2.0-//107.180.51.26//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.26.9//GREGORIANPUBLISHhttp://ststephensanglican.netAmerica/VancouverAmerica/VancouverAmerica/Vancouver2021-11-07T02:00:002022-11-06T02:00:00PST-07:00-08:002022-03-13T02:00:002023-03-12T02:00:00PDT-08:00-07:00ai1ec-8197@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZInternational Goof Off Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">March 22 is International Goof Off Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to take the day to relax and do unproductive and useless things.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8198" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8198"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8198" class="wp-image-8198 size-medium" title="International Goof Off Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="International Goof Off Day Fun Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8198" class="wp-caption-text">Goof away on International Goof Off Day.</p></div> <p>Goofing off or to goof off is an expression popularly used in the United States.</p> <h2>Neglecting Work</h2> <p>The expression refers to the act of doing something that is unproductive while neglecting actual, important work. A goof off is a person who engages in such acts and ignores his or her duties and tasks.</p> <h2>Careless Mistake</h2> <p>The word <em>goof</em> can be used to refers to a careless mistake as well as someone who makes them.</p> <p>International Goof Off Day is also known as National Goof Off Day in the United States.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Goof the whole day off. Don’t do anything that is productive or important.</li> <li>Spend the day online or even better switch off your computer and all your mobile devices and goof off in the outdoors.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the world’s most famous goofy comic character, Goofy was originally known as Dippy Dawg?</p>2025-03-222025-03-23YEARLY3en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/international-goof-off-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/International-Goof-Off-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8203@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZPuppy Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">March 23 is Puppy Day, a day reserved for recognizing the joy and love that puppies bring to our lives.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8204" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8204"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8204" class="wp-image-8204 size-medium" title="Puppy Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Puppy Day Fun Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8204" class="wp-caption-text">Give a puppy a big hug today and remember to always advocate for puppy adoption.</p></div> <p>First celebrated in 2006, the unofficial holiday, which is also known as National Puppy Day in the United States, was created by Coleen Paige, an animal behaviorist. The day calls for people to adopt puppies and to work towards putting an end to puppy farms and mills.</p> <h2>Inhumane Treatment</h2> <p>Puppy mills are places where dogs are kept and bred for the sole purpose of selling them. Many mills operate under inhumane conditions and treat dogs only as breeding machines. Old, sick dogs and those that are unable to give birth to puppies are often left loose on the streets to fend for themselves or euthanized. Puppy Day shines a light on these conditions and encourages people to adopt their canine family members. By doing so, it reduces the financial incentives that keep puppy mills running.</p> <h2>Celebrated Many Times a Year</h2> <p>The deep bond between humans and their furry best friends is celebrated several times in a year. Unofficial annual holidays that are dedicated to the canines in our families include <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=dog-appreciation-day">Dog Appreciation Day</a>, Take Your Dog to Work Day, Work Like a Dog Day, and Hug Your Hound Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If you already have puppies, give them an extra hug on this day and show them how much you love them.</li> <li>If you are thinking of adding one to your family, don’t dilly dally. Go to your nearest adoption center and adopt a puppy today.</li> <li>Don’t have a puppy or prefer to have kittens around? Don’t despair, you can spoil and pamper your furry friends on Hug Your Cat Day.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a dog’s nose print is as unique as a human’s fingerprint?</p>2025-03-232025-03-24YEARLY3en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/puppy-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Puppy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8193@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMaundy Thursday<p>Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper, which is described in the Christian bible. The day is also known as Passion Thursday, Paschal Thursday or Sheer (or Shere) Thursday. It is the day before <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=good-friday-canada" target="_blank">Good Friday</a> and occurs during Holy Week.</p> <div id="attachment_8194" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8194"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8194" class="wp-image-8194 size-medium" title="Maundy Thursday Global Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Maundy Thursday Global Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8194" class="wp-caption-text">Maundy Thursday remembers Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper.</p></div> <article class="fixed"> <section class="article eight columns"> <article class="fixed"> <section class="article eight columns"> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Many Catholic and Anglican churches continue traditional Maundy Thursday rites that may include handing out special coins known as “Maundy money” to the aged and poor. Churches may also have the blessing of holy oil and feet washing as part of their Maundy Thursday service. Some churches have a tradition that involves priests washing the feet of 12 people to symbolize Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.