553599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Gold Star Mother's Day
DESCRIPTION:Gold Star Mother’s Day is observed in the United States on the last Sunday of September each year. It is a day for people to recognize and honor those who have lost a son or daughter while serving the United States Armed Forces. \nIs Gold Star Mother’s Day a Public Holiday?\nGold Star Mother’s Day is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, September 29\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nWhat Do People Do?\nEach year on Gold Star Mother’s Day the United States president calls on all Americans to display the nation’s flag and hold appropriate meetings to publicly express their love\, sorrow\, and reverence towards Gold Star Mothers and their families. Government buildings are also required to display the flag. \nAmerican Gold Star Mothers\, Inc. is an organization of mothers whose sons or daughters served and died while serving their nation in times of war or conflict. It organizes major events that take place on or around Gold Star Mother’s Day each year. Previous activities included a Gold Star flower wreath laying service\, as well as an afternoon tour of President Lincoln’s cottage in Washington DC. \nThe last Sunday in September is also Parents of Fallen Military Sons and Daughters Day in New Jersey. This day is a tribute to all parents whose children died as a result of their service with the United States Armed Forces. It commemorates the contributions\, commitments and sacrifices made by those parents individually and through the American Gold Star Mothers\, Inc. \nPublic Life\nGold Star Mother’s Day is not a designated public holiday in the United States so public life is not affected. \nBackground\nThe name the Gold Star Mothers was derived from the custom of military families who put a service flag near their front window. The flag featured a star for each family member serving in their country – living members were denoted in blue but gold stars honored family members who were killed while in duty. In 1918 President Woodrow Wilson approved the wearing of black arm bands bearing a gilt star by those who had a family member who died in the military service to the United States. This distinguished them from the blue stars\, representing a family member presently serving in the armed forces. \nAmerican Gold Star Mothers\, Inc. was incorporated in 1929\, obtaining a federal charter from the US Congress. It began with 25 mothers living in the Washington DC area and soon expanded to include affiliated groups throughout the nation. On June 23\, 1936\, a joint congressional resolution designated the last Sunday in September as Gold Star Mother’s Day\, a holiday that has been observed each year by a presidential proclamation. \nSymbols\nA gold star symbolizes a family member who died in the line of duty while serving the United States Armed Forces.  It may be seen on a service flag or in the form of a pin\, which is worn by Gold Star mothers. The pin is not limited to mothers and it is awarded by the US Department of Defense.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/gold-star-mothers-day/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261002
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261003
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043713Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043713Z
UID:6821-1790899200-1790985599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Last Day of Sukkot (Hoshana Rabbah)
DESCRIPTION:Considered the end of the “Days of Judgment\,” Hoshana Rabbah marks the completion of Sukkot and features a special ceremony with willow branches. \nIs Hoshana Rabbah a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, some Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Hoshana Rabbah?\nHoshana Rabbah is celebrated on the 21st day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar. \nStriking of the Willows\nDuring Hoshana Rabbah services\, the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and held above the temple´s bimah or Torah reading table. The congregation then makes a procession of seven circuits around the bimah while reciting special Hoshaanot prayers. \nTraditionally\, each worshiper holds a lulav and etrog\, or bundle of branches from date palm\, myrtle\, willow\, and citron trees during this procession. \nAt the conclusion of the circuits\, a bundle of five willow branches is beaten on the earth five times to symbolize the elimination of sin and as a prayer for good rainfall and bountiful crops in the coming year. \nAfterward\, a festive meal is often served in a sukkah\, an outdoor shelter specially built for the Sukkot holiday. Bread and honey are often served\, along with triangular kreplach dumplings filled with ground beef or chicken. \nA Final Chance to Change Fate\nHoshana Rabbah is thought of as the end of a period known as the Days of Judgment that begins on Rosh Hashanah\, continues through Yom Kippur\, and ends on the last day of Sukkot. \nSome ancient scholars held that divine judgment for the coming year is decided on Yom Kippur\, but not delivered until the day of Hoshana Rabbah. So the belief is that there is still a chance to influence the final verdict on one’s fate up until this time. \nJews often greet each other with a special blessing on this holiday using the Aramaic “pitka tava\,” or Yiddish “a guten kvitel\,” both translating as a hope that the divine verdict will be positive. \nThere are some small variations in traditions for Hoshana Rabbah. Sephardic Jewish communities include prayers for forgiveness known as selichot before services\, and some congregations include shofar or ram´s horn soundings with the processions. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/last-day-of-sukkot-hoshana-rabbah/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261003
