Originally published in this Blog on November 5, 2021 Perhaps because there has been so much horror in the world of late, it seems even more important every November 11th to remember why we honour all those who serve their countries. On November 11, 1919, when the first Remembrance Day was held throughout Commonwealth countries […]
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In Canada, traditional observance of Thanksgiving Day has only been in existence since 1879. In America the tradition of giving thanks dates back to 1621 when the Pilgrim’s Fall Harvest that year was so plentiful, but not until 1817 did the state of New York officially adopt Thanksgiving Day as an annual custom, and in
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This month, schools, colleges and universities around the world are now back in session. This made me think about education in general as I delve into research for my current “work in progress.” How did education first start in Canada? By the 1600’s, a system called petites ecoles had been established by French settlers early
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The term “dog days” dates back to ancient times when people in different parts of the world began drawing images of the sky by connecting the dots of stars, now called constellations. These dots allowed people around the world to “see” certain images. Our European ancestors saw bears (hence Ursa Major and Ursa Minor), some
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June is traditionally a month for brides and weddings. But this was not always the case so let’s take a look back at wedding customs and wedding dresses throughout history. An amusing reason (but not necessarily a true one) is that most people in olden times married in June because they took their yearly bath
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Elizabeth II – 70 Years of Dedication On June 2nd 1953, a young woman was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in London England’s Westminster Abbey. One year earlier, she had succeeded to the throne upon the death of her father, King George VI. As a young girl growing up, she had not expected to ever become
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In August of 1910 in a town called Skpje in the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola and Dranafile Bojaxhiu, both of Albanian descent, were blessed with a daughter. The following day the baby was baptized and given the name Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhui. We know her today as Mother Teresa. When Agnes was eight her father, a
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“The First of April, some do say, Is set apart for All Fools’ Day. But why the people call it so, Nor I, nor they themselves do know. But on this day are people sent On purpose for pure merriment.” I wonder how many people still consider April 1st as being ‘open season’ to
Saint Brigid of Kildare or Brigid of Ireland (Irish: Naomh Bríd; Latin: Brigida; c. 451 – 525) is the patroness saint of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba. According to medieval Irish histories of the saints, St. Brigid was born at Fochart (or Fothairt), near Dundalk in Co Louth. She became an abbess who founded several convents of nuns, most notably that of Kildare, which was one of the
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No one can deny that the Irish are full of charm and a whole lot of blarney, But St. Patrick himself, for whom March 17th is celebrated each year, was also something of an enigma. Contrary to popular belief, he was in fact neither Irish nor Catholic! Hard to believe, I know. Some say he
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