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•DanielleDanielle

•TashonaTashona

•Ja’MerahJa’Merah

•BryanaBryana

New YearsNew Years• Every year it is celebrated on the Every year it is celebrated on the

first of January. The big celebration first of January. The big celebration happens the night before, New Year’s happens the night before, New Year’s Eve (December 31Eve (December 31stst). On that night ). On that night everyone stays up late and watches the everyone stays up late and watches the crystal ball drop at midnight in New crystal ball drop at midnight in New York City. New Year’s Day is celebrated York City. New Year’s Day is celebrated in many different ways, some quietly, in many different ways, some quietly, some make lists of things to do in the some make lists of things to do in the new year, and some spend the day with new year, and some spend the day with their family.their family.

Martian Luther Martian Luther King Jr. DayKing Jr. Day

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an inspirational leader of the Civil Rights inspirational leader of the Civil Rights Movement. He helped organize many civil Movement. He helped organize many civil right marches and protests. His work right marches and protests. His work helped gain fair treatment for African helped gain fair treatment for African Americans and other minorities. His Americans and other minorities. His dream was that out county would be a dream was that out county would be a place where people were judged by their place where people were judged by their character, not the color of their skin. We character, not the color of their skin. We celebrate his life on the 15celebrate his life on the 15thth of January. of January.

Black History Black History MonthMonth

• We owe the celebration of Black History We owe the celebration of Black History Month to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. When he Month to Dr. Carter G. Woodson. When he was in Harvard he was upset to find that was in Harvard he was upset to find that the history books ignored the black the history books ignored the black American population. He decided to write American population. He decided to write books himself. In 1926 he started Negro books himself. In 1926 he started Negro History Week to bring national attention to History Week to bring national attention to the contributions of black people the contributions of black people throughout American history. He chose the throughout American history. He chose the second week of February for Negro History second week of February for Negro History Week. We now concentrate on African Week. We now concentrate on African American History throughout the entire American History throughout the entire month of February.month of February.

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Ground Hog’s Ground Hog’s DayDay

• Some think that the day started in Some think that the day started in Punxsutawney, PA on Feb. 2, 1887 Punxsutawney, PA on Feb. 2, 1887 some people say it started before in some people say it started before in 1841. The Germans called it 1841. The Germans called it Candlemas Day and said the Candlemas Day and said the Groundhog peeps out of his winter Groundhog peeps out of his winter home and if he sees his shadow he home and if he sees his shadow he pops back inside for another 6 weeks pops back inside for another 6 weeks nap, but if it is cloudy he stays out and nap, but if it is cloudy he stays out and the weather will be milder.the weather will be milder.

Valentine’s DayValentine’s Day• We celebrate this holiday because St. Valentine We celebrate this holiday because St. Valentine

helped to marry young couples in love. He was helped to marry young couples in love. He was captured and sentenced to death, but before he died captured and sentenced to death, but before he died he cured his capture’s daughter of being blind. he cured his capture’s daughter of being blind. People threw flowers to his window. Before he was People threw flowers to his window. Before he was killed he wrote a letter to the girl in gratitude and killed he wrote a letter to the girl in gratitude and hope. He signed it’ ’From your Valentine.’’ He was hope. He signed it’ ’From your Valentine.’’ He was killed on February 14, 270bc. Today people still give killed on February 14, 270bc. Today people still give flowers and candy to their loved ones. Valentine’s flowers and candy to their loved ones. Valentine’s Day is a day we share love for one another. On Day is a day we share love for one another. On Valentine’s Day people buy candy and flowers for Valentine’s Day people buy candy and flowers for one another. Some couples go out for Valentine’s one another. Some couples go out for Valentine’s Day to spend time together.Day to spend time together.

President’s DayPresident’s Day• This day is celebrated on the 3This day is celebrated on the 3rdrd

Monday in February. It is a day to Monday in February. It is a day to honor our first president, George honor our first president, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln as Washington, and Abraham Lincoln as well as all of the other men who have well as all of the other men who have served served

as president as president of the United States of the United States of America.of America.

Women’s History Women’s History MonthMonth• As recently as the 1970’s women’s As recently as the 1970’s women’s

history was not a topic in the history history was not a topic in the history books in schools. In 1987, the books in schools. In 1987, the National Women's History Project National Women's History Project made the month of March a time to made the month of March a time to celebrate women in history. This has celebrate women in history. This has made more people interested in made more people interested in learning the contributions that women learning the contributions that women

have made to ourhave made to our country and in country and in the world.the world.

