This Saturday, October 19th, is International Archaeology Day and organizations around the world will be commemorating the event. Visit the Archaeological Institute of America’s website for information on happenings across the United States and abroad. There’s something for everyone! Continue reading
Category Archives: Holidays
Ancient History Inspires Modern Creativity for International Archaeology Day
AntiquityNOW Celebrates International Day of the Girl
This year’s theme for the International Day of the Girl is “Innovating for Girls’ Education.” Today we honor women throughout history who paved the way for girls and women to become forces for change in their communities and around the globe. Each of these women, through their refusal to be marginalized, and their tenacity and curiosity, fought for their rights as human beings. They confronted many challenges during times when because of their sex they had little or no rights. Through their steadfast contributions, these women continue to be examples for girls today of how to stand strong and make a difference in their worlds.
Posted in Blog, Culture, Education, Holidays, Human Rights, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, human rights, International Day of the Girl, women's rights
On World Teachers’ Day AntiquityNOW Celebrates Knowledge Through the Ages
The gift of knowledge comes in many forms. Today we recognize those people who through the millennia have taught and inspired us, who have found a curious beauty in the unknown and who diligently pursue the truth for the betterment of us all.
Posted in Blog, Education, Holidays, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, education, teachers, World Teachers Day
Traditional Meets Modern: Celebrating the Food of Rosh Hashanah
The Shofar is blown in a synagogue during Rosh Hashana. Image courtesy of How Stuff Works.
L’Shanah Tovah![1] It is the first full day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Jews around the world are celebrating with introspection, prayers for renewal and food having meaning and symbolism for the holiday. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Culinary, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Religion
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, honey, Jewish New Year, Judaism, pomegranate, Rosh Hashanah
KIDS’ BLOG! Boom! Pow! Whizzz!: The History of Fireworks
Displays of fireworks are widely used on festive occasions, as at the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games, 2008.
Fireworks are used by many cultures to celebrate holidays and important events. Their spectacle unites people and commemorates cultural milestones. Kaleidoscopic bursts against the night sky, spirals of colored fire, glimmering waterfalls—all the effects that give pounding delight to children and adults alike. Continue reading
Posted in Annotated, Art, Blog, Culture, Holidays, Kids Blog, Kids: Art, Kids: Culture, Kids: Holidays, Kids: Public Life, Kids: Recreation, Kids: Science and Tech, Public Life, Recreation, Science and Technology
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, celebrations, china, fireworks, Fourth of July, Independence Day, Italy
The History of Fireworks: Celebrating Life’s Moments in Color, Light and Sound
Displays of fireworks are widely used on festive occasion, as at the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games, 2008.
Fireworks are used by many cultures to celebrate holidays and important events. Their spectacle unites people and commemorates cultural milestones. Kaleidoscopic bursts against the night sky, spirals of colored fire, glimmering waterfalls—all the effects that give pounding delight to children and adults alike. Continue reading
Posted in Annotated, Art, Blog, Culture, Holidays, Public Life, Recreation, Science and Technology
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, celebrations, china, fireworks, Fourth of July, Independence Day, Italy
It’s the Power of Love: St. Valentine and the Romantic Brain
It’s Valentine’s Day. Moonlight and roses, chocolate and Hallmark cards… ahhh, the power of love. But why do we love? What is that irresistible draw to the heart and soul of another human being?
For such a popular holiday, Valentine’s Day is marked by an interesting historical fact—we’re not really sure of its true origins. The actual St. Valentine is a martyred figure associated with three stories from the early Christian Church. In one, St. Valentine was a Christian priest thrown into a Roman prison for preaching his beliefs. On February 14, he was beheaded not only for disputing Roman deities but also for allegedly curing the jailer’s daughter of blindness—a miracle not looked kindly upon by the Romans trying to suppress the upstart religion. His farewell letter to the jailer’s daughter, signed “From your Valentine,” and the letters he received and sent from jail to the friends who cared for him supposedly began the exchange of notes of affection for this holiday. Continue reading
Posted in Biology, Blog, Holidays, Public Life, Science and Technology
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, brain, Claudius, history, Roman, St. Valentine, valentine's day
Happy New Year!…Trick or Treat?
Imagine celebrating the New Year on Halloween. Ghosts, costumes, candy, parties, fortune tellers, bonfires- and champagne toasts at midnight! Our modern Halloween was not always about trick or treating and carving pumpkins. It was influenced by numerous other traditions, including the celebration of the Celtic New Year.
CELTIC INFLUENCE
Modern day offerings for the Samhain festival. Image courtesy of Avia Venefica on Flickr.
The largest influence on our modern Halloween is Samhain: the Celtic New Year celebration that fell roughly on October 31st – November 1st. Celts believed that on the evening of the New Year souls of the dead could return to Earth. Continue reading
Posted in Blog, Holidays, Public Life
Tagged All Saints Day, ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Celtic, Halloween, history, New Year, Parentalia, Samhain
Why January 1st?
Did you celebrate the New Year with fireworks and champagne this year or did you take a polar bear plunge into a freezing body of water? No matter how you celebrated, you probably did it on January 1st. While there are many different cultural celebrations of the New Year, our globalized world generally agrees that the New Year starts on January 1st. It may seem common to us now, but this date was not always standard.
Posted in Blog, Holidays, Public Life
Tagged ancient history, AntiquityNOW, Gregorian calendar, history, holidays, Janus, Julian calendar, New Years
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