Pancake Day Many people in the United Kingdom eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins. The custom began long ago, when people could not eat butter and eggs...
Carnival time!
At the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, people grab for trinkets that are tossed from the parade floats. Mardi Gras The world's turned topsy-turvy! It's snowing bits of paper. Clowns are dancing with...
The changing birthday
Birthday of George Washington February 22 It's a good old American custom to enjoy cherry pie on Washington's birthday. But do you know why? The custom probably began because of a story told...
What’s in a nickname?
Birthday of Abraham Lincoln February 12 Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States, had many nicknames. As a young man, Lincoln and a friend borrowed money to buy a store....
Weeping Waters
Hundreds of years ago, the people called Maoris oh reez) sailed their great war canoes to what is now the island country of New Zealand. According to their legends, they arrived in seven canoes...
Candles and weather
Candlemas Day is a special day when church candles are blessed. At one time, the people then carried lighted candles around the church. This custom goes back to the Romans, when people paraded with...
Here comes the dragon!
Chinese New Year Firecrackers pop and crackle! Cymbals crash! Drums roll! Zigzagging down the street comes a giant golden dragon made of silk and velvet, decorated with hundreds of sparkling-...
The day of the Prophet
Birthday of Muhammad Muhammad (moo uhd) was the founder of Islam, one of the world's great religions. Millions of people celebrate his birthday. Muhammad was born in Mecca, Arabia, about the year...
Australia celebrates
Australia Day January 26 Clink-clank-clink. Barefoot prisoners in chains trudge along the road. All around them are guards with rifles, ready to shoot to kill. But these people aren't really...
Free at last!
Birthday of Martin Luther King January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr., was a famous American civil rights leader. A Baptist minister, he was stoned and put in jail for practicing what he preached. ...