The Book Of Holidays

Explains why and how we celebrate special holidays of the world. Includes for quick reference a list of every holiday in the United States and its possessions, the date, where celebrated and why.

Excerpt from The Book of Holidays Nevertheless, our holidays are becoming sadly misused if they are degenerating into mere play days. They are, in fact, milestones in our national and religious life, marking the progress of certain ideas. Even when labelled with some one man's name, such as Columbus. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER (Various dates, usually in April) Spring bursts to-day, For Christ is risen and all the earth's at play. Flash forth, thou Sun. The rain is over and gone, its work is done. Winter is past, Sweet Spring is come at last, is come at last. Bud, Fig and Vine, Bud, Olive, fat with fruit and oil and wine. Break forth this morn In roses, thou but yesterday a thorn. Uplift thy head, O pure white Lily through the Winter dead. Beside your dams Leap and rejoice, you merry-making Lambs. All hearts and flocks Rejoice, all beasts of thickets and of rocks. Sing, Creatures, sing, Angels and Men and Birds and everything! Christina G. Rossetti. GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER These two holy days of the Church are so closely connected that we can well consider them together. The first of the days celebrates, as you know, the death of Christ, and the second His resurrection. Good Friday is the sixth day of what is culled Holy Week, and is the end of that week as well as of the lenten season. In the life of Christ this was the week of the momentous closing events. He rode into Jerusalem on the preceding Sunday (Palm Sunday) while the people strewed palms and branches of trees in his path. Then followed in rapid succession his betrayal by Judas, his trial, and his crucifixion, the last taking place on what is now known as Good Friday. In the early days of the Church, Good Friday was a day of strict fasting and penance. It was a solemn preparation for Easter, and was called the Festival of the Crucifixion, and the Day of Salvation. The church service was of the simplest. The usual chants and praises were omitted, and no music was allowed but of the most plaintive description. No bell was rung for worship. No one bowed the knee in prayer, because...

Halloween, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day - these are but a handful of modern holidays descended from the red-letter days, seasonal celebrations we have invented and reinvented over more than five millennia to meet our changing human needs. When we explore their origins, the holidays begin to reflect not only who we are but also why, through oppressed by time and thwarted by the forces of nature, we never seem to lose the will to control the future.

Discusses the significance and the customs of various Jewish holidays including Sukkot, Purim, and Yom Hashoah. Provides activities and crafts for each holiday.

Cultural and historical background and traditions of forty-five major American holidays, both secular and religious, Christian and Jewish.