</p> <p>Many Maundy Thursday church services take place in the evening. Maundy Thursday is known as “Green Thursday” (<em>Gründonnerstag</em>) in Germany, where green vegetables and salad, including spinach salad, are served as part of the tradition. Maundy Thursday is known as <em>skjærtorsdag</em> in Norway and is a day off for workers and students. It is known as <em>skärtorsdagen</em> in Sweden and is linked to a folktale about a witches’ day.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Maundy Thursday is a public holiday in countries such as (but not exclusive to):</p> <ul> <li>Colombia.</li> <li>Costa Rica.</li> <li>Denmark.</li> <li>Guatemala.</li> <li>Nicaragua.</li> <li>Norway.</li> <li>Paraguay.</li> <li>Many regions in Spain.</li> <li>Uruguay.</li> </ul> <p>It is not a public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Maundy Thursday occurs during Holy Week and remembers when Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist during the Last Supper, an event that is told in the Christian bible. It also commemorates the practice of ceremonial foot-washing to imitate Jesus, who washed his disciples’ feet before the Last Supper as a sign and example of humility and love. Holy Thursday also commemorates the events that took place on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion.</p> <p>A special Eucharist commemoration on the Thursday of Holy Week was first mentioned in the North African Council of Hippo’s documents around 393 CE. There have been many references to Maundy Thursday observances after that date. Maundy Thursday was also known as Shear, Char, Shrift, and Sharp Thursday. These names are believed to have derived from cutting or trimming hair or beards before Easter during the 14th century. This particular custom signified spiritual preparation for Easter.</p> <p>Roman nobility practiced washing other people’s feet during the mid-19th century. This practice is no longer common in some Protestant churches but many Catholic and Anglican churches still celebrate this Maundy Thursday rite.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The name “Maundy” most likely stems from the Latin word <em>mandatum</em> (or <em>mandatum novum</em>) which relates to the English words “commandment” or “a new mandate”. It refers to Jesus’ words after he washed his disciple’s feet. He instructed them with a new commandment – to love one another as he loved them.</p> </section> </article> </section> </article>2025-03-242025-03-26YEARLY3en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/maundy-thursday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Maundy-Thursday-Global-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8082@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZThe Lord’s Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">The <b>Lord’s Day</b> in Christianity is generally Sunday, the principal day of communal worship. </span></h4> <p><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8083"><img class="alignleft wp-image-8083 size-medium" title="the-lord's-day-fun-heritage" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg" alt="the-lord's-day-fun-heritage" width="300" height="158" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-768x404.jpg 768w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage.jpg 1024w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-560x294.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-260x137.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-160x84.jpg 160w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">It is observed by most Christians as the weekly memorial of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is said in the canonical Gospels to have been witnessed alive from the dead early on the first day of the week. According to some sources, Christians held worship on Sunday in the 1st century.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">How to Celebrate?</span></h2> <ul style="list-style-type: circle;"> <li><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Attend a Church service. Stay for the meet and greet following.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Say a prayer for the first person comes to mind.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Resolve to be a kinder person.</span></li> </ul> <h2><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Did You Know…</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">… The earliest Biblical example of Christians meeting together on a Sunday for the purpose of “breaking bread” and preaching is cited in the New Testament book The Acts of the Apostles</span> chapter 20 and verse 7 (Acts 20:7).</p>2025-03-242025-03-25WEEKLYSUSUAmerica/Vancouver2017-04-16T00:00:00enReligious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/the-lords-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg;300;158,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg;300;158,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg;300;158,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/the-lords-day-fun-heritage-300x158.jpg;300;158ai1ec-8209@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSomething on a Stick Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">March 28 is a Something on a Stick Day, a day to have fun with your food and to celebrate delicious and easy-to-eat dishes on a stick.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8210" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8210"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8210" class="wp-image-8210 size-medium" title="Something On A Stick Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Something On A Stick Day Fun Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8210" class="wp-caption-text">Have fun with your food on Something on a Stick Day.