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261004
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043844Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043844Z
UID:6882-1790985600-1791071999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Shmini Atzeret
DESCRIPTION:Often thought of as the eighth day of Sukkot\, Shemini Atzeret is considered a time for Jewish people to renew their connection with divinity. \nIs Shemini Atzeret a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Shemini Atzeret?\nShemi Atzeret is celebrated on the twenty-second day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between late September and early October in the Gregorian calendar. It is immediately followed by Simchat Torah. \nTo Tarry with the Divine\nOn the first night after the holiday of Sukkot\, the opening blessing Shehecheyanu is recited\, signaling the start of Shemini Atzeret\, which is both a new holiday and one that is connected to Sukkot. \nDrawn from the Hebrew words for “eighth” (Shemini) and “assembly” (Atzeret)\, the name of this holiday is also related to the idea of atzor\, “a pause or tarry.” Many scholars of Judaism believe this to be a time for people to pause or tarry and spend more time with God after the seven days of Sukkot celebrations during the previous week. \nSome rabbinic teachers explain the nature of this holiday with a parable of a king who calls in his sons to stay with him for some days. When the time comes for them to leave\, he asks them to stay on for yet another day\, since it is so difficult for him to part from them. Some see a metaphor in this for the relationship between God and the Jewish people. \nA Just Rain\nOne feature of Shemini Atzeret is the prayer for rain and a good harvest that is traditionally recited as a reading from the torah scrolls on this date. Some scholars believe this tradition is related to the idea that Shimini Atzeret comes shortly after the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur\, so worshippers are asking for the gift of rain at a time when they are cleansed of sin. \nIn Talmudic literature\, there is a concept that rain is metaphorical for God’s justice and this benevolence is meted out on the basis of worthiness. With this in mind\, Seimini Atzeret is seen as the best time to pray for rain. \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/shmini-atzeret-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261005
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T035059Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035059Z
UID:6673-1791072000-1791158399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Feast of St Francis of Assisi
DESCRIPTION:Many churches in the United States celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis\, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”. \nIs Feast of St Francis of Assisi a Public Holiday?\nFeast of St Francis of Assisi is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany children in the USA bring their pets to the church to be blessed on St Francis’ feast day because of his love for animals as expressed in his Canticle of Creatures. St Francis is the patron saint of animals so many churches offer animal blessing services\, usually held on or around October 4. The services may include a verbal blessing and holy water and are usually held at a place where different animals can gather. \nBlessings may occur indoors or outdoors. Pets may include dogs\, cats\, fish and birds. Some people choose to bring photos of their pets if it is difficult for their pets to attend the blessing. Pet blessings occur in states such as (but not exclusive to): \n\nAlabama.\nCalifornia.\nColorado.\nConnecticut.\nFlorida.\nMaryland.\nNew Mexico.\nNorth Carolina.\nOklahoma.\nTennessee.\nTexas.\nUtah.\nVirginia.\nWashington.\n\nSome churches ask people to bring animal food or blankets to be donated to a local animal shelter around this time of the year. This event is not exclusive to Catholic churches\, as some Anglican churches also have animal blessing services on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. The Feast of St Francis of Assisi gives many educators\, caregivers and animal rights organizations an opportunity to teach children about endangered or abused animals and what can be done to help save these animals. \nPublic Life\nThe Feast of St Francis of Assisi is not a federal public holiday in the USA. \nBackground\nSt Francis\, who founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan order\, lived in Italy during the late 12th and 13th centuries. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature.  St Francis died at Portiuncula\, Italy on October 4\, 1226. \nPope Gregory IX pronounced St Francis a saint in 1228. The pope also laid the foundation stone for the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi\, Italy. The church\, also known as Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi\, is a UNESCO world heritage site. \nSymbols\nSymbols associated with St Francis of Assisi are: \n\nBirds and animals.\nA bag of gold and rich raiment at St Francis’ (of Assisi) feet.\nA winged crucifix with five rays.\nStigmata.\nA crown of thorns.\nA lighted lamp.\nA fiery chariot.\nAnimals such as birds\, deer\, and a wolf.\nFire.\nA skull.\n\nSome of these symbols are seen around the time of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/feast-of-st-francis-of-assisi-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261004
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261005
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043856Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043856Z
UID:6886-1791072000-1791158399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Simchat Torah
DESCRIPTION:Immediately following Shemini Atzeret\, Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah) celebrates the start of a new year of scripture readings. \nIs Simchat Torah a Public Holiday?\nWhile Simchat Torah is not a public holiday in the United States\, many Jewish-run organizations are closed on this date. \nWhen Is Simchat Torah?\nSimchat Torah is celebrated on the twenty-third day of the month of Tishrei in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls between late September and early October in the Gregorian calendar. \nRejoicing with the Torah\nJewish study of the scriptures\, or Torah\, is structured as a yearly cycle. This holiday marks the end of the past year´s cycle of Torah readings and the start of a new one. In general\, Simchat Torah is considered a part of the Shemini Atzeret holiday\, which follows Sukkot in the Jewish calendar. \nDuring Simchat Torah services\, the ark containing the holy scriptures is opened and the Torah scrolls are taken out to be carried around the sanctuary seven times in circuits known as hakafot. The worshipers dance and sing in celebration as the scrolls are borne around the synagogue. \nIn more religious communities\, this joyous communion with the Torah can continue for hours\, and the celebration can spill out into the surrounding neighborhood. \nTraditionally\, the crowd of worshippers sing out with Torah poems\, biblical chants\, praises of God\, and prayers to re-establish the Temple in Jerusalem. Children are often given sweets to eat and flags to wave as part of the festivities. \nAliyah\nOn the day of Simchat Torah\, worshippers are invited to come to the altar (bimah) to read a segment from the Torah and recite a special prayer. This practice is called aliyah. \nChildren are often called up to a special Simchat Torah aliyah called Kol HaNe’arim. For this rite\, a prayer shawl\, or tallit\, is often spread over the heads of the children\, and Jacob’s blessing is read: “May the angel who redeemed me from all harm bless the youths\, and may they be called by my name and the name of my fathers\, Abraham and Isaac\, and may they multiply abundantly like fish\, in the midst of the land.” \nJewish Holidays Last Longer Outside of Israel\nIn the Jewish diaspora—Jewish communities outside of Israel—an extra day is usually added to religious observances\, with the exception of Yom Kippur\, which lasts only one day worldwide\, and Rosh Hashana\, which is celebrated over two days in both Israel and the diaspora. \nThis custom has its roots in ancient times when the beginning of the months in the Jewish calendar still relied on the sighting of the crescent Moon following a New Moon. \nThe beginning of a new month was determined by the Sanhedrin\, the supreme court of ancient Israel in Jerusalem. Once the date was published\, messengers were dispatched to spread the news among Jews living abroad. Since this process took some time\, it was decreed that Jews outside of ancient Israel were to observe every holiday for two days to make sure the rules and customs applicable to each holiday were observed on the proper date. This rule is still observed today.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/simchat-torah-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261005
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261006
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T040427Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040427Z
UID:6764-1791158400-1791244799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Child Health Day
DESCRIPTION:Child Health Day in the United States raises people’s awareness of how they can protect and develop children’s health. This event is annually celebrated on the first Monday of October. \nIs Child Health Day a Public Holiday?\nAlthough Child Health Day is not a public holiday\, businesses and schools may be closed because it falls on the same date as Frances Xavier Cabrini Day in 2024\, which is a public holiday in Colorado. \nWhat Do People Do?\nAs part of the annual presidential proclamation for the day\, all agencies and organizations interested in child welfare are invited to unite on Child Health Day to observe exercises to stimulate or increase people’s awareness of the need for a year-round program to protect and develop children’s health in the United States. \nHealth professionals and health organizations across the United States take part in this day through various activities and events. For example\, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) takes on an active role in providing educational resources for parents\, children and schools about issues such as healthy choices\, fitness\, and child obesity prevention. The HRSA also calls for every surgeon general across the nation to make a pledge towards providing a healthy future for children. \nThe Maternal and Child Health Library also actively participates in Child Health Day through activities that focus on healthy eating and physical activity for children and their parents or parental figures. The library provides information on nutrition for children and adolescents\, the importance of physical activity\, and nutrition for pregnant women. \nPublic Life\nAlthough Child Health Day is a national observance in the United States\, it is not a public holiday. \nBackground\nCalvin Coolidge was the first president to issue a proclamation for Child Health Day in 1928 and it was annually observed on May 1 until it was observed on the first Monday of October from 1960 onwards. The concept of this event was supported by organizations such as the American Child Health Association\, the American Federation of Labor and