| Books to Read | Discussion Sign-Up | English Membership Site →LOGIN SUBSCRIBE← |
Learning Library | Suggested Podcasts /Articles |
Learn English
with American Holidays
| 2010 | |||||
| February | March | April | May | June | |
| July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2011 | |||||
| January | February | March | April | May | June |
| July | August | September |
|
|
|
National Tooth Fairy Day Happy National Tooth Fairy Day! Almost all children love the tooth fairy. Of course, she is tiny and beautiful, and really cares about children's teeth. I loved one story that said that she puts the children's shiny white teeth in the sky as stars. One of my children thought he had discovered a way to "get rich quick". He began twisting and turning his teeth at night to get them loose enough to come out. I was very surprised when he told me he was doing this. A day or two later, after thinking very hard about what to do, I told him that the tooth fairy and I had had a little talk, and that she had told me that she would only leave money for teeth that fell out all by themselves, because that was the healthiest way to treat teeth. He never pulled out another tooth. Today's video is a very cute little movie about the tooth fairy, and I'm sure you'll enjoy the website, too! |
 Click on the picture and read about Tooth Fairy Facts and Fantasies Chris Noth & The Tooth Fairy short film |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read about Strawberries How to Make a Strawberry Beauty Smoothie |
National Strawberry Day Strawberries are the favorite fruit of many people in many countries. When they're fresh, their red, plump juiciness cannot be described as other than heavenly! When Alvin was a kid, he and his 7 brothers and sisters would go berry-picking. Of course, he admits to eating almost as many as he picked. On the evening of a day that had been spent picking strawberries, his mother would slice the berries and mix them with some sugar, and let them set to "juice". While she was waiting, she would make some homemade biscuits. | |||
|
When everything was ready, each person was served a biscuit with juiced strawberries generously poured over it, then vanilla ice cream and whipped cream was added. It was a very generous portion, because this was their entire dinner. At least once each spring or early summer, Alvin buys a large quantity of strawberries and makes strawberry shortcake for us for dinner, using the same recipe his mother used. It's delicious! |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Thermos Bottle Day I never really thought about thermoses very much before today. They're so common, it just seems natural to have them around. I can remember when my grandfathers had workshops in my dad's business building, where they repaired things for him. They each had their thermos with them on the workbench. My dad always went to restaurants for lunch, so he didn't carry one, but whenever we had a family picnic, well, it wasn't a picnic without a thermos! Now, thermoses come in beautiful styles, much different from those years. There are even individual-size cups that keep just one or two cups of tea or coffee hot. In any case, I think you'll enjoy today's website and video. |
 Click on the picture and read How to Clean Thermos Bottles The History of the Thermos Flask | euromaxx |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read How to Mend a Broken Heart Sting - Spread A Little Happiness |
National Mend a Broken Heart Month Almost everyone has had a broken heart at some time in their life. The situation that usually comes to mind is a breakup with a spouse or dating partner. However, there are other types of relationships which, when fractured, lead to a broken heart. There's the situation of a child who wants a loving parent, but who is beaten or neglected instead. Sometimes there's a close friendship which, for whatever reason, cannot continue. The death of a parent or sibling can also break our heart. Even the death of a beloved pet can be heart-breaking. | |||
|
Having been in some of these situations myself, sometimes I used some time at the piano to help me work through not only the sadness, but also the anger. I began with loud, stormy music, which gradually became calm and soothing at the end. Another time, I wrote several hundred pages, recording very honestly all of my pain. It seemed that as it flowed out of the pen, some of the hurt also flowed out. Other times, I purposely went deep into the pain and cried until I felt that cleansing that comes with "letting it all out". In every case, living through these situations gave me a sense of courage. I think a mended heart always has a few little scars, but those just serve to prove that we lived through the situation and came out on the other side. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
National Tortilla Chip Day Before I met my husband, I went to a neighborhood restaurant every evening for chips and cheese. It was only $2.00, and I brought a book along and read as I ate my dinner. Then, when I met Alvin, he started coming with me. On our honeymoon, just before we headed out of town, where do you think we went? That's right - for chips and cheese. They all applauded when we walked in, because they knew what had just happened. There was no charge for the chips and cheese that night. That restaurant is now closed, but that's okay, because Alvin makes the most delicious taco chips with toppings I have ever had. It's called Nachos Grandé, and it's one of my favorite dinners. Maybe someday I'll talk him into making it for you, too! |
 Click on the picture and read about National Tortilla Chip Day: Chips and dips recipes How Tortilla Chips Are Made |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read the Basics on how to play Tennis Goofy - Tennis Racquet |
Tennis Day I have to admit, I know almost nothing about tennis. What I do know is very short - you play with a racquet and a fuzzy ball which is a little smaller than a baseball, and much more bouncy. There is something called Love in the scoring system, so I think it must be a very friendly game. You have to run and run and run, so it will keep you either very thin or very tired. However, it is a very popular game, and is seen as sort of a status symbol among the wealthy class. They often have their children in tennis lessons at a fairly young age, and then on a league which can become cut-throat competitive. Have you ever played tennis? If you're not sure how it's done, today's website tells you the basics. Then you can watch Goofy's version. I must warn you, though, they're not quite the same. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
National Weddings Month Most people remember either their own wedding or a friend's wedding. Some weddings are unique, lavish, beautiful, touching, or special in some way. Today's website lists 77 interesting facts about weddings. I was quite surprised by some of them! The video is just a guitar player, playing a song he calls "Wedding Waltz". But hearing the expression in his music makes me wonder if he's not remembering some very special wedding, too. February, National Weddings Month, is a good time to remember the beauty of marriage, and to cherish the wedding ceremony. |
 Click on the picture and read 77 Interesting Facts About . . .weddings The Wedding Waltz - Frédéric Mesnier |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read the Facts of Friendship International Friendship Month |
International Friendship Month When I was growing up, and we studied the different countries of the world, they were just a name and a shape on the map. Now, they are addresses of my International Family. I could never have guessed that I would have so many wonderful friends in so many parts of the world. Thanks to all of you for making every month International Friendship Month! |
|||
|
|
||||
|
National Cherry Pie Day Contrary to what Alvin thinks, this is the only day of the year that is National Cherry Pie Day. He absolutely loves cherry pie. While the rest of us, well, at least some of us, eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Day, he eats cherry pie. Before he met me, he and his best friend hitch-hiked all over America. Whenever they could, they would eat breakfast at a restaurant that served cherry pie. Then they would order a whole pie, and each of them would eat half of it for breakfast. I think of breakfast every time I see a cherry pie, just because of this story! So whether you have it for breakfast or dessert, today's the day! Enjoy! |
 Click on the picture and read... As American As Cherry Pie… Wholesome Cherry Pie |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read many Bird Feeding Myths Little Humbugs - How to make a Pine Cone Bird Feeder |
National Bird Feeding Month Bird feeding is a very popular hobby. Do you already have a bird feeder or two in your yard? If not, you're missing one of nature's most beautiful animals. We'd like to offer a few tips for beginners, or reminders if you're already a "bird feeder". If you want to attract bluebirds or Baltimore orioles, put out orange or apple halves, or other fruit. Nuthatches, woodpeckers and cardinals are attracted to suet feeders. (If you don't have a suet feeder, place the suet in a nylon mesh bag and nail it to a deck, tree or pole.) To attract the widest variety of birds, include plenty of black-oil sunflower seeds. Be sure to keep the seed fresh. At least once a month, empty and clean bird feeders with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Of course, rinse thoroughly and dry before adding fresh seed. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
National Battery Day What a strange holiday, huh? But wait a minute! What would your life be like without the trusted Energizer bunny? (See today's video.) Think about your... cell phone, laptop, wireless phone, robot, iPad, iPod, automatic fishing rod, notebook, netbook, iPad, iPod, toy train, toy plane and helicopter, calculator, hearing aids, watches, wireless mice, camping lights, power tools and Kindles, too. Whew! No wonder we need a National Battery Day! Have a good one! |
 Click on the picture and read 10 Interesting Facts about Batteries Energizer Bunny |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read How to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day Random Acts of Kindness |
Random Acts of Kindness Day "Random Acts of Kindness" means doing nice things for others, whether or not you know them, whether or not they deserve it, whether or not you feel like it. And, guess what? It will make you feel good, too. If you're having a bad day, feel grumpy, or think things couldn't get any worse, perform a random act of kindness, and you'll feel much better! | |||
|