<br /> ©iStockphoto.com/FamVeld</p></div> <p>In many cultures, snacks and road-side food are served on a stick or a skewer.</p> <h2>Savory or Sweet</h2> <p>These snacks are usually chunks of vegetables or meat that are grilled, baked or fried. Food on a stick can be savory or sweet and can be served hot or cold.</p> <h2>Meat on a Stick</h2> <p>Kebabs (kebap or kebob) are some of the most well-known snacks that are cooked and or served on sticks. Usually made of lamb meat, though pork, beef and chicken can also be used to make the dish, kebabs are eaten around the world as a snack or as a main dish.</p> <h2>Easy to Handle</h2> <p>Another favorite food on a stick, typically found at fairs and food markets is a corn dog – a sausage that is dipped in a batter and fried.</p> <p>Sweet snacks that are often served on a stick include caramel apples, ice pops, and cotton candy.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Throw an everything on a stick party and serve your guests food and drinks (think popsicles) on a stick.</li> <li>Rethink what you eat daily as dishes on a stick. What about making pancakes on a stick or pies on a stick?</li> <li>Prefer to be healthy? Eat fruit on a stick.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the ancient Greeks used sticks or skewers to cook their meat?</p>2025-03-282025-03-29YEARLY3en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/something-stick-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Something-On-A-Stick-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8221@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZApril Fool’s Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Traditionally, April Fool’s Day is an opportunity for playing jokes or tricks on one another. The stranger and the more absurd the better. <br /> </span></h4> <div id="attachment_8222" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8222"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8222" class="wp-image-8222 size-medium" title="April Fools Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg" alt="April Fools Day Fun Church" width="300" height="219" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-560x409.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-260x190.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-160x117.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 565w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8222" class="wp-caption-text">Jokes and gags must be harmless and fun.</p></div> <p>It is celebrated in the United States, England, France, Scotland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, Germany and Norway. Because the day evolves around whimsy and tomfoolery, the origin of this day varies also. The custom of shouting “April Fool!” was brought to the United States by English settlers in the early 1600’s.</p> <p>One theory to it’s origin goes back to Noah, who is said to have mistakenly sent the dove out to find dry land after the flood began to recede on April 1st. Another has to do with the change in the Gregorian calendar, in which under the old calendar New Year’s Day was celebrated around time of the Vernal Equinox in late March. But, because this occasionally coincided with (or came close to) Easter, church officials back then moved New Year’s day to April 1st. But, when the Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in 1582, New Years Day changed from April 1 to January 1. Some people forgot about the change, and continued to make their New Year visits on April 1. Others paid mock visits to friends and neighbors shouting “April Fool!” to those who took them seriously.</p> <p>Some historians believe that the Scottish and French customs of pulling pranks in a way reflect the old ancient feelings of spring. Another theory is that April Fool’s Day and pulling pranks started with Lord of Misrule’s ceremonies. Appropriately named, he is said to have organized some wild and unruly feasts and masquerades with people dressed up as mythological beasts or some kind of exotic animal as a form of rebellion against the church. Another theory is of course to blame it on the Romans. This theory states that the Roman festival of “Cerealia” held around the beginning of April, started it. The story is that the goddess Ceres hears the echo of Prosperpina (her daughter) screaming as she’s carried off to the lower worlds by Pluto. Ceres then goes in search of her daughter’s voice. But Cere’s search is a fool’s errand for it is impossible to find an echo.</p> <p>Yet other scholars believe that April Fool’s Day began as a part of an original spring Celtic festival. You know the saying, “In spring a young man’s thoughts turn to love”, well the Druid priests were working on fooling evil spirits so they won’t interfere with fertility during spring mating (whether people, animals or plants). Thus, it was believed that by pulling pranks all ill-doers and evil spirits would get so confused they were null and void. And so the Druid priest’s ritual was considered a success!</p> <p>Another theory relates it to the Hindu festival of Holi (or Huli) which of course is another spring fertility festival done with fire. This festival lasts for 5 days, including a continual outdoor bonfire and dancing. This brings people into an estatic mood. So how does April Fool’s fit in? On the LAST day of this festival (which happens to be March 31) people are sent on worthless errands to everyone’s amusement. There are a lot of folk stories in which people are sent on witless missions (or impossible ones). The common thread is that most of this is done in the Spring and is related around love. And, as some scholars say, when it comes to love even the most reasonable people go crazy and conduct themselves in a silly manner when they fall in love. So, April’s Fool’s Day is often associated with romantic craziness and fooling around.</p> <p>April Fool’s Day was brought to the United States in the 1600’s by the English, Scottish and French settlers. It is believed that France helped influence when this day was celebrated because they changed their calendar in 1564 (King Charles IX) which changed the New Year from March 25 to January 1.</p> <p>April Fools’ Day is also called Huntingowk Day or Gowkie Day in Scotland, because an April Fool is called a gowk. In England it’s often referred to “All Fools Day” or “April Noddy Day” because in England a fool is referred to as a ‘noddy.’ But, all of these names originate from the “Feast of Fools” which was a popular medieval festival during which social roles were reversed and rules were deliberately broken. The men would dress up as women, eat and gamble at the altar, burn old leather sandals in the censors and engage in other normally unthinkable activities.</p> <p>The Feast of Fools was really popular in France, where April Fools’ Day is widely observed. No one knows why in France the hoax is an “April Fish” a Poisson d’avril. Those who love to fish say that April has the best fishing. Others say it’s because it’s during that time that the zodiacal sign of Pisces rules. Today, in France, chocolate fish are sold in candy stores for April Fool’s Day. And, friends send one another anonymous postcards (with some silly dialogue) with fish pictures. Other people try to pin a paper fish on someone’s back without being caught. This is similiar to the US prank of pinning a paper sign on someone’s back saying “Kick me.</p> <p>“Here’s a funny story why the Dutch celebrate April Fool’s. Spain’s King Philip II ruled the Netherlands back in 1572. Rebels opposed to his rule were called “Geuzen” after the French word (Guex) that meant beggars. Den Briel (a small town on the coast) was seized by the Geuzens on April 1, 1572, beginning a civilian uprising against Spanish rule that spread throughout the Netherlands. Commander of the Spanish army was the Duke of Alba, and was powerless to stop the Geuzens. The Dutch word for glasses is “bril.” And, apparently during this uprising, the Duke of Alba lost his glasses. Because the Dutch enjoy this silly mishap, they use it to commemorate April Fool’s day.</p> <p>Not always April 1. In Mexico and Spain, April Fool’s Day is on December 28 (called Day of the Holy Innocents). According to their custom, it is very foolish to lend someone anything (especially money) on that day because it doesn’t have to be returned. Instead, the borrower sends the lender a box of candies with a note that he’s been fooled. In Germany and Norway, April Fool’s day is celebrated twice: On April 1 and on April 30. How to do an April Fool’s Joke.. The most common prank is of course to make someone run a “fool’s errand.” If not a complete errand, then an unnecessary action, such as checking for an open zipper or missing button.</p> <p>To be a good April Fool prankster, one must have a cool persona and good timing. A good prankster gets his victim as early as possible before he realizes what day it is. Tradition has it that if a prankster waits too late in the day to pull the prank then he is called the April Fool. It is said that when people pull pranks on one another it is just another way of saying that they care.</p> <p>April Fool’s pranks are usually first experienced in one’s home with other family members. And, then it will grow to outside social circles of friends, classmates, co-workers etc. However….please stop and think! Not everyone enjoys being embarrassed. And, if you play a prank on someone that you really do not have an emotional respect for, then do not do it. It can often be viewed as expressing anger, hostility, resentment, bigotry, etc.</p> <p>In closing, don’t pull a prank you wouldn’t mind having done on yourself. This way everyone will enjoy the day. And, if it doubt, then don’t do it. Because hurting someone’s feelings is no joke at all.</p>2025-04-012025-04-02YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/april-fools-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg;300;219,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg;300;219,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg;300;219,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/April-Fools-Day-Fun-Church-300x219.jpg;300;219ai1ec-8403@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZOrthodox Easter Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Many Orthodox churches base their Easter date on the Julian calendar, which often differs from the Gregorian calendar that is used by many western countries. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period often occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of the March equinox.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8404" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8404" class="wp-image-8404 size-medium" title="Easter Day Orthodox Church Roasted lamb is served on Easter Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Suljo" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Easter Day Orthodox Church Roasted lamb is served on Easter Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Suljo" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8404" class="wp-caption-text">Roasted lamb is served on Easter Day.</p></div> <article class="fixed"> <section class="article eight columns"> <article class="fixed"> <section class="article eight columns"> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Millions of Orthodox Christians worldwide, including about six million in North America, observe Easter, also known as <em>Pascha</em>, each year. It is estimated that there are more than 250 million Orthodox Christians in the world.</p> <p>In Lebanon, many Orthodox Christians attend a church liturgy at Easter, whether it is on Sunday morning or midnight liturgy between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, many families hold a special lunch consisting of turkey or chicken stuffed with nuts and served with rice. The afternoon is spent visiting friