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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Maha Montessori
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261009
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261010
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
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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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261011
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261012
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
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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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261012
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261013
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040428Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040428Z
UID:6766-1791763200-1791849599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Columbus Day
DESCRIPTION:Columbus Day\, which is on the second Monday of October\, celebrates Christopher Columbus’ arrival to the Americas on October 12\, 1492. This is an important date in many Italian-American communities; it is controversial in some Native American communities. \nIs Columbus Day a Public Holiday?\nColumbus Day 2024 is a state holiday in 22 states\, a state legal holiday in Tennessee\, and a federal holiday in 28 states. \nObserve Columbus Day\nSome Americans celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of their country with church services and other activities. In some towns and cities\, special church services\, parades and large events are held. Many celebrations happen in the Italian-American community. The celebrations in New York and San Francisco are particularly noteworthy. In Hawaii Columbus Day is celebrated as Discoverers’ Day\, but it is not a state holiday. \nMany states now celebrate Native Americans’ Day/Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day. \nWhat’s Open or Closed?\nColumbus day is a public holiday in many parts of the United states\, but is not a day off in some states. Some government offices are closed because Columbus Day is still a federal government holiday. \nIn Tennesse\, Columbus Day is a legal holiday according to the Tenn. Code Ann. § 15-1-101 (2019)\, but the Governor can substitute the day after Thanksgiving for Columbus Day for the purpose of closing state offices. When this occurs\, state employees do not get a day off on the second Monday of October. Instead\, they get the Friday after the fourth Thursday of November as a holiday. \nMany businesses and shops are open in states that don’t have Columbus Day as a public holiday. Schools are not required to close but check with your school district or school calendar on Columbus Day school holiday closures. The same goes for post offices – check with your local post office. \nLong Weekend\nSince Columbus Day falls on Monday\, it is one of the public holidays in the United States that always create a long weekend. \nAbout Columbus Day\nChristopher Columbus is often portrayed as the first European to sail to the Americas. He is sometimes portrayed as the discoverer of the New World. However\, this is controversial on many counts. There is evidence that the first Europeans to sail across the Atlantic were Viking explorers from Scandinavia. In addition\, the land was already populated by indigenous peoples\, who had ‘discovered’ the Americas thousands of years before. \nColumbus Day originated as a celebration of Italian-American heritage\, due to the explorer´s origins in Italy. The holiday was first held in San Francisco in 1869. The first state-wide celebration took place in Colorado in 1907. Thirty years later\, Columbus Day become a holiday across the United States. Since 1971\, it has been celebrated on the second Monday in October. The date on which Columbus arrived in the Americas is also celebrated as the Día de la Raza (Day of the Race) in Latin America and some Latino communities in the USA. However\, it is a controversial holiday in some countries and has been re-named in others. \nColumbus Day celebrations are controversial in some American communities because the settlement of Europeans in the Americas led to the deaths of a large proportion of the native people. Some have argued that this settlement was a direct result of Columbus’ actions. It has also been argued that Columbus should not be honored for discovering North America\, as he only went as far as some islands in the Caribbean and never set foot on mainland America. \nNote: timeanddate.com states the facts and issues associated with this observance but does not disclose its opinion on the matter.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/columbus-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Federal Holiday,School Closed
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261012
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261013
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T043645Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043645Z
UID:6805-1791763200-1791849599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Indigenous People's Day
DESCRIPTION:Is Indigenous People’s Day a Public Holiday?\nIndigenous People’s Day 2024 is a state observance in 30 states and a state holiday in 3 states and 1 federal district. \nWhere Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebrated?\nAs of 2023\, some 29 states do not celebrate Columbus Day and have renamed it or replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Some states recognize Indigenous Peoples Day via proclamation\, while others treat it as an official holiday. \nAmong the states where the holiday is observed or honored are Alaska\, Minnesota\, Vermont\, Iowa\, North Carolina\, California\, Louisiana\, Maine\, Michigan\, New Mexico\, Wisconsin\, Virginia\, Oregon\, Texas\, as well as South Dakota\, which celebrates Native Americans’ Day\, Hawaii\, which celebrates Discoverers’ Day\, and Alabama\, which celebrates American Indian Heritage Day. Washington\, D.C. also recognizes the holiday. \nPresident Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021\, writing\, “Today\, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.” \nWhy Replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day?\nActivists have long argued that holidays\, statues and other memorials to Columbus sanitize his actions—which include the enslavement of Native Americans—while giving him credit for “discovering” a place where communities had lived for thousands of years. \n“Columbus Day is not just a holiday\, it represents the violent history of colonization in the Western hemisphere\,” says Leo Killsback\, a professor of American Indian Studies at Arizona State University. \nColumbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937\, in part because of efforts by Roman Catholic Italian Americans. During the late 19th and early 20th century\, members of the stigmatized ethnic and religious group successfully campaigned to establish a Columbus Day in order to place Catholic Italians\, like Christopher Columbus\, into American history. In doing so\, they edged out people of Anglo-Saxon descent who wanted a federal holiday honoring Leif Erikson as the first European to reach the Americas. \nBut decades later\, the question of which European got here “first” is beside the point. “Indigenous Peoples’ Day represents a much more honest and fair representation of American values\,” writes Killsback\, who is a citizen of the Northern Cheyenne Nation of southeastern Montana. \n\n 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/indigenous-peoples-day-3/
CATEGORIES:School Closed,State Holiday
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261013
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261014
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035525Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035525Z
UID:6713-1791849600-1791935999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Navy Birthday
DESCRIPTION:The Navy Birthday is on October 13 and celebrates the establishment of the US Navy in 1775. \nIs Navy Birthday a Public Holiday?\nNavy Birthday is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, October 13\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nOn October 13\, 1775\, the United States Navy was established. The day is celebrated as the birthdate of the American Navy. \nNaval Celebration\nThe day is mainly celebrated by personnel\, veterans\, or other people related to the navy. Usually\, it is marked with a Navy Birthday Ball with a formal dinner\, birthday cake\, and entertainment. \nPirate Problem\nThe United States Navy originated over 240 years ago as the Continental Navy. The then Continental Congress authorized 2 armed vessels to search for ships supplying the British army with weapons and ammunition during the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). \nWhen the war ended\, the Continental Navy was dismantled\, but pirate threats to American merchant shipping led President George Washington to establish the Naval Act of 1794\, creating a permanent standing US Navy. \nUS Navy Today\nThe United States Navy is the naval warfare branch of the US Armed Forces. It has more than 300\,000 personnel on active duty and around 100\,000 personnel in the Navy Reserve.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/navy-birthday-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261015
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261016
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035826Z
UID:6738-1792022400-1792108799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:White Cane Safety Day