On my way to Burger King to grab a quick breakfast, I passed a homeless man going through a dumpster to find some food. I bought two breakfasts, and went by and left one in the shopping cart he used to keep all his belongings. One Thanksgiving, my husband and I invited all the single people we knew who wouldn't have a family to celebrate with. We ended up with about 25 people for dinner. Everyone brought something, and we had a wonderful time. We were in line at McDonald's one day, and when we got up to the window, the worker told us that the person in the car ahead of us had paid for our order. What a happy surprise! There are many, many ways to spread a little kindness in the world. Try it! You'll be helping to make the world a better, happier place. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
National Cherry Month Fresh cherries should be clean, bright, shiny, and plump with no blemishes. Sweet cherries should have firm, but not hard flesh, while sour cherries should be medium-firm. The darker the color, the sweeter the cherry. As cherries are a rich source of protein, sugar, ascorbic acid, minerals, and antioxidants, cherries possess important health benefits and inclusion in the daily diet. Did you know? Sour cherries, commonly used in pie and jam, have more vitamin C than sweet cherries do, but much of it is lost when they are heated. |
 Click on the picture and read Cherish The Cherry. Betty's Cherry Pie Fruit Pizza Recipe |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read Obscure, but interesting information and facts about valentines. |
Valentine's Day Well, here we are, another Valentine's Day. This day is filled with sweet thoughts of all those we love. It doesn't have to be only between a man and a woman. Children exchange Valentines in school. Now, schools have the rule that each child gives a Valentine to every other child in the class. This eliminates the old problem (a hundred years ago) of one kid who gets no Valentines at all, and goes home feeling very, very sad. I think that was a good change. | |||
Grandmothers or grandfathers can send Valentines to their grandchildren. Moms or dads can give Valentines or small gifts to their children. Children can give a Valentine to a special teacher, aunt or uncle. It is not common, however, for two women who are friends or two men who are friends to exchange Valentines. There are different ways to show this kind of friendship on other days. Husbands and wives, or couples who are dating, will most likely exchange flowers, candy, cards, or a special dinner together. Depending on one's circumstances, this will be a small celebration or a lavish celebration. What's most important, however, is to affirm what people show to each other every day - caring, concern, loyalty, appreciation, and encouragement. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
National Cat Health Month Who can resist a tiny, fuzzy kitten? Their playful antics and pretty little eyes are too cute to ignore. But once you take this little bundle of fur home, there is a lot to keeping your new pet healthy. National Cat Health Month is to remind us to take our cat or kitten to a vet (veterinarian) and to follow good rules for cat health at home. Today's website is filled with good information, and the featured video shows a vet giving cat care tips. Enjoy your pet, and use this information to keep it healthy. |
 Click on the picture and read all about Cat Health Feline Health Tips |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read a Pancake Story Betty's Basic Pancakes + Banana, Chocolate Chip, Pecan Panca |
Pancake Day Happy Pancake Day! My husband makes wonderful pancakes. He actually taught me to make them after we were married. Now, he sometimes makes them for supper, with sausage and fruit. Today's website is actually a story by Truus about her mother's tradition of making pancakes. It's a really great story. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! Maybe you'd like to watch the video first, and then eat some pancakes while you read the story! |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Make a Friend Day You probably know a lot of people. Well, at least several. OK, maybe just a few. But do you have a friend? What is a friend? A friend cares about how you feel. A friend is interested in what you're doing. A friend encourages you when you're down. A friend listens when you need to talk, and talks when you need to listen. A friend let's you be alone when you need to be alone. A friend comes around when you are done wanting to be alone. But a friend also lets you be a friend back, and do all those things for him or her, too. There are some people who have trouble being first, but if you'll be first, that person will be a great friend. So today's the day to make a friend. You could make someone's day! |
 Click on the picture and read How to Make Friends You've Got A Friend - Carol King with friends (stereo) |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read about the Umbrella See You in the Crosswalk - Official Umbrella Flash Mob |
Umbrella Day Happy Umbrella Day! Umbrellas, or if you prefer, parasols, brollies, rainshades, sunshades, gamps or bumbershoots, are canopies to shade one from the sun or the rain. Many people carry an umbrella just in case of inclement weather. There are models which fold up to purse size, or that will fit into a briefcase. I would also be confident in guessing that umbrellas are in the top 5 of items left behind at stores, offices and restaurants. | |||