St. Patrick’s DaySt. Patrick’s Day• The first Saint Patrick’s Day in North The first Saint Patrick’s Day in North

America was held in Boston in 1737 on America was held in Boston in 1737 on March 17March 17thth. There are still big parades . There are still big parades and people wear green. There are many and people wear green. There are many legends about Saint Patrick. Some say legends about Saint Patrick. Some say he got rid of all the snakes in Ireland by he got rid of all the snakes in Ireland by beating drums. They say that the fish beating drums. They say that the fish rise from the sea on March 17 as they rise from the sea on March 17 as they pass by Patrick's altar and then pass by Patrick's altar and then disappear.disappear.

EasterEaster•Easter is celebrated in the spring. It is a Easter is celebrated in the spring. It is a celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. celebration of Jesus rising from the dead. We celebrate is by giving others Easter We celebrate is by giving others Easter baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and baskets filled with chocolate bunnies and jellybeans. We also have egg hunts. The jellybeans. We also have egg hunts. The adults hide colorful eggs and the children adults hide colorful eggs and the children look for them. We slot get new dresses or look for them. We slot get new dresses or suits and go to church. In Asbury Park we suits and go to church. In Asbury Park we have an Easter parade on the boardwalk have an Easter parade on the boardwalk where people show off their new clothes.where people show off their new clothes.

Mother’s DayMother’s Day• Mother’s Day started about 150 years ago Mother’s Day started about 150 years ago

when Anna Jarvis organized a day to raise when Anna Jarvis organized a day to raise awareness of the conditions in her town awareness of the conditions in her town she called it “Mother’s work Day”. She she called it “Mother’s work Day”. She said “I hope and pray that someone, said “I hope and pray that someone, sometime will found a memorial Mother’s sometime will found a memorial Mother’s day. There are many days for men, but day. There are many days for men, but none for mother's. In 1914 President none for mother's. In 1914 President Wilson made it a national holiday. We now Wilson made it a national holiday. We now celebrate this day on the second Sunday of celebrate this day on the second Sunday of May. We show our mothers how much we May. We show our mothers how much we love them on this day.love them on this day.

Memorial DayMemorial Day

• Memorial Day is May 30th but it is Memorial Day is May 30th but it is celebrated on the last Monday of the celebrated on the last Monday of the month. It is a day to honor the soldiers month. It is a day to honor the soldiers who died in the American Civil War and who died in the American Civil War and any other war or military action. We any other war or military action. We celebrate this holiday by visiting celebrate this holiday by visiting cemeteries and putting flags on the cemeteries and putting flags on the graves of soldiers.graves of soldiers.

Father’s DayFather’s Day

• The first Father’s Day was The first Father’s Day was celebrated in 1910. In 1966 celebrated in 1910. In 1966 President Johnson signed a President Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the 3proclamation declaring the 3rdrd Sunday of June as “Father’s Day’> Sunday of June as “Father’s Day’> It has become a day to not only It has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure.act as a father figure.

44thth of July of July• Another name for the 4Another name for the 4thth of July is of July is

Independence Day. We celebrate this Independence Day. We celebrate this day because on this day we declared day because on this day we declared our independence from Britain and our our independence from Britain and our democracy was born. Each year on July democracy was born. Each year on July 4th, Americans celebrate our freedom 4th, Americans celebrate our freedom and independence with barbecues, and independence with barbecues, picnics, family gatherings, and picnics, family gatherings, and fireworks.fireworks.

Labor DayLabor Day• Labor Day is celebrated on the 1Labor Day is celebrated on the 1stst

Monday in September. The first Monday in September. The first Labor Day was celebrated on Labor Day was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. It is a celebration New York City. It is a celebration dedicated to the workers that dedicated to the workers that make our country successful. Most make our country successful. Most people do not work on this day. A people do not work on this day. A lot of towns have parades to lot of towns have parades to celebrate.celebrate.

Columbus DayColumbus Day• In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed across In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed across

the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to find an the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to find an easier route to Asia. On October 12, 1492 his easier route to Asia. On October 12, 1492 his sailors saw land. On that day his 3 ships sailors saw land. On that day his 3 ships (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria) reached the small (Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria) reached the small islands of the Bahamas. Columbus claimed islands of the Bahamas. Columbus claimed the land for Spain. Because of his travels the land for Spain. Because of his travels more people came to the Americas from more people came to the Americas from Europe. We celebrate Columbus Day on the Europe. We celebrate Columbus Day on the 22ndnd Monday of October. Monday of October.