DESCRIPTION:White Cane Safety Day celebrates blind and visually impaired people’s achievements in the United States on October 15 every year. It also reminds people about the how the white cane is an important tool in helping the blind and the visually impaired live with greater independence. \nIs White Cane Safety Day a Public Holiday?\nWhite Cane Safety Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThe United States president may issue each year a proclamation calling on people in the United States to observe White Cane Safety Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Communities across the nation re-affirm their commitment to improve access to basic services for blind and visually impaired people. \nOrganizations\, such as Lions Clubs International and the National Federation of the Blind\, organize promotional activities involving the public as part of a goal to help to increase awareness of the use of the white cane and the laws that govern its use. Activities such as visual displays\, walks\, meetings\, public service announcements\, and the distribution of t-shirts reminding people about the day are all part of the day’s activities. White Cane Safety Day also reminds people that motor vehicles and pedestrians should yield the right of way to blind or visually impaired people using canes. \nPublic Life\nAlthough White Cane Safety Day is a national observance in the United States\, it is not a federal public holiday. \nBackground\nMany blind and visually impaired people\, including famous musicians and writers\, have made major positive contributions in the United States. Many have also used a white cane to help them succeed at educational institutions\, work environments\, and their homes. The first of the state laws regarding the right of blind people to travel independently with the white cane was passed in 1930. It granted blind pedestrians protection and the right-of-way while carrying a white cane. \nIn 1963\, the National Federation of the Blind called upon the governors from every state to proclaim October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day. At the time\, only a few people achieved enough independence to travel alone on busy highways. The United States Congress\, by joint resolution approved on October 6\, 1964\, designated October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day. By 1978\, the number of visually impaired people who achieved a lot of independence through the white cane had greatly increased. Promotions on the benefits of the white cane proved to be successful and they are still continuing. \nSymbols\nThe white cane can be perceived by many as a symbol of blindness or visual impairment. White canes are recognized for providing the visually impaired with greater mobility\, allowing them to participate more within their communities. Blind and visually impaired people have used canes as mobility tools for centuries\, but it was not until after World War I that the white cane was properly introduced. In modern times\, there are different varieties of this tool\, each serving slightly varied needs.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/white-cane-safety-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261016
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261017
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T034719Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034719Z
UID:6647-1792108800-1792195199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Boss's Day
DESCRIPTION:Boss’s Day\, also known as National Boss Day or Bosses Day\, is a time for many workers to appreciate their employers. It is annually observed in the United States on October 16\, or the nearest working day. \nIs Boss’s Day a Public Holiday?\nBoss’s Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nBoss’s Day is dedicated to all employers and provides a prospect of improving the liaison between employers and their staff. Many workers dedicate this day to their supervisors for various reasons\, such as supporting staff with their jobs and careers. This observance also gives employees a chance to recognize those in supervisory positions. \nSome people give their bosses cards\, gift certificates\, or flowers on Boss’s Day. This observance is becoming increasingly popular in various workplaces. It has received both praise and controversy. \nPublic Life\nBoss’s Day\, which is on October 16\, is an observance and it is not a nationwide public holiday in the United States. If it falls on a weekend\, then it is celebrated on the working day closest to it. \nBackground\nThe concept of National Boss Day began in 1958 when Patricia Bays Haroski\, then an employee at State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield\, Illinois\, registered the holiday with the United States Chamber of Commerce. She designated October 16 as the special day because it was her father’s birthday. Haroski’s purpose was to designate a day to show appreciation for her boss and other bosses. She also hoped to improve the relationship between employees and supervisors. \nFour years later in 1962\, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner backed Haroski’s registration and officially proclaimed the day. The event’s popularity is growing outside the United States and is now also observed in countries such as Australia\, India\, and South Africa. \nNote: The dates below show when National Boss Day was first officially proclaimed in 1962\, although the concept for this observance began in 1958.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/bosss-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261020
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261021
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040827Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040827Z
UID:6778-1792454400-1792540799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Dussehra
DESCRIPTION:Dussehra (also known as Vijaya Dashami) is a prominent Hindu festival observed on the tenth day of Navaratri. It commemorates the triumph of Lord Rama over the demon king Ravana\, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. The festivities commonly include the ritualistic burning of effigies representing Ravana\, reminding people of the need to conquer their internal enemies\, such as vices\, and embrace virtues in their lives. Dussehra holds a profound spiritual significance\, inspiring devotees to seek righteousness and dispel negativity from their hearts\, thus fostering a path of virtue and inner transformation. \n 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/dussehra-2/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261031
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261101
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035125Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035125Z
UID:6695-1793404800-1793491199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Halloween
DESCRIPTION:Many Americans celebrate Halloween on October 31. Celebrations include costume parties and trick-or-treating. \nIs Halloween a Public Holiday?\nHalloween is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nHalloween is usually celebrated amongst family\, friends and\, sometimes\, co-workers. However\, some areas hold large community events. Parties and other events may be planned on October 31 or in the weekends before and after this date. Adults may celebrate by watching horror films\, holding costume parties or creating haunted houses or graveyards. \nMany children dress up in fancy costumes and visit other homes in the neighborhood. At each house\, they demand sweets\, snacks or a small gift. If they do not get this\, they threaten to do some harm to the inhabitants of the house. This is known as playing ‘trick-or-treat’ and is supposed to happen in a friendly spirit\, with no nasty or mean tricks being carried out. However\, if your children take part\, it is important to accompany them and to check their ‘treats’ to make sure they are safe to eat or play with. \nSome families carve lanterns with ‘scary’ faces out of pumpkins or other vegetables or decorate their homes and gardens in Halloween style. These were traditionally intended to ward off evil spirits. If you are at home on Halloween\, it is a good idea to have a bowl of small presents or sweets to offer to anyone who knocks on your door. This will help you to please the little spirits in your neighborhood! \nOne cause that ties with Halloween is collecting donations for the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). As children trick-or-treat on Halloween night\, some of them might carry small cardboard boxes with the UNICEF logo on them and collect coins instead of the usual candy. The money collected is then given to UNICEF and used to help needy children worldwide. \nPublic Life\nHalloween is not an official holiday. Government offices and businesses are open as usual and public transit services run on regular schedules. If you drive around in late afternoon or evening\, it is important to keep a careful lookout for children who are unaccustomed to being out on the street after dark. If they are wearing dark costumes or masks\, they may be less easy to see than normal. They may also be excited and dart out unexpectedly from between vehicles or behind bushes. \nBackground\nHalloween originated as a pagan festival in parts of Northern Europe\, particularly around what is now the United Kingdom. Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is a time when magic is most potent and spirits can make contact with the physical world. In Christian times\, it became a celebration of the evening before All Saints’ Day. Immigrants from Scotland and Ireland brought the holiday to the United States. \nThe commercialization of Halloween started in the 1900s\, when postcards and die-cut paper decorations were produced. Halloween costumes started to appear in stores in the 1930s and the custom of ‘trick-or-treat’ appeared in the 1950s. The types of products available in Halloween style increased with time. Now Halloween is a very profitable holiday for the manufacturers of costumes\, yard decorations and candy. In recent years\, debate over the apporpriateness of costumes representing ethnic groups has arisen. \nSymbols\nThere are various symbols associated with Halloween. These include the spooks\, ghosts and walking skeletons that represent the contact between the spiritual and physical world and between the living and the dead. Human figures that are often represented on Halloween are witches and wizards\, who are seen to have the power to contact the spirit world. Bats\, black cats and spiders are often connected with this holiday. These animals are associated with the night and darkness and often accompany witches and wizards. \nThere are also a range of objects associated with Halloween. These include blood\, fire\, gravestones\, pumpkins\, bones and skulls. They all have connections with death\, the spirit world or protecting property from evil spirits. Many of these objects are now available in stores as decorations for the Halloween season. \n 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/halloween-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261102
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T034726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034726Z
UID:6655-1793491200-1793577599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:All Saints' Day
DESCRIPTION:Many Catholic churches in the United States celebrate All Saints’ Day to honor all the saints\, particularly those who do not have their own special feast day\, on November 1. \nIs All Saints’ Day a Public Holiday?\nAll Saints’ Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nAll Saints’ Day is also known as All Hallows Tide\, All-Hallomas\, or All Hallows’ Day\, and it’s celebrated in many areas of the United States\, especially where there are large Roman Catholic populations. \nIn New Orleans\, for example\, people gather in local cemeteries and decorate the graves with flowers. The descendants of French Canadian settlers around St Martinsville\, Louisiana\, observe this day in the traditional French manner by laying wreaths and bouquets and lighting candles on even the most obscure graves. \nAll Saints’ Day\, which is celebrated globally\, is closely tied with All Souls’ Day\, which was first instituted at the monastery in Cluny\, France in 993 CE and quickly spread among Christians. Some eastern churches in the United States celebrated All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. \nDay After Halloween\nAll Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day are also closely linked with Halloween\, which is a shortened for the name “All Hallows’ Eve”. \nIn the United Methodist Church\, All Saints’ Day is observed on the first Sunday in November to remember deceased members of the local church congregation. A candle is lit as each person’s name is called out\, followed by a prayer offered for each soul. \nMany Latin American communities in the United States hold celebrations around November 1 and 2\, linking with All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day (November 2). These celebrations are part of the Day of the Dead\, also known as Día de los Muertos. \nPublic Life\nAll Saints’ Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States. \nBackground\nAccording to some sources\, the idea for All Saints’ Day goes back to the fourth century when the Greek Christians kept a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost (in late May or early June) in honor of all martyrs and saints. Other sources say that a commemoration of “All Martyrs” began to be celebrated as early as 270 CE\, but no specific month or date is recorded. \nPope Gregory IV made All Saints’ Day an authorized holiday in 837 CE. It is speculated that the chosen date for the event\, November 1\, may have been an attempt to supplant pagan festivals that occurred around the same time. \nSymbols\nSymbols commonly associated with All Saints’ Day are: \n\nA sheaf of wheat.\nRayed Manus Dei (hand of God).\nThe crown.\nSymbols / images of saints.\n\nThe liturgical color is white on All Saints’ Day.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/all-saints-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261102
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035112Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035112Z
UID:6687-1793491200-1793577599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:First Day of Native American Heritage Month
DESCRIPTION:Is First Day of Native American Heritage Month a Public Holiday?\n\n\nThe first day of Native American Heritage Month is November 1st. President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution in 1990 to designate the month of November as National American Indian Heritage Month. The month honors the cultural\, historical\, educational\, and societal contributions of Native Americans\, Alaska Natives\, Native Hawaiians\, and affiliated Island communities. It also celebrates their traditions\, languages\, and stories\, and honors veterans who have served the nation.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCongress chose November because it’s a time of celebration and giving thanks that generally follows the end of the traditional harvest season. The month also honors Indigenous peoples who have suffered at the hands of the U.S. government.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBefore the month-long celebration\, there was a week-long celebration called American Indian Week in 1986\, which took place from November 23–30. The first American Indian Day was celebrated in New York in May 1916\, after Red Fox James\, a member of the Blackfeet Nation\, rode across the country on horseback to get 24 state governments to approve the day.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHere are some ways to celebrate Native American Heritage Month: Participate in Native American cultural events\, Explore Native American cuisine\, Read Native American literature\, Listen to Native American podcasts\, and Recognize what Native land you are on.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/first-day-of-native-american-heritage-month/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261101
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261102
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040626Z
UID:6771-1793491200-1793577599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Daylight Saving Time Ends
DESCRIPTION:Also called Fall Back and Winter Time. \nMost of the United States observes daylight saving time (DST)\, the practice of setting the clock forward by one hour when there is longer daylight during the day\, so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. Exceptions include Arizona (except for the Navajo\, who do observe daylight saving time in the Navajo Nation)\, Hawaii\, and the territories of American Samoa\, Guam\, the Northern Mariana Islands\, Puerto Rico\, and the United States Virgin Islands. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established a uniform set of rules for states opting to observe daylight saving time. \nIn the U.S.\, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November\, with the time changes taking place at 2:00 a.m. local time. With a mnemonic word play referring to seasons\, clocks “spring forward\, fall back”—that is\, in springtime the clocks are moved forward from 2:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. and in fall they are moved back from 2:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. Daylight saving time lasts for a total of 34 weeks (238 days) every year\, about 65% of the entire year.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/daylight-saving-time-ends-2/
CATEGORIES:Clock Change
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261103
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261104
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040832Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040832Z
UID:6786-1793664000-1793750399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Election Day (General Election)
DESCRIPTION:Election Day in the United States of America is the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. It can fall on or between November 2 and November 8. It is the day when popular ballots are held to select public officials. These include national\, state\, and local government representatives at all levels up to the president. \nIs Election Day a Public Holiday?\nElection Day 2024 is a state holiday in 12 states and an observance in 39 states. \nWhat Do People Do?\nOn Election Day\, citizens of the United States of America can vote by popular ballot for candidates for public offices at local\, state\, and national levels. In even-numbered years\, federal elections are held\, while in years divisible by four\, presidential elections are held. Elections for local and state officials may be held in odd- or even-numbered years\, depending on local and state laws. \nThe way in which people vote depends on the state in which they live. In Oregon\, all votes are cast by post and all votes have to be received at a given time on Election Day. In the state of Washington\, nearly all people vote by post and the envelopes containing the voting papers have to be postmarked with the date of Election Day. In other states\, people vote at voting stations\, where long queues can form. \nPublic Life\nElection Day is not a federal holiday\, but it is a yearly or biennial holiday in some states (see table below article)\, including: \n\nDelaware\nHawaii\nIllinois\nIndiana\nMichigan\nMontana\nWest Virginia\n\nEmployees in some states have the legal right to have time off work to vote\, and in some cases\, without losing any pay. \nBackground\nIn 1792\, a law was passed allowing each of the states to conduct presidential elections at any point in the 34 days before the first Wednesday in December. This was the date when the meetings of the Electors of the U.S. president and vice-president\, known as the Electoral Colleges\, were held in each state. A date in November or early December was preferable because the harvest would have been finished\, but the most severe winter storms would not have begun. \nAs long distance communication improved and became quicker with the advent of trains and telegraphs\, allowing each state to conduct its elections at any point in a period of more than a month became outdated. The results of the elections that were announced earliest could influence the outcomes of elections held later in the permitted period. \nIn 1845\, the United States Congress chose a single date for all national elections in all states. The first Tuesday after the first Monday in November was chosen so that there would never be more than 34 days between Election Day and the first Wednesday in December. Election Day is held on a Tuesday so that voters will not have to vote or travel on Sunday. This was an important consideration at the time when the laws were written and is still so in some Christian communities in the United States. \nOn Inauguration Day\, which is on January 20 every four years\, the president and vice-president of the United States of America are sworn in and take office. \nIn 2008\, Barack Obama became the first African-American to be elected as president of the United States\, 45 years after Martin Luther King Jr’s speech about equal opportunities.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/election-day-general-election-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261108
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261109
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040630Z
UID:6776-1794096000-1794182399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Diwali/Deepavali
DESCRIPTION:Diwali is also known as Deepavali\, Dipavali\, Dewali\, Deepawali\, or the Festival of Lights. It is celebrated in October or November each year. Diwali celebrations can last for about five days. \nIs Diwali/Deepavali a Public Holiday?\nDiwali/Deepavali is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \n\n\n\nLearn about India’s biggest holiday of the year. \n\nDiwali\, or Dipawali\, is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. This festival is as important to Hindus as the Christmas holiday is to Christians.\n\n\nOver the centuries\, Diwali has become a national festival that’s also enjoyed by non-Hindu communities. For instance\, in Jainism\, Diwali marks the nirvana\, or spiritual awakening\, of Lord Mahavira on October 15\, 527 B.C.; in Sikhism\, it honors the day that Guru Hargobind Ji\, the Sixth Sikh Guru\, was freed from imprisonment. Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali as well. 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/diwali-deepavali/
CATEGORIES:Hindu
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261111
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261112
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260104T073850Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035825Z
UID:6634-1794355200-1794441599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Veterans Day
DESCRIPTION:In the USA\, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. This day is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice\, which ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day. \nIs Veterans 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. \nObservance\nVeterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars\, particularly living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes may be held at 11am. Some schools are closed on Veterans Day\, while others do not close\, but choose to mark the occasion with special assemblies or other activities. \nVeterans Day is officially observed on November 11. However\, if it falls on a week day\, many communities hold their celebrations on the weekend closest to this date. This is to enable more people to attend and participate in the events. Federal Government offices are closed on November 11. If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday\, they are closed on Friday November 10. If Veterans Day falls on a Sunday\, they are closed on Monday November 12. State and local governments\, schools and non-governmental businesses are not required to close and may decide to remain open or closed. Public transit systems may follow a regular or holiday schedule. \nHistory\nOn the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11\, 1919\, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919\, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”. There were plans for parades\, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at 11am. \nIn 1926\, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should “issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches\, or other suitable places\, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.” \nAn Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code\, Sec. 87a) was approved on May 13\, 1938\, which made November 11 in each year a legal holiday\, known as Armistice Day. This day was originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. A few years later\, World War II required the largest mobilization of service men in the history of the United States and the American forces fought in Korea. In 1954\, the veterans service organizations urged Congress to change the word “Armistice” to “Veterans”. Congress approved this change and on June 1\, 1954\, November 11 became a day to honor all American veterans\, where ever and whenever they had served. \nIn 1968 the Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) made an attempt to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October. The bill took effect in 1971. However\, this caused a lot of confusion as many states disagreed with this decision and continued to hold Veterans Day activities on November 11. In 1975\, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479)\, which stated that Veterans Day would again be observed on November 11 from 1978 onwards. Veterans Day is still observed on November 11.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/__trashed-3/
CATEGORIES:Federal Holiday,School Closed,State Holiday
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261126
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261127
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T043913Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043913Z
UID:6898-1795651200-1795737599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Thanksgiving Day
DESCRIPTION:Thanksgiving Day in the United States is a holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. The day after is also known as Black Friday. \nIs Thanksgiving 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. \nFamily Celebration\nThanksgiving Day is a day for people in the US to give thanks for what they have. Families and friends get together for a meal\, which traditionally includes a roast turkey\, stuffing\, potatoes\, vegetables\, cranberry sauce\, gravy\, and pumpkin pie. \nIn some cities and towns\, there are parades during the Thanksgiving weekend. In most areas\, these festivities also mark the opening of the Christmas shopping season. \nLong Weekend in More Than 20 States\nThe Day After Thanksgiving\, also know as Black Friday\, is a holiday in more than 20 states. It’s common to take trips and visit family and friends during the long weekend. \nMany Have the Day Off\nMost government offices\, businesses\, schools\, universities\, colleges\, and other organizations are closed on Thanksgiving Day. Many offices and businesses allow staff to have a long four-day weekend for Thanksgiving\, so these offices and businesses are also closed on the Day after Thanksgiving Day. Public transit systems usually do not operate on their regular timetables. \nThanksgiving Day is one of the busiest periods for travel in the USA. This can cause congestion and overcrowding. Seasonal parades and busy football games can also cause disruption to local traffic. \nHistory and Controversy\nThanksgiving Day has been an annual holiday in the United States since 1863. However\, not everyone sees Thanksgiving Day as a cause for celebration. Some in the US Native American community feel the mythology of the holiday ignores the destruction of indigenous cultures that followed European settlement. \nBeginning in 1970\, a group of Native Americans and their supporters have staged an annual protest for a National Day of Mourning at Plymouth Rock in Plymouth\, Massachusetts on Thanksgiving Day. American Indian Heritage Day is also observed at this time of the year. \nThere are claims that the first Thanksgiving Day was held in the city of El Paso\, Texas\, in 1598. Another early event was held in 1619 in the Virginia Colony. Many people trace the origins of the modern Thanksgiving Day to the harvest celebration the Pilgrims held in Plymouth\, Massachusetts in 1621. However\, their first true thanksgiving was in 1623\, when they gave thanks for rain that ended a drought. These early thanksgivings took the form of a special church service\, rather than a feast. \nIn the second half of the 1600s\, thanksgivings after the harvest became more common and started to become annual events. However\, they were celebrated on different days in different communities and in some places there were more than one thanksgiving each year. George Washington\, the first president of the United States\, proclaimed the first national Thanksgiving Day in 1789.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/thanksgiving-day-3/
CATEGORIES:Federal Holiday,School Closed
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261127
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261128
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040027Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040027Z
UID:6748-1795737600-1795823999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Black Friday
DESCRIPTION:Black Friday is an informal name for the day after Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It is a public holiday in more than 20 states\, and is considered the start of the US Christmas shopping season. \nIs Black Friday a Public Holiday?\nBlack Friday is on the Day After Thanksgiving\, which is a public holiday in more than 20 states. In these states\, businesses may be closed. \nThe same day is also a state holiday in Georgia\, commemorating General Robert E Lee’s birthday. \nSchools and universities all over the United States are closed for the entire Thanksgiving weekend. \nBargain Shopping\nThanksgiving Day is a public holiday all over the US. Even where the day after is not a public holiday\, many take a day off work or use a day from their quota of annual leave on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation. Others use it to start shopping for the Christmas season. \nShopping for Christmas presents is also popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods\, such as toys. \nThe Monday after\, is known as Cyber Monday\, a marketing effort for online retailers equivalent to Black Friday. \nWhat’s Open or Closed?\nPublic transit systems may not run on their normal schedule. Some stores extend their opening hours on Black Friday. There can also be congestion on roads to popular shopping destinations. \nWhy Is It Called Black Friday?\nBlack Friday is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA. There are two popular theories as to why the day after Thanksgiving Day is called Black Friday. One theory is that the wheels of vehicles in heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving Day left many black markings on the road surface\, leading to the term Black Friday. \nThe other theory is that the term Black Friday comes from an old way of recording business accounts. Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink. Many businesses\, particularly small businesses\, started making profits before Christmas. Many hoped to start showing a profit\, marked in black ink\, on the day after Thanksgiving Day.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/black-friday-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261127
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261128
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040626Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040626Z
UID:6770-1795737600-1795823999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Day After Thanksgiving
DESCRIPTION:The Day After Thanksgiving is also known as Black Friday. It is a holiday in more than 20 states. \nIs Day After Thanksgiving 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. \nThe Thanksgiving Weekend\nThanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday in November\, and it is celebrated widely by Americans. Schools and universities are closed for the entire Thanksgiving weekend. It is a time for family celebration on the Thursday\, and many spend the day after — which is also known as Black Friday — bargain shopping. \nThe Friday after Thanksgiving is a state holiday in California\, Delaware\, Florida\, Illinois\, Iowa\, Kansas\, Kentucky\, Louisiana\, Maine\, Michigan\, Minnesota\, Nebraska\, Nevada\, New Hampshire\, North Carolina\, Oklahoma\, Pennsylvania\, South Carolina\, Tennessee\, Texas\, Virginia\, and West Virginia. \nGeorgians Celebrate Robert E. Lee\nIn Georgia\, it is also a state holiday. Georgians have chosen this day to commemorate the birth of Robert E. Lee\, commander of the Confederate army during the American Civil War in the 1860s. HIs birthday is also a holiday in other states\, however on different dates.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/day-after-thanksgiving-3/
CATEGORIES:Federal Holiday,School Closed,State Holiday
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261127
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261128
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T043755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043755Z
UID:6847-1795737600-1795823999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Native American Heritage Day
DESCRIPTION:From The American Presidency Project\, Proclamation 10667—National Native American Heritage Month\, 2023\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“During National Native American Heritage Month\, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Native peoples that have shaped our country and honor the hundreds of Tribal Nations who continue exercising their inherent sovereignty as vital members of the overlapping system of governments in the United States. We also recommit to supporting Tribal sovereignty; upholding the Federal Government’s solemn trust and treaty responsibilities; and working in partnership with Tribal Nations to advance prosperity\, dignity\, and safety for all Native peoples. \n“Since time immemorial\, Native communities have passed down rich cultures\, knowledge\, traditions\, and ways of life. But throughout our history\, Native peoples’ cultures\, identities\, and governments were not always seen as a part of this Nation but as a threat to it. Native people were pressured to assimilate\, banned from practicing their traditions and sacred ceremonies\, and forced from their homes and ancestral homelands. This violence and devastation cost countless lives\, tore families apart\, and caused lasting damage to Tribal communities and institutions. \n“Despite centuries of violence and oppression\, Native peoples remain resilient and proud. Today\, Native Americans are essential to the fabric of the United States. They serve in the United States Armed Forces at higher rates than any other ethnic group. They continue to steward so many of our great lands. Their contributions to science\, humanities\, arts\, public service\, and more have brought prosperity for all of us. Their diverse cultures and communities continue to thrive and lead us forward.”
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/native-american-heritage-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261129
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261130
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T043628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043628Z
UID:6792-1795910400-1795996799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:First Sunday of Advent
DESCRIPTION:The Advent season marks the beginning of the Christian year across many western churches in the United States. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days\, starting on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays\, ending on Christmas Day. \nIs First Sunday of Advent a Public Holiday?\nFirst Sunday of Advent is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, December 1\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany Christians in the United States attend a church service on the first Sunday of Advent and may engage in activities such as special prayers and contributing to ideas on enhancing peace. Many Advent traditions are observed in the United States in the prelude to Christmas Day. For example\, the Advent wreath is becoming increasingly popular in the United States. The wreath can be seen in various churches across the nation around this time of the year. \nAdvent calendars of all designs are also given as gifts at this time of the year. The calendars feature openings in the form of windows or doors that are numbered to count the days to Christmas. Calendars may contain chocolates\, toys\, or candy and are given to children as a fun way to observe the Christmas countdown. Some traditional Advent calendars show 24 days but many Advent calendars showing 25 days\, with the last opening on Christmas Day. \nThe church year begins in September 1 in many eastern Christian churches\, so Advent begins at a different time to when it starts in the western churches. The eastern equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast\, which runs for 40 days. \nPublic Life\nThe first Sunday of Advent is not a nationwide public holiday in the United States. However\, churches may be busy on this day\, as well as families who use the beginning of Advent as a time to prepare for the Christmas season. \nBackground\nIt is uncertain as to when exactly the celebration of Advent was first introduced in the Christian church. Some sources say that Advent began on November 11 (St Martin’s Day) at some time in the fifth century in the form of a six-week fast leading to Christmas. Advent was reduced to its current length at some stage in the sixth century and the fasting was later no longer observed. Advent is originally a time to reflect and prepare for Christmas similarly to how Lent is in preparation for Easter. Advent has sometimes been referred to as the Winter Lent.  In recent times the restrictions that Advent brings to Christians have become more relaxed. \nAdvent traditions spread from Europe to the United States\, especially the Advent calendar\, which became very popular in the United States after World War II as American military personnel and their families who were stationed in Germany brought them home and made them a part of the pre-Christmas traditions. Some people credit President Dwight Eisenhower with helping the tradition of the Advent calendar spread in the United States during the 1950s. \nSymbols\nPurple is historically the main color used for Advent because it reflects penitence\, fasting\, and the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the king (Jesus Christ). The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his first Advent\, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his second Advent. Some churches use other colors in recent times. For example\, some churches mark the third Sunday of Advent with pink or rose\, colors that represent joy. Many Protestant churches use blue to distinguish the Season of Advent from Lent. \nAdvent wreaths are symbolic of Advent. They are usually made of fir and decorated with gold and silver ribbons or scarlet woolen threads. Lit wreaths may be displayed on the table where family and friends sit while singing carols and preparing handmade gifts.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/first-sunday-of-advent-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261130
