Wishing peace and prosperity for a bountiful harvest to our neighbors to the north! Happy Thanksgiving Canada
Happy Thanksgiving, Canada!
Happy World Teachers Day
October 5th serves as World Teachers Day, a day dedicated to appreciating, assessing, and improving the educators of the world. It’s a wonderful reminder to take the time to thank a teacher this week for all that they do year-round to shape the lives and minds of our children.
Coffee Day is September 29th!
Skip sleeping in and cozy up to your favorite coffee house this Sunday to celebrate Coffee Day!
While you’re savoring a medium half-caf no-foam non-fat vanilla soy latte (or go full octane with a straight-up espresso!) we thought you’d enjoy these fun facts about our beloved, can’t-do-without-it beverage:
- Ethiopian shepherds first noticed the effects of caffeine when they saw their goats appearing to become frisky and “dance” after eating coffee berries.
- Coffee beans are actually the pit of a bright red berry, which makes them a fruit.
- Originally, coffee was eaten by African tribes who mixed coffee berries with fat to form edible energy balls.
- In the ancient Arab culture there was only one way a woman could legally divorce: If her husband didn’t provide enough coffee!
- In 1675, the King of England banned coffee houses, claiming they were places where people met to conspire against him.
- All coffee in the world is grown in the “bean belt”, which is the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that grows coffee.
- Coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth. Oil is the first.
- George Washington invented instant coffee! (Gotcha! Not THAT George Washington. Just checking to see if your caffeine is kicking in and you’re still reading.) A Belgian man living in Guatemala by the name of George Washington invented it in 1906.
- New Yorkers drink 7 times more coffee than any other cities in the U.S.
- A French doctor in the 1600s suggested Café Au Laits for patients, inspiring people to begin adding milk to coffee.
So go meet up with a friend to enjoy some caffeinated conversation!
Talk Like a Pirate Day
Avast, me hearties!
Talk Like A Pirate Day be celebrated on September 19, ‘n ye ‘would-be’ buccaneers best learn t’speak th’ lingo. If ye reckon that jus’ sayin’ “arrr” at the’ end o’ every sentence will fill yer sails and float yer ship–recon again, landlubber! It’ll jus’ get ye tossed o’erboard!
So don’t settle fer bein’ an imitation pirate—be authentic ‘n colorful like a real swashbucklin’ scallywag o’ th’ sea! Lookey here fer some official Pirate Talk tips:
- Ye be needin’ t’ be rigged up wit a Pirate name—get yer’s here!
- Change yer Facbookin’ language t’ “Pirate”, ye’ landlubbers!
- Send all ya scallywags an “Arr!” with a pirate ecard.
- Wearin’ a eye patch will make ye’ more feared than th’ black spot.
- A pirate without a crew is bereft indeed! Assemble yer mates and get loaded to the gunwalls with pirates grogg of rum, pineapple juice, coconut juice, or what’ere ye’ scallywags can muster.
- Talk wi’ yer hands as much as ye tongue, as pirates be loud and animated. Just be careful wavin’ that hook around… ye could put n’ eye out!
Now get to celebratin’ talk like a pirate day! ARRR!
Happy Stepfamily Day!
Today we celebrate all of the blended families out there… Happy Stepfamily Day!
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, is the culmination of the Jewish High Holy Days that began with Rosh Hashanah. It is considered to be the holidays day of the year for Jewish people and is traditionally observed with fasting and attending prayer services at temple. It is believed that the fate of each person for the year to come is sealed on this day.
Top 13 Tips for Surviving Friday the 13th
If the very thought of Friday the 13th sends chills up your spine, you may have paraskevidekatriaphobics (say that 3 times fast!) An irrational fear of Friday the 13th influences millions of people in the U.S., causing U.S companies to lose an estimated $800 to $900 million in business due to workers who refuse to travel or go to work on Friday the13th!
Whether you’ve bravely hauled yourself to work or are huddled under the covers watching Dr. Phil today, we thought we’d help calm your nerves and offer you 13 tips on how to make it to Saturday…
- Get out of bed on the right side (that is, not the left side). This side is guaranteed to make your day luckier according to some superstitions.
- Wear red underpants! Apparently this color will bring you more luck than other colors!
- If you come upon a ladder, it’s probably best not to walk under it. (Let’s not push the luck-giving capabilities of our red underpants.)
- It’s not a great day for exploring woods, caves, or cemeteries. We know the sudden urge to go spelunking can be strong, but try to resist for a day, okay?
- Drop the mop! Friday the 13th is a great excuse to not clean because apparently handling a broom is unlucky on this day. So is changing the sheets, flipping the mattress, or doing the laundry. (Woohoo! You don’t need to tell us twice!)
- Do not start a new job or business today, as it will be followed by collapse or bankruptcy.
- If traveling today (though you really shouldn’t) stay away from the 13th floor, which will be easy because many large hotels don’t have a 13th floor—they skip right over it to 14!
- Furthermore, if you MUST stop for gas in a creepy station full of creepy people, just turn around and go home–your trip is over. If you hear a banjo, put the pedal to the metal and floor it!
- Throw salt over your left shoulder (to blind the devil!). This is usually reserved to counteract the bad luck of spilling salt, but we’re thinking that we might do it throughout the day as a sort of insurance policy.
- Black cat? Give it a pat! In some cultures, black cats are actually bringers of good luck and one crossing your path is a good omen. So, don’t be afraid to cuddle Jinxy today.
- Do NOT go digging around for your old OUIJA board and NEVER read a book of demon summoning aloud, even as a joke—it can only lead to further problems.
- Try to focus on good thoughts and good outcomes. Research has actually shown that people who believe in bad luck tend to bring it on! (we’re still not cleaning, though. Or changing out of our red underpants.)
- No rabbit’s foot? Grab an acorn! In Norse folklore, both the acorn and its bearer, the oak tree, bring good fortune. No harm in keeping one in your pocket all day.
Good luck out there, friends!
New Rosh Hashanah Traditions
Rosh Hashanah is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends to celebrate old traditions, but if you’re looking to offer the holiday a fresh twist, check out some of the ideas below to help make your celebration just as sweet as the new year to come:
Throw a Symbolic Potluck
Invite your friends over and ask everyone to bring a dish that symbolizes something they hope for this year. For example, someone might cook entirely from local organic food, with intentions to pay greater attention to their relationships with the people and things closest to them.
Savor the Sweetness
Gather some family or friends and bake the traditional Challah bread. The way challah is braided and shaped has differentsymbolic meanings, so each person could try their hand at a different shape. While the challah is baking, you can prepare an impressive display of apples and honey using carved out apples as individual honey pots.
Letters to Ourselves
Prior to your gathering, ask everyone to write a letter to their future selves. The letter should reflect on where they are now and where they want to be in half a year. Collect everyone’s letter as they arrive, and inform them that you will mail them their letters in six months. This is a wonderful way to get everyone to think about the year ahead and all they hope for themselves and others.
However you choose to celebrate, spending time with people you love is the most important part! Please be sure to send them our warmest wishes as you celebrate the High Holy Days.
L’Shanah Tovah!
L’Shanah Tovah! Last night at sundown, the Jewish New Year began with Rosh Hashanah. This two-day celebration is a time of reflection and repentance, and marks the beginning of the High Holy Days. It’s a time for sending good wishes for the year and gathering with family and friends.
Fun facts about Rosh Hashanah
How much to do you know about Rosh Hashanah? We’ve compiled some interesting facts about this Jewish New Year celebration:
- Rosh Hashanah means “beginning of the year” in Hebrew.
- A significant ritual is the sounding of the Shofar—a hallowed out ram’s horn that is blown like a trumpet and used as a call to repentance.
- No work is allowed on Rosh Hashanah.
- The common salutation is “L’shanah tovah,” which means “for a good year.”
- Pomegranates are eaten because the number of seeds believed to be contained in the fruit (613) is the same number of mitzvoth (commandments) associated with the Jewish faith.
- Fish is a typical dish served and represents knowledge, since its eyes are always open, and it is customary for the head of the fish to be placed in front of the head of household.
- The most popular food custom is eating apples and honey to express hope for a sweet new year.
- According to the Talmud, the world was created on the first day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. So, Rosh Hashanah is considered a birthday of sorts for the world.
Happy New Year from us to you!
Happy Labor Day!
Happy Eid
Today marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest and most blessed month of the Muslim calendar.
This evening at sundown, the festival of Eid-al-Fitr begins and men, women and children attend mosque for special prayers. During the celebration, homes are decorated with lights and time is spent with family and friends to enjoy large meals and exchange gifts.
Observing Ramadan
Ramadan takes place during what is considered the holiest and most blessed month of the Islamic calendar—the time when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and calls for Muslims to abstain from food and drink for 30 days during daylight hours.
Each year, there are varying start and end times around the world depending on the lunar calendar. During Ramadan, fasting begins at dawn and continues through sunset. This year, Ramadan in the United States is estimated to begin on Tuesday, July 9, once the new moon is sighted, and continue for approximately 30 days until Wednesday, August 7.
In addition to fasting, Muslims observing Ramadan pray, take time for inward reflection and to focus on their faith as well as complete charitable acts. Mosques throughout the United States and around the world hold night prayers called Taraweeh in which the entire Quran is recited over the 30-day period.
Before the sun rises, most Muslims begin the day with prayer and the suhoor or early morning meal. Once the sun sets, fresh or dried dates are used to break the fast, as was the known tradition of the Prophet Muhammad. Breaking of the fast includes prayer and the evening Iftar—a meal eaten with family that often features nutritious and hydrating foods to help sustain and replenish the body from the fast.
At the conclusion of Ramadan, the three-day festival of Eid-al-Fitr begins and men, women and children attend mosque for special prayers. During the celebration, homes are decorated with lights and time is spent with family and friends to enjoy large meals and exchange gifts.
Happy 4th of July
Happy 4th of July from American Greetings!
Happy Canada Day!
From Vancouver to Halifax, July 1 marks Canada’s birthday and the date that Canadians commemorate their independence from the United Kingdom. “Canada Day” or “Fête du Canada” is a national day of celebration filled with parades, citizenship ceremonies, free concerts and fireworks.
Canada Day Origins
Originally known as “Dominion Day,” the holiday recognizes the July 1, 1867 anniversary of the British North America Act that united Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada into the Dominion of Canada, becoming the second largest country in the world.
First acknowledged as a proclamation in 1868 and then a statute in 1879, “Dominion Day” became more widely celebrated in the 1980s. For years, observances have been held in Ottawa, Ontario—the nation’s capital—and eventually those events were nationally televised. In the early 1980s, government support and funding was made available to inspire and plan more celebrations across the country. The holiday was officially renamed “Canada Day” in 1982.
Celebrating Canada Day
Canada’s largest celebration is still in Ottawa, where activities include official flag raising and changing of the guard ceremonies. A host of public events featuring performing artists and musicians and multicultural entertainment continue throughout the day then culminate with a brilliant fireworks display behind Parliament Hill. The Canadian Prime Minister and Governor General typically preside over the festivities, and sometimes the Queen of England or another member of the royal family attends the celebration.
Since many families and friends across Canada celebrate Canada Day with picnics, barbeques and outdoor activities, we thought we’d share a few delicious recipes that use some of Canada’s favorite natural resources:
- Baked Maple Brie: Get the party started with a favorite appetizer that combines apples and maple syrup with Brie cheese.
- Montreal-Spiced Bison Steaks: This lean Canadian entrée will bring guests back for seconds!
- Ottawa Valley Strawberry Shortcake: Made with fresh strawberries and granulated maple sugar, this delicious dessert is sure to be a holiday hit!
Happy Canada Day to our friends to the north! And thank you for some of our favorite things Canadian like Hockey, Smarties candies and Velcro to name just a few.
National Teacher Day
There are few people more deserving of appreciation than the everyday heroes who influence our children’s daily lives and affect who they will become. Since its origination in 1944, the purpose of National Teachers Day, now expanded to National Teachers Week, is to honor teachers for their contributions to children’s success—and simply thank them for caring.
Here are some thoughtful ways for you or your child to show teacher day appreciation—without breaking the piggy bank:
- Store, Restaurant or Movie Gift Card
- Flowers, Plants or Seeds – for their seeds of wisdom.
- Symbolic Sweets – Lifesavers, Starbursts, Candy Kisses
- A Lovely Poem
- Handwritten Note – even if it’s in crayon!
And if you are a teacher reading this, we would like to offer our sincerest gratitude for the amazing work you do—all year long!