the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in the early 20th century. \nAccording to the HRSA\, about one in six children between 2 and 19 in the United States is overweight. This is a risk factor for serious health consequences including asthma\, diabetes and heart disease. Child Health Day helps spark or increase people’s awareness of ways to minimize or alleviate health problems that children may face. The day focuses on a range of child health issues such as prenatal care\, adolescent health\, the impact of daycare on a child’s development\, preventing injuries\, healthy eating and lifestyle choices\, and immunization. \nSymbols\nImages of health and active children are used in promotional materials such as posters\, stickers and information kits for Child Health Day. \nDisclaimer: There may be other websites informing that Child Health Day in the United States was called to be designated for the first Monday of October since the late 1928. However\, newspaper archives and other historical information show that the date was in fact observed on May 1 until 1960. Regardless\, readers use this site at their own risk and the site takes no responsibility for possible errors in this article.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/child-health-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261006
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261007
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T035114Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035114Z
UID:6691-1791244800-1791331199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:German American Day
DESCRIPTION:Why are we celebrating German American Day? What’s this all about?\n\nDid you know that German Americans are the largest ethnic group in the United States? \nAlmost 44 million people self-report to have ancestors who immigrated from a German-speaking country. That’s almost one-third of the total global population with German ancestry. \nVery few of the German states had colonies in the new world. In the 1670s\, the first significant groups of German immigrants arrived in the British colonies\, settling primarily in Pennsylvania\, New York and Virginia. \nThe first German came to Virginia in May of 1607; his name was Dr. Johannes Fleischer the Younger\, a botanist and physician. Although he died in August of 1608 having contracted one of the many diseases that decimated the fledgling colony\, he had managed to recruit fellow Germans to make the treacherous journey across the Atlantic to Virginia. \nThe next group of Germans arrived aboard the vessel Mary and Margaret about 1 October 1608. These Germans were glassmakers and carpenters. In 1620\, German mineral specialists and saw-millwrights followed\, to work and settle in the Virginia colony. \nHowever\, Germans lived in the New World even earlier than that: America’s oldest city\, Saint Augustine in Florida\, then a Spanish colony\, was home to a small group of German-speaking residents as early as the 1570s. \n\n\n \nOn Oct. 6\, we celebrate our German-American heritage by commemorating the date in 1683\, when 13 families from the German town of Krefeld landed in Philadelphia. These families subsequently founded Germantown\, Pennsylvania\, the first German settlement in the original 13 colonies. \nLibrary of Congress\nThey were led by Franz Daniel Pastorius\, a native of Sommerhausen in the German Duchy of Franconia\, and a lawyer by training. Earlier in 1683\, a group of Mennonites\, Pietists\, and Quakers in Frankfurt\, including Abraham op den Graeff\, a cousin of William Penn\, had approached Pastorius about acting as their agent to purchase land in Pennsylvania for a settlement. In Philadelphia\, Pastorius then negotiated the purchase of 15\,000 acres (61 km²) from William Penn\, the proprietor of the colony\, and laid out the settlement of Germantown\, where he himself would live until his death in 1720. \nAs one of Germantown’s leading citizens\, Pastorius served in many public offices. He was the first mayor and also was a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1687 and 1691. \nGermantown was absorbed into Philadelphia in 1854. Germantown has played a significant role in American history; it was the birthplace of the American antislavery movement\, the site of a Revolutionary War battle\, the temporary residence of George Washington\, the location of the first bank of the United States\, and the residence of many notable politicians\, scholars\, artists\, and social activists. \nMany German-Americans commemorated their heritage with  local versions of German-American Day in the 19th century. It is believed that the first “German Day” was celebrated in Philadelphia in 1883\, on the 200th anniversary of the settlement of Germantown to acknowledge the importance of German influence in the area. Later\, other surrounding communities held their own “German Day” celebrations. Sadly\, World War 1 brought an end to “German Day”\, and much of the pride people had in their culture was tucked away for nearly 60 years. The holiday was revived in 1983\, when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6th as German-American Day to celebrate and honor the 300th anniversary of German American immigration and culture to the United States. \nMr. Helmut Krüger\, a native of Germany and our 2019 Distinguished German-American of the Year\, who was then the president of GAHF\, played a vital role in establishing German-American Day\, and also worked with President Reagan to pass a bill for the development of a German-American Friendship Garden. \nOn Aug. 6\, 1987\, Congress approved Resolution 108\, designating Oct. 6\, 1987\, as German-American Day\, and it became public law on Aug. 18.  A proclamation was  issued on October 2\, 1987\, by President Reagan in a formal ceremony in the White House Rose Garden\, at which time the President called on Americans to observe the Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/german-american-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261009