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261201
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040224Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040224Z
UID:6750-1795996800-1796083199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Cyber Monday
DESCRIPTION:Cyber Monday falls on the first Monday after Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday in the United States. It’s becoming one of busiest online shopping days for deals and discounts in the US. \nIs Cyber Monday a Public Holiday?\nCyber Monday is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nOnline Shopping Day\nCyber Monday is a marketing invention that was first observed in 2005 by online retailer shop.org. Seen as an online version of Black Friday\, Cyber Monday was created to allow customers to shop online from the comfort of their offices and homes. \nThe day after Thanksgiving in the United States is traditionally considered to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day\, brick and mortar retailers have sales and provide massive discounts to attract customers\, making it one of the busiest shopping days of the year. As a result\, many people tend to stay away from stores to avoid crowds. Additionally\, thanksgiving weekend is also one of the busiest travel weekends in the US when people travel around the country to be with their families. Such travel may mean that many customers miss Black Friday deals and sales. It is thought that Cyber Monday was created as a way to encourage such customers to shop without having to visit brick and mortar stores. \nSales and Discounts\nOnline retailers offer deals\, often posting the kind of deals and sales they will have on online forums and websites\, several weeks and days ahead. It is thought that a large percentage of the shopping on this day is done during work hours. Keeping this in mind\, several retailers offer extra lunchtime discounts to their customers. \nSeveral other countries\, including Canada\, Germany\, and the United Kingdom also now have their own version of Cyber Monday. \nWhat’s Open or Closed?\nCyber Monday is not a public holiday\, so it’s business as usual in the US.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/cyber-monday-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261201
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261202
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T043631Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T043631Z
UID:6796-1796083200-1796169599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Giving Tuesday
DESCRIPTION:What is Giving Tuesday?\nGiving Tuesday\, often described as a global day of giving or a global generosity movement\, is held each year on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. \nThe giving movement is also sometimes stylized as GivingTuesday or #GivingTuesday. \nWhat is the history of Giving Tuesday?\nAccording to GivingTuesday.org\, this day of giving was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation as a day that encourages people to do good. In July 2019\, GivingTuesday spun out into its own organization\, led by GivingTuesday co-founder\, Asha Curran\, as its CEO. \nWhy do nonprofits participate in this global day of giving?\nOutside of awareness days\, days that are significant for individual causes or organizations\, or national or international crises\, there are few opportunities to drive significant attention among a larger audience. \nGiving Tuesday presents nonprofits with a day full of opportunities. Because many members of the general public now know what it is and may even set aside money each year to donate on that day\, it’s the perfect chance for nonprofits to highlight their missions\, solicit donations\, and gain new supporters. Nonprofits looking to increase visibility and capitalize on a day of giving would be smart to participate. \nBecause nonprofit organizations have varying resources\, sometimes a nonprofit’s involvement may be as simple as sharing a single social media post or sending an email newsletter. \nConsidered by many as the day that kicks off the giving season\, it directly follows three major shopping days: Black Friday\, Small Business Saturday\, and Cyber Monday. \nBecause it usually falls on a day in late November or early December\, some nonprofits use the day as an opportunity to launch end-of-year giving campaigns to take advantage of people making their final tax-deductible donations for the year. Nonprofits benefit from the generosity of those wishing to make a positive impact during the holiday season.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/giving-tuesday-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261205
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261206
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040426Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040426Z
UID:6762-1796428800-1796515199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day)
DESCRIPTION:Known as the Festival of Lights\, Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is an eight-night holiday that recalls an ancient miracle and celebrates religious freedom. \nIs Hanukkah a Public Holiday?\nWhile this is not a public holiday in the United States\, some Jewish-run organizations might be closed during the festival. \nWhen Is Hanukkah?\nHanukkah (or Chanukah) starts on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar\, which usually falls in late November or early December in the Gregorian calendar. \nThe holiday lasts for eight nights\, ending on the 2nd of the Jewish month of Tevet. \nLighting The Candles\nAt sundown on the first night of Hanukkah\, Jewish households in the United States often say blessings in Hebrew before lighting the traditional menorah (or hanukiah). \nThis special candelabra’s nine arms hold one light for each night of the eight-day holiday\, plus a single candle called the shamash (helper) used to light the others. Each night\, a new candle is added to the menorah until all eight are lit. \nFood\, Song\, Games\, and Gelt\nAt Hanukkah celebrations\, families gather to share meals\, sing songs\, and play games with a spinning top called a dreidel. Packets of money\, or gelt\, are often handed out to children and\, in some homes\, Hanukkah is a time for gift-giving. \nSince oil is a big part of the Hanukkah story\, special foods prepared in oil are on the holiday table of many Jewish families. Classic dishes like crisp potato pancakes (latkes)\, sweet sufganiyot (doughnuts)\, crunchy mandelbrot (almond bread)\, and flavorful rugelach (filled pastry) are favorites across the country. \nThe Tradition of Merendas\nWhile most Jewish households in the United States trace their lineage back to an Ashkenazy (European) source\, some Jewish Americans are descended from Sephardic (Iberian and North African) heritage. \nMany Sephardic Jews have their own food traditions for Hanukkah\, such as the merenda\, a pot luck dinner held on the last night of the festival. Crisp\, chewy cheese balls and donuts drizzled with honey called bimuelos are highlights of the merenda table. \nHistory and Symbolism\nThe origin story of Hanukkah is based on events that took place in the Middle East more than 2000 years ago. \nAfter a victory in their rebellion against the Greeks in the Maccabean War of 162 BCE\, the Jewish people began a ritual cleansing and re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem\, the faith’s holiest site. \nTo perform the rituals\, holy oil was needed to light the Temple’s lamp\, or menorah. According to the legend\, when Jewish forces took control of the holy site\, there was only a small jug of sanctified oil remaining – just enough to burn for a single day. \nSince the rules for creating new fuel called for a strict eight-day purification period for the oil makers\, the Jewish forces faced a dilemma. They needed to purify the temple\, but didn’t have enough holy oil to keep the lamps lit for the entire period\, as required by scripture. \nThe story of Hanukkah says that the remaining one-day supply of sacred fuel miraculously burned for eight days\, allowing the rituals to be performed and the Temple purified. \nFor many people\, this miracle of the lights has come to symbolize the perseverance of Judaism through the trials of history since the time of the Temple. \nToday\, Hanukkah celebrations often include words of appreciation for religious liberty and prayers of gratitude for the faith’s survival. \n 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/chanukah-hanukkah-first-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Jewish
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261206
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261207
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035728Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035728Z
UID:6729-1796515200-1796601599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:St Nicholas Day
DESCRIPTION:St Nicholas’ Day is an observance of European origin that is celebrated in some American communities on December 6. \nIs St Nicholas Day a Public Holiday?\nSt Nicholas Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nCelebrate St Nicholas’ Day\nChildren in families who celebrate St Nicholas’ Day receive treats – including candy\, cookies\, small toys\, or fruit – in stockings\, socks\, shoes or bags on December 6. Some churches have special services dedicated to the feast of St Nicholas on this day. \nPublic Life\nSt Nicholas’ Day is an observance and not a federal public holiday in the US. \nAbout St Nicholas’ Day\nThe legendary figure of St. Nicholas is derived from Nicholas of Myra who officiated as a bishop in 4th century Greece. During his lifetime he developed a reputation for gift-giving by putting coins into other people’s shoes\, which accounts for many of today’s Christmas traditions that involve leaving gifts in shoes or boots. \nSome Europeans who immigrated to the United States brought with them beliefs\, customs and practices associated with St Nicholas’ Day. It has been recorded that celebrations associated with the observance took place in cities such as New York in the early 1800s.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/st-nicholas-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261208
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261209
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T035103Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T035103Z
UID:6674-1796688000-1796774399@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Feast of the Immaculate Conception
DESCRIPTION:Many Christians\, particularly those of Catholic faith\, in the United States observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on or around December 8. \nIs Feast of the Immaculate Conception a Public Holiday?\nFeast of the Immaculate Conception is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nMany churches\, especially the Catholic Church\, in the United States hold special services (or masses) to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on or close to December 8. The feast focuses on the concept that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin. Many churches that observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception are busy preparing for it prior to its occurrence. \nThe Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a legal holiday in Guam\, known as Our Lady of Camarin Day\, commemorating a small wooden statue known as Our Lady of Camarin (Santa Marian Kamalen). The statue is found in the Agana Cathedral Basilica. It has been tradition since the early 1900s for the statue to be taken down\, groomed and placed on a cart\, which is then pulled into Hagåtña\, Guam’s capital. This statue leads a procession\, in which people pray in various languages to honor Jesus through his mother Mary. \nPublic Life\nThe Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a public holiday in Guam\, which is an unincorporated territory of the United States. However\, this event is not a nationwide public holiday in the United States. \nBackground\nThe Feast of the Immaculate Conception centers on the belief that Jesus’ mother\, the Virgin Mary\, was conceived without sin. Pope Pius IX issued an apostolic constitution\, known as the Ineffabilis Deus\, on December 8\, 1854. This document clarified the importance of the Immaculate Conception in the Catholic Church. This day is a public holiday in Guam. A law in Guam attempted to eliminate this holiday for locals in 2002 but this attempt did not succeed due to public pressure. Typhoon Pongsona struck Guam on the feast day on December 8 that year. \nSymbols\nVarious paintings\, statues and other forms of artwork have been made depicting the Immaculate Conception. They usually show Mary as a young woman dressed in white and blue. She is often standing on a hill or raised area and has a halo of stars around her head. The pieces of art may also include images of clouds\, golden lights\, cherubs\, lilies or roses. \nOne well-known example associated with the Immaculate Conception is a statue known as Our Lady of Camarin (Santa Marian Kamalen)\, which was found on the shores of Merizo in Guam more than 300 years ago. The statue’s hands and face are made of ivory and the jewel-studded crown sits atop a cap of natural hair. It has survived earthquakes\, fires\, typhoons and World War II. The statue was stolen in 1968\, 1971\, and 1992 but was successfully retrieved.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261212
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261213
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T034947Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034947Z
UID:6671-1797033600-1797119999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
DESCRIPTION:The Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is becoming an increasingly popular Catholic feast in some American communities on December 12. It is dedicated to Jesus’ mother Mary. \nIs Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe a Public Holiday?\nFeast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nCelebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe Day\nThe popularity of this religious feast has grown particularly along the south-west of the US\, including cities such as Los Angeles. It serves as a tribute to Jesus’ mother Mary and is particularly celebrated by Americans of Mexican descent. \nPublic Life\nOur Lady of Guadalupe Day is a religious observance\, not a public holiday in the US. \nAbout Our Lady of Guadalupe Day\nThe day is particularly special for Americans of Mexican heritage\, as it honors the belief that Jesus’ mother Mary\, who is Mexico’s patron saint\, appeared to a man in Mexico City twice in 1531. Mexican Americans make up over 10% of the US population\, with about 33.5 million Americans being listed as being of full or partial Mexican ancestry\, according to the US Census Bureau 2011.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/feast-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-2/
CATEGORIES:Christian
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261215
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261216
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T034718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034718Z
UID:6645-1797292800-1797379199@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Bill of Rights Day
DESCRIPTION:Is Bill of Rights Day a Public Holiday?\nBill of Rights Day is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday\, December 15\, 2024 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in United States. \nThe Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. When the Framers wrote the Constitution\, they did not focus on individual rights. They focused on creating the system and structure of government. Many Americans believed that the Constitution should guarantee the rights of the people\, and they wanted a list of all the things a government could not do. They were afraid that a strong government would take away the rights people won in the Revolutionary War. \nJames Madison\, one of the Framers of the Constitution\, wrote a list of individual rights and limits on the government. These rights appear in the first 10 amendments\, called the Bill of Rights. Some of these rights include freedom of expression\, the right to bear arms\, freedom from search without warrant\, freedom not to be tried twice for the same crime\, the right to not testify against yourself\, the right to a trial by a jury of your peers\, the right to an attorney\, and protection against excessive fines and unusual punishments. The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15\, 1791. Today\, we recognize December 15 as Bill of Rights Day. \nUnderstanding the Bill of Rights is also an important part of the naturalization test. During the naturalization interview\, prospective citizens may be asked\, “What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?” as part of the civics test. Applicants may also be asked to read the words\, “Bill of Rights\,” during the English test.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/bill-of-rights-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261217
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261218
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040024Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040024Z
UID:6742-1797465600-1797551999@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Wright Brothers Day
DESCRIPTION:Wright Brothers Day is celebrated in the United States on December 17 each year. The date commemorates the Wright brothers’ first successful flight in heavier-than-air\, mechanically propelled craft\, accomplished on December 17\, 1903\, near Kitty Hawk\, North Carolina. Wright Brothers Day falls on the same day as Pan American Aviation Day. It must not be confused with National Aviation Day. \nIs Wright Brothers Day a Public Holiday?\nWright Brothers Day is not a public holiday. Businesses have normal opening hours. \nWhat Do People Do?\nThe United States president annually makes a proclamation inviting Americans to observe Wright Brothers Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Observations\, including the annual Wright Brothers dinner where the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy is awarded in Washington DC\, take place on or around this day. Celebrations are also held at Kitty Hawk in North Carolina and in Dayton\, Ohio\, where the brothers were born. \nEvents focused on the day also take place at the Wright Brothers National Memorial\, a 425-acre (about 1.7km2) area that features a 60-foot (about 18.3 meters) granite pylon (tower) on top of Kill Devil Hill\, where the Wright Brothers’ camp was located. Other activities include: luncheons in honor of the Wright brothers; school activities focused on aviation and the Wright brothers’ achievements in opening doors for future flight advancements; and field trips to aviation and flight museums and centers. \nPublic Life\nThe Wright Brothers Day is an observance but it is not a federal public holiday in the United States. \nBackground\nOrville and his brother Wilbur are given credit for building the world’s first successful airplane with aircraft controls that enabled them to steer the plane. The brothers’ first aircraft\, named Flyer\, made its maiden flight for 12 seconds and 120 feet (about 36-37 meters) around the site of Wright Brothers National Memorial in North Carolina on December 17\, 1903. This day is observed nationally since 1963 to honor Wilbur and Orville Wright. \nThe Wright brothers were not the first to build and fly experimental aircraft but they are the first to invent aircraft controls that made fixed wing flight possible. In the years that followed\, aviation advancements were made. The Wright brothers’ efforts paved the way for modern day aeronautics. The brothers’ status as inventors of the airplane has been an issue of debate\, particularly as there were competing claims regarding other early aviators. \nSymbols\nImages of the Wright brothers and the first flight have been seen in posters\, flyers\, stamps and other memorabilia. First Flight stamps\, in honor of the Wright brothers’ first flight\, were issued in 2003 at the United States Air Force Museum in Dayton\, Ohio\, and the Wright Brothers National Memorial Park in Kill Devil Hills\, North Carolina.  The stamp illustration depicts Orville Wright at the controls of the 1903 Wright flyer. The text at the bottom of the design reads “First Flight. Wright Brothers. 1903”. \nA large memorial tower\, located on top of Kill Devil Hill\, is also dedicated to the Wright Brothers. Orville Wright attended the monument dedication in 1932. The first floor interior showcases special pink granite-lined walls and a black granite floor. Only the first floor of the monument displays this color granite. The rest of the monument is made of white granite stone.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/wright-brothers-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261221
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261222
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T040628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T040628Z
UID:6774-1797811200-1797897599@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:December Solstice
DESCRIPTION:December Solstice: Longest and Shortest Day of the Year\nThere are two solstices every year: one in December and one in June. The December solstice marks the shortest day north of the equator and the longest day in the south. \nSun Reaches Most Southerly Point\nThe December solstice is the moment the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere. This is the southernmost latitude it reaches during the year. After the solstice\, it begins moving north again. \nShortest Day in the North\nSince the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun in December\, it receives less sunlight during the course of a day. At the solstice\, the North Pole’s tilt away from the Sun is greatest\, so this event marks the shortest day of the year north of the equator. \nThis effect is greatest in locations that are farther away from the equator. In tropical areas\, the shortest day is just a little shorter than 12 hours; in the temperate zone\, it is significantly shorter; and places within the Arctic Circle experience polar night\, when the Sun does not rise at all. \nLongest Day in the South\nConversely\, the day of the December solstice is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Here\, too\, the effect is greater the farther a location is away from the equator. \nPlaces within the Antarctic Circle experience Midnight Sun\, when the Sun does not set at night. \nWhat Does “Solstice” Mean?\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. At the December solstice\, which marks the southernmost point of its journey\, it stops again to start its journey back toward the north. \nThis is how the solstices got their name: the term comes from the Latin words sol and sistere\, meaning “Sun” and “to stand still”. \nInitially\, the naming arose from observations of how the Sun’s apparent path across the sky changes slightly from one day to the next\, which is caused by the same process as the subsolar point’s movement described above. \nIn the months leading up to the December solstice\, the position of sunrise and sunset creeps southward. On the day of the solstice\, it reaches its southernmost point. After that\, the daily path of the Sun across the sky begins to creep northward. \nWhy Does the Sun Move North and South?\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. \nThe Solstices and the Seasons\nThe December solstice marks the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere\, according to one definition. \nSunrise and Sunset Times Lag Behind\nThe shortest day of the year is commonly associated with the latest sunrise and earliest sunset of the year. However\, in most locations\, the earliest sunset happens a few days before the solstice\, while the latest sunrise occurs some days after it. Find out why \nThe December Solstice in the Calendar\nThe December solstice can be on December 20\, 21\, 22\, or 23. \nDecember 21 or 22 solstices happen more often than December 20 and 23 solstices. The last December 23 solstice was in 1903 and the next one is in 2303. A December 20 solstice is also rare\, with the next one in the year 2080. \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). \n  \n  \n 
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/december-solstice-2/
CATEGORIES:Season
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261224
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261225
DTSTAMP:20260403T233138
CREATED:20260107T034722Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T034722Z
UID:6651-1798070400-1798156799@mahamontessori.com
SUMMARY:Christmas Eve
DESCRIPTION:Christmas Eve in the United States\, which is annually on December 24\, is the day before Christmas Day. It falls within the Christmas season\, which is a time for people to buy presents and visit friends or relatives. \nIs Christmas Eve a Public Holiday?\nChristmas Eve 2024 is a state holiday in 11 states and an observance\, christian in 40 states. \nCelebrate Christmas Eve\nSince Christmas Eve is not usually an official federal holiday\, most people have to work. However\, it is a partial day off or a full day off in some states. Many workplaces hold Christmas parties or celebrations\, so there is a celebratory air to the day. People who work in the retail or catering sectors often have to work very hard to meet consumer demands on December 24. \nMany people in the United States decorate their homes and driveways with seasonal decorations\, although some do this much earlier\, starting just after Thanksgiving Day in late November. The centerpiece of the decorations is often a Christmas tree decorated with fairy lights\, tinsel\, angels\, stars and other seasonal ornaments. Outdoor light sculptures are also becoming increasingly popular. These are many light bulbs or LEDs in the form of trees\, sleighs\, reindeer\, Santa Claus\, snowmen and other seasonal figures. Light sculptures may be placed on driveways\, roofs or in gardens. \nIn the evening\, often just before bedtime\, many families\, particularly those with children\, will hang up stockings on the fireplace or the end of their bed. These Christmas stockings are often red with a white fluffy trim\, although they may be of any design and are often much bigger than the socks that they represent. Children hope that Santa Claus\, a mythical figure thought to represent an ancient European saint\, will enter their home via the chimney and fill their stocking with gifts\, sweets and oranges. \nPublic Life\nChristmas Eve is not a federal holiday. However\, it is a partial day off in states like Kansas\, North Dakota\, and Virginia. It is a state holiday in Kentucky\, Michigan\, North Carolina\, Oklahoma\, South Carolina\, Texas\, and Wisconsin. Most schools and other educational institutions throughout the U.S. are usually closed on December 24. Many organizations will open as usual\, but some may close earlier or offer reduced services. Stores are normally open as usual\, but may shut earlier. Stores and malls are likely to be very busy\, as people look for last minute Christmas gifts and stock up on food for the festive season. \nPublic transit systems may run a normal or reduced service\, particularly in the evening. If you need to use public transit on Christmas Eve\, is it a good idea to check the services that the appropriate companies offer carefully. Many people travel to visit family members or friends on Christmas Eve. There may be some congestion on roads and highways\, particularly around major cities. Airports and long distance bus terminals may be especially busy. \nAbout Christmas Eve\nChristmas Eve marks the start of the holiday season at the end of the year. For many Christians\, it is a day to remember the events around the birth of Jesus. Some people\, especially Roman Catholics\, attend a midnight mass at church. Traditionally\, the midnight mass started at midnight\, just as Christmas Eve ended and Christmas Day started. However\, now may churches hold this church service in the late afternoon or early evening of Christmas Eve. \nMany Protestant churches also hold special services on Christmas Eve. These are often candle-lit and may be very solemn. Some include the presentation of a crib scene depicting the holy family\, with statues or actors representing Mary\, Joseph\, the baby Jesus\, the shepherds and various animals thought to be present in the stable where Jesus was born. \nOn Christmas Eve in 1914 and 1915\, unofficial Christmas truces began in the World War I fighting. German soldiers lit candles and sung Christmas carols. On the other side\, British troops responded by singing English carols. Soldiers from both sides shouted greeting and visited each other\, sometimes exchanging small gifts. On Christmas Eve in 1968\, the astronauts of Apollo 8 read from the creation story in the Book of Genesis. This was widely broadcast on television.
URL:https://mahamontessori.com/event/christmas-eve-2/
CATEGORIES:Observance,School Closed
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