HalloweenHalloween• The holiday of Halloween came to the US The holiday of Halloween came to the US

in the 1840’s by Irish immigrants.in the 1840’s by Irish immigrants. It It started as “All Hallows Eve”. Some started as “All Hallows Eve”. Some people thought they needed to drive away people thought they needed to drive away evil spirits and they did this by dressing evil spirits and they did this by dressing as ghosts and witches and they would go as ghosts and witches and they would go around begging for “soul cakes”. Now around begging for “soul cakes”. Now people dress up every October 31 and go people dress up every October 31 and go to people’s homes asking for candy. We to people’s homes asking for candy. We carve jack-o-lanterns and light a candle carve jack-o-lanterns and light a candle and puit it inside the cut pumpkin.and puit it inside the cut pumpkin.

Election DayElection Day• Every four years people in the Every four years people in the

United States elect a president. In United States elect a president. In 1854 congress established Election 1854 congress established Election Day as the Tuesday after the first Day as the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. On that day, Monday in November. On that day, registered voters cast their votes registered voters cast their votes for people running for the for people running for the president of the United States of president of the United States of America.America.

Veterans DayVeterans Day• It used to be called Armistice Day. On It used to be called Armistice Day. On

November 11, 1918 the German’s had November 11, 1918 the German’s had to sign the Armistice to stop fighting in to sign the Armistice to stop fighting in WWI. In 1919 President Woodrow WWI. In 1919 President Woodrow Wilson said we should reflect, feel Wilson said we should reflect, feel pride, and give thanks for the people pride, and give thanks for the people who helped fight for freedoms in our who helped fight for freedoms in our country. In 1938 it became a holiday country. In 1938 it became a holiday and is celebrated on November 11 and is celebrated on November 11 each year. We fly our flag on this day.each year. We fly our flag on this day.

ThanksgivingThanksgiving• On November 16, 1621 the Pilgrims On November 16, 1621 the Pilgrims

had a Thanksgiving party. They invited had a Thanksgiving party. They invited their American Indian friends. This party their American Indian friends. This party lasted 3 days. The Pilgrims gave thanks lasted 3 days. The Pilgrims gave thanks to god and the American Indians for to god and the American Indians for helping them survive in their new land. helping them survive in their new land. We celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4We celebrate Thanksgiving on the 4thth Thursday of November. We gather with Thursday of November. We gather with our family and give thanks for all we our family and give thanks for all we have.have.

ChristmasChristmas• Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of Christmas is celebrated on the 25th of

December. We celebrate it because it was December. We celebrate it because it was the day of Jesus Christ’s birthday. On the day of Jesus Christ’s birthday. On Christmas Eve we put up and decorate a Christmas Eve we put up and decorate a tree. Our families get together, eat dinner tree. Our families get together, eat dinner and sing songs. At night Santa Clause and sing songs. At night Santa Clause comes to each child’s home and puts comes to each child’s home and puts presents under the tree. On Christmas we presents under the tree. On Christmas we open our gifts from Santa. To celebrate open our gifts from Santa. To celebrate Jesus’ birthday people go to church. This Jesus’ birthday people go to church. This is how we celebrate Christmas in Asbury is how we celebrate Christmas in Asbury Park.Park.

Kwanza is celebrated on December 26 through January1st. Kwanza is celebrated on December 26 through January1st. Kwanza is a unique African American celebration with focus on Kwanza is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family. Kwanza is neither the traditional African values of family. Kwanza is neither political nor religious. It is not a substitute for Christmas. The 7 political nor religious. It is not a substitute for Christmas. The 7 principals are:principals are:

1. Umoja: togetherness for the family1. Umoja: togetherness for the family 2. Kujichagulia: self-determination2. Kujichagulia: self-determination 3. Ujima: collective work and responsibility3. Ujima: collective work and responsibility 4. Ujamaa: Cooperative economics4. Ujamaa: Cooperative economics 5. Nia: look with and set personal goals5. Nia: look with and set personal goals 6. Kuumba: creativity6. Kuumba: creativity 7. Imani: faith7. Imani: faith