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261010
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T035326Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035326Z
UID:6705-1791504000-1791590399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Leif Erikson Day
DESCRIPTION:Leif Erikson Day honors a viking explorer known as Leif Erikson. He is believed to be the first recorded Nordic person to have visited North America. It is believed that he visited places such as Baffin Island and Labrador around 1000 CE. \nIs Leif Erikson Day a Public Holiday?\nLeif Erikson Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThe president of the United States issues a proclamation about the holiday. Many US presidents have\, in the past\, publicly praised the spirit of exploration and discovery\, as well the contributions of people with a Nordic background and their culture. \nPublic Life\nLeif Erikson Day is an observance and not a federal public holiday in the United States. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. \nBackground\nLeif Erikson was born of Norwegian descent around 970 CE in Iceland. It is thought that his father and grandfather were outlaws and explorers around Scandinavia and Greenland. His father founded two settlements in Greenland. Leif had two brothers and one sister. He married a woman named Thorgunna and they had one son\, called Thorkell Leifsson. \nLeif Erikson went to Norway to work for King Olaf I of Norway. During his stay\, he converted to Christianity. When he returned to Island\, he bought a boat and\, in 1003\, set out to explore the land west of Greenland that had been discovered by Bjarni Herjolfsson\, and older explorer. The land that he had discovered was actually Newfoundland\, which is now part of Canada. The ‘Saga of the Greenlanders’ tells of his adventures. \nIt is thought that he visited Baffin Island and Labrador and settled on the Northern part of the island of Newfoundland\, now all part of Canada. There are speculations that Leif Erikson or later explorers may have traveled into the area that is now Minnesota in the United States. Some controversial archaeological finds\, such as the Kensington Runestone and the Maine Penny\, support this theory\, but it is not considered proven. \nOctober 9 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the day that the ship Restauration arrived in New York from Stavanger\, Norway on October 9\, 1825. This was the start of organized immigration from Scandinavia to the USA. The date is not associated with an event in Leif Erikson’s life.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/leif-erikson-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261011
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261012
DTSTAMP:20260403T175700
CREATED:20260107T043757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043757Z
UID:6849-1791676800-1791763199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Navratri
DESCRIPTION:Navratri is one of the most important festivals in the Hindu calendar. \nIt’s celebrated all over the world\, typically falling between September and October during the month of Ashvin\, and lasts for nine days. \nNav means nine and Ratri means nights \nPeople come together during Navratri to celebrate Durga\, the mother goddess who carries lots of weapons in her arms. \nDurga is best known for killing an evil demon in a battle which lasted nine days and nights and that is why the festival lasts for nine days and nights as well! \nEach day is represented by a different colour which symbolises one of her distinct characteristics or traits. Many Hindus wear a different coloured traditional outfit each day to reflect this. \nThe festival ends with what’s known as Dussehra\, which is the celebration of good over evil. \nWhat’s the story behind Navratri?\nNavratri is a time when Hindus celebrate the goddess Durga for killing the demon\, Mahishasura. \nA more powerful God\, Lord Brahma\, had blessed Mahishasura with the gift of immortality because of his dedication to him\, which meant he could never die. \nHowever\, this gift did come with one condition – the only person who would be able to defeat Mahishasura would be a woman. \nMahishasura didn’t think any women would be strong enough to kill him and was happy with the deal. \nOver the years\, Mahishasura and his men became a powerful force attacking people on Earth and no gods were able to defeat him. \nFinally Lord Brahma\, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva – the three most powerful Hindu gods – decided to come together and create the goddess Durga\, a powerful woman whose job would be to destroy Mahishasura. \nThe gods equipped the new goddess Durga with lots of weapons before she went into battle with Mahishasura. \nDurga fought the demon for 10 days\, and it proved quite difficult as he kept changing his form to confuse the goddess. However\, when he finally turned into a buffalo\, Durga was able to defeat him. \nHow is Navratri celebrated?\n\n\nHow the festival is celebrated varies depending on where people live but during Navratri some families choose to fast\, only having milk\, water\, fruit and nuts during the day\, followed by a full meal after sunset. \nSome people only have water and a simple meal at night. \nThe celebrations also involve lots of dancing!
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/navratri-2/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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