Umbrellas come in all colors and designs. The parasols, which are often not waterproof, are carried as fashion accessories. Then there are the very large umbrellas which people take with them to the beach to provide some shade, or those that fit over a picnic table to make outdoor dining a little more comfortable. We even have a special umbrella which can be fastened to our daughter's wheelchair. Umbrellas have also been used very often in movies and in stories. "Singin' in the Rain" is one of the most famous songs using an umbrella. Today's video is a combination of that song and another umbrella song. The choreography includes many colored umbrellas as part of the visual effect. |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Hershey's Chocolate Day Hershey's is one of the largest makers of chocolate candy in the country. You've probably heard by now that eating chocolate has some health benefits, especially dark chocolate. When my oldest daughter was in school, she and her friends called chocolate "Prozac", which is a drug used to treat depression. I have tried it, too, and it really works! Today is a perfect day for you to try it out for yourself. |
 Click on the picture and read some Fun Facts About Hershey's How Hershey's Chocolate is Made |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read Building Kites, Flying Them Amazing Kite Control I |
Fly a Kite Day There's a wonderful song in the movie, Mary Poppins, entitled Let's Go Fly a Kite. At the beach here in Muskegon, flying a kite is a very popular pastime. But you shouldn't tell someone to "go fly a kite", because that's an idiom that means "go away and stop bothering me". In any case, today, yes, in the middle of winter, is Fly a Kite Day. I guess in the warmer states, that could happen today, but for us in the northern areas, I think we'll have to wait until warmer weather. But while we wait, we could look at today's website about kites, or watch the video showing a person who has undoubtedly been practicing kite-flying for a long time! |
|||
|
|
||||
|
Ballet Day Today is a day to celebrate the beauty of a classic art form - ballet (pronounced ba-LAY). Three of my children took ballet lessons, because I think it's very important to help the development of the body, coordination, and an appreciation for the beauty of the classical arts. Today's picture is of Rebecca when she performed in a piece from the Nutcracker Ballet. There is a foundation here called Make-a-Wish. One little girl, who was terminally ill, wished to be a princess for a day. The Make-a-Wish foundation contacted the local dance school where Rebecca was studying, as well as several other local places, and everyone came together at the Frauenthal Theater to present this girl as a princess. She was picked up in a horse-drawn carriage, and then escorted by a handsome young man to a throne on the stage. Rebecca's ballet class performed all around her throne, with the girl being in the center of the circle of dancers. They also presented her with many gifts and a beautiful crown. This little girl is probably no longer alive, but Rebecca still looks back with joy when she thinks of the day that she was able to have a part in making a young girl's wish come true. |
 Click on the picture and read everything about The History of Ballet Michele Wiles & David Hallberg of American Ballet Theatre 2002 Variations |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click the picture to listen to Randy Pausch's lecture on Time Management. |
National Time Management Month Most people these days answer the question, "How are you?" with, "Too busy!" Is that you, too? There are many time management websites, systems, and suggestions. If you want to hear something different, set aside about an hour and listen to the unusual ideas of Randy Pausch. Remember him? "The Last Lecture?" Just click the picture to get some new insight on time management. |
|||
|
|
||||
|
National Carrot Day Growing carrots definitely takes a lot of faith. First, you put a teeny, tiny seed in the earth. Then you see nothing, nothing, nothing for the first few days. Finally you see some little, green shoots. But carrots, of course, are orange, not green. So you wait and wait. The green shoots get tall, and even start to look like a real plant. However, you still have to just imagine that nice, orange carrot forming under the soil. Finally, one day, you decide it's time to harvest the carrot. So you give the green plant a tug, and, sure enough, out comes a wonderful, nutritious carrot! It worked, it worked! Today's website teaches you everything there is to know about carrots. I don't think they have left out any information at all! And, on the video, is our favorite, Betty's Kitchen. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is a very popular dessert in America. I think you will love it, too! |
 Click on the picture and read all Carrots Betty's Family Favorite Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe |
|||
|
|
||||
 Click on the picture and read all about embroidery How-to Embroider, Threadbanger |
National Embroidery Month Some people are still taught by their moms or grandmas how to embroider, but in many cases, it's a dying art. However, there's something really satisfying about creating a beautiful design on a lovely piece of fabric. It's also fun to make a plain, ordinary garment into a one-of-a-kind expression of your own personality. |
|||
|
|
||||
| 2010 | |||||
| February | March | April | May | June | |
| July | August | September | October | November | December |
| 2011 | ||
| January | February | March | April | May | June |
| July | August | September |
Double click on any word on this page to get an instant definition!
It has many English lessons, courses and quizzes to help you improve your English even faster.
© 2008-2012 Julie Mockerman
www.EverybodyLovesEnglish.com
A division of Brookwater Group, LLC
Michigan, USA