Good morning, welcome to May. I wanted to share a new post in our series sharing Unique Holidays on May 1st with you. Take a look at the list and let me know which one you most want to celebrate and why.
Free Comic Book Day – first Saturday in May
Calling all nerds, geeks, and comic book aficionados. Today is Free Comic Book Day.
David and Charlie are not nerds, geeks or comic book aficionados but they do enjoy reading Comic Books. To encourage a love of reading in Charlie we even use #Comic Books in our Homeschool Reading Class.
Who says you can’t get something for nothing? On this very special day, Comic book stores all over the country hand our specially printed copies of free comic books.
Some Comic book stores take it a step further, setting up shelves of free Comic books, with no strings attached. Take one or take several, and you don’t owe the store anything.
Of course, there trying to hook you into the fun world of Comic books. Thinking you will come back and buy new Comics over and over again. Some stores hand out other freebies, memorabilia, or posters.
Free Comic Book Day, takies place on the first Saturday of May, and its an annual promotional effort by the North American Comic Book industry to bring new readers into independent Comic book stores. At last count, over 2,000 retailers in 30 countries participate in this fun filled day.
In our #Homeschool Art Class this morning Charlie and I will be creating Lei to give to the Mothers in our lives on Mothers Day this weekend. Would you like to help us?
Hawaiian Lei Day is the Hawaiian version of May Day which is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and its people. May Day is a fun day two day event, centered around the “lei”, a colorful flowery necklace.
The “lei” is an unspoken expression of “aloha”. Which is a Hawaiian holiday celebration, I’m sure you will admit you want get lei’d, too join in on the fun.
Visitors to Hawaii, by plane, boat or other means, receive a traditional Lei upon arriving. Nowadays, they’re often made of plastic. On Hawaiian Lei Day, people give and receive leis.
You will see pretty much everyone is wearing a Lei and this is a day of festivities and parades, filled with leis, flowers, parties, dancing and more. Did you know there is Lei making contests, hula dancing, luaus, and even crowning of the Lei Day Queen.
Did You Know? Each Hawaiian Island has it’s own signature Lei. For example, the island of Kauai is known for a Lei made of fruit. Purple Berries, with a sweet scent are strung onto the necklace. Who would have thought Berries would be used? Not me.
If you are not in Hawaii, you can still participate in Hawaiian Lei Day just a Hula Skirt and purchase or make a Lei. Then hold a family or group celebration.
Herb Day – first Saturday in May
According to the creators of Herb Day, this holiday is an international celebration of Herbs and Herbal products. That covers a whole lot of plants, applications and products.
The purpose of Herb Day, is to encourage us to learn more about Herbs and their uses. Armed with this knowledge, there is a lot of things that you can do with Herbs.
There are hundreds of varieties of Herbs, which can be used in a seemingly unlimited number of uses. The first thing we should do on this day, is to learn more about the different types of Herbs.
In our #Homeschool Class Charlie and I will be visiting our library to check out books on Herbs. Then we will visit our local Garden Store to pick up Herbs to create our own Herb Garden. What kind of Herbs do you think we should get and why?
The herb family consists of the following types: aromatic, cosmetic, culinary, ornamental and medicinal plants. I want ones we can cook with and also one we can use for medicine.
After learning more about Herbs, we can create a dish using fresh Herbs. May is the perfect month for planting and growing Herbs. Herbs can be grown in a Herb garden or in the Flower Garden.
Don’t forget when you go shopping to pick out a few Herbal products. Which you’ll have no shortage of productd to choose form. Including Lavender Soaps, Cachets, dried Flower arrangements, Medicinal Herbs, and much more.
Kentucky Derby Day – first Saturday in May
It’s my Dream to attend the Kentucky Derby one day or Ross Down because my family raises race horse and races them at these events. It would be fun to introduce Charlie to my moms family one day.
All I need is a cool outfit and fun hat. The bigger the better. Then we can go and see if they really do Stomp the Dibbets like in Pretty Women which is one of my favorite movies. How about you?
Date: May 1, 2021; May7, 2022; May 6, 2023; May, 4 , 2024; May 3, 2025
The “Running of the Roses” or “The Run for the Roses”, as the Kentucky Derby is called, is America’s premier horse racing event. Steeped in tradition, the Derby is the first step in the Triple Crown of horse racing.
The Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Each year approximately 155,000 people attend this all day event, which culminates in a roughly two minute race.
The Kentucky Derby is run on a 1 1/4 mile, 10 furlong, dirt track. The winner of the race receives a garland of rose and a $2 million purse. Could you imagine winning that and having that much money.
The winner has also reached the first step in winning the Triple Crown. The winning horse goes on to compete against other horses to hopefully win at the Preakness Stakes and finally at the Belmont Stakes.
20 horses compete in the Kentucky Derby. Normally, far fewer horses race in any other horse racing event. To qualify for the Derby, the 3 year old thoroughbred horses must travel the “Road to the Kentucky Derby”, a series of 35 horse races at tracks in the U.S. and around the world. Points are awarded and the top 20 horses proceed to the Kentucky Derby.
The race lasts about 2 minutes and it is preceded by all day long activities and celebration. The excitement increases in intensity leading up to the opening of the gates, and the “Run for the Roses” begins.
Tradition abounds at the Kentucky Derby. People come dressed to the nines. Ladies wear extravagant hats and participate in a Hat Parade.. Mint Juleps are the traditional drink, and are consumed in huge quantities, approximately 120,000 during this two day event..
Triple Crown Winners
Winning the Triple Crown is very difficult. Only 13 horses have won the Triple Crown. In 1978, Affirmed became just the 11th horse to win all three races. It was 37 long years before American Pharaoh accomplished the feat. The latest Triple Crown winner is Justify, in 2018.
Mint Juleps are the official drink of the Kentucky Derby.
Kentucky Derby Trivia:
- The Kentucky Derby is the longest continually running sporting event in the US.
- The race is sometimes referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sports”.
- To win the Triple Crown, a horse needs to win the Kentucky Derby, Belmont, and the Preakness.
- in 1896, roses were first given to the winner. Jockey Ben Brush received white and pink roses.
- In 1904, red roses became the official color.
- Approximately 120,000 Mint Juleps are served during the two day event. 60,000 pounds of ice are used.
- As the horses step onto the track for the post derby parade, the band plays “My Old Kentucky Home. This tradition began around 1921.
Recipe for Mint Julep Day:
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- Sprigs of fresh mint
- Crushed ice
- Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky
- Silver Julep Cups
How to Make Mint Juleps:
- Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes.
- Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Old Forester Kentucky Whisky.
- Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint
Related Holidays: Mint Julep Day
National Loyalty Day is an opportunity to express and reaffirm our loyalty to our country. In proclaiming this day, President George W. Bush wrote: “We express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.”
But, this day did not start with George Bush’ proclamation the day dates back to the 1920’s.
On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers. We should also take a moment to appreciate the members of our armed forces who are displaying the ultimate in loyalty and service to protect our freedoms, and liberty, and our way of life.
In our #Homeschool Class this morning Charlie and I will be studying the Armed Forces and our Country. As I prepare our Lessons is there something you think we should study as well. If so what and why?
May Day, the first of May is celebrated around the world and has been celebrated since ancient times. Spring festivals, Parades and Maypoles are important traditions on this day.
May Day has a number of meanings. In many other Countries May Day is a celebration of Spring and the coming of Summer. It is celebrated with many Spring Flowers, many of them blooming right in your own backyard. To communist and socialist countries, it is a celebration for the workers.
In many countries may Day is celebrated as part of a one to three day holiday. Of particular note, May Day is not a National Holiday in the United States, except in Hawaii where it is known as “Hawaiian Lei Day“.
In about 140 countries, May Day is also Labor Day, which is a worker’s holiday. In many of these countries, the Labor Day Holiday is on May 1 unless it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, when it is held on the following Monday. Only three countries, the United States, Canada and Bermuda observe Labor Day in September.
Mother Goose Day was created only recently, as a day to appreciate nursery rhymes and stories. Which are a favorite of children and their parents. Which Mother Goose Rhyme is your favorite and why?
The term “Mother Goose” dates back to the 1650’s and it referred to stories like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty. It doesn’t appear to represent a particular person, as many of “Mother Goose” stories were written both before and after this term was first used. The stories were written by numerous authors.
Enjoy this day by reading Mother Goose stories and rhymes to your children or grandchildren. Charlie will be studying #MotherGoose in our Reading class this morning. Would you like to join us?
National Fitness Day – first Saturday in May
This was the perfect Day for Sherry and I to go to the Gym to go Swimming. But I also plan on Surprising Charlie with a Membership to Planet Fitness. So he can work out not only today but everyday.
Are you like me and want to live a longer, healthier life? Then, physical fitness should be one of your top priorities. National Fitness Day in the United States was created as a way to encourage us to get off the couch, turn off the television, and work out.
Let me tell you I need all the encouragement I can get because here lately all I have been doing is sitting on the Couch and if you want to know the truth so is David and Charlie. It’s time to stop and take back our live.
According to the creator, the goal of this day is to “celebrate strength and empowerment through fitness”. Today you are encouraged to “get your sweat on”.
Use today, to establish a regular routine of exercise, and to maintain a regular exercise schedule all your life. So, you think it’s hard to begin a lifetime of regular workouts and physical exercise. You also might feel that it is hard to fit exercise into your already busy schedule. Absolutely no one will disagree with you. Getting started is the hardest part. Start out slow. Getting started can be painful.
Remember no, one is asking you to go sign up for a Marathon. Clean your house and make it a point to walk more while cleaning. Or Dance around the house.
If your going to the store and its close enough walk Or take the kids to the Park and play with them. Go on a Nature Walk. Or let the kids make up Exercises for you to do.
In the beginning, your body may immediately disagree with your “no pain, no gain” exercise plan. In the early days of your new workout routine, just remind yourself that you are adding many years onto your life.
Then, in a little while some amazing things happen. The aches and pains subside, eventually going away entirely. All of a sudden, you feel better, much better. Your stronger, you have more energy, your endurance goes up, and you can do physical things you haven’t done in years. You might even see the weight start to fall off.
On National Fitness Day, we energetically encourage you to begin your new workout and exercise routines…. for life! Remember if you Stumble and Fall you can always start fresh the next day.
Did you know there are two “National Fitness” days. One in the U.S. in May. The other is in the United Kingdom, and celebrated in September. It is great to have a day in these two countries, to promote physical health and well being.
However, this is an issue for all human beings all over the planet. We might suggest that the creators of these two important holiday events, get together to expand this to an international holiday held annually on a single date. Or you could celebrate both days. Which is what I plan on doing.
For our Field Trip this week Charlie and I will be visiting the Zoo to see the Rhino in person. I can’t wait to surprise David with Tickets because he has been asking to go. Would you like to go with us?
Q: What animal has roamed the earth for over a million years, and has been hunted to near extinction?
A: You guessed it, the Rhinoceros.
This day encourages us to be aware of, and support efforts to save the Rhinoceros from extinction.
The Rhinoceros is a fascinating creature and Native to Africa, this leftover from the age of Dinosaurs was hunted to near extinction. Hunters on Safaris, killed Rhinos just for sport. Isn’t that sad?
Poachers hunted them for their horn. Did you know the horn has been used as medicine, and for making knife handles, carved statues, and other objects.
Animal rights groups have helped to save the Rhino from extinction, and their numbers have rebounded somewhat. In #Homeschool this week Charlie will be researching to see what we can do to help save the Rhino.
Did you know? The horn of the Rhinoceros is composed of the same material as your fingernail. Which I didn’t know and is a #Homeschool Tip.
Ways Save the Rhino Day:
Watch documentaries on the Rhinoceros. Visit Rhinos at a zoo. Better still, go on a Safari to see one! Although, with my family that isn’t going to happen. How about with yours?
Since we can’t take a Safari we can also donate to groups working towards preserving the Rhinoceros. Don’t forget to ask your friends and family to do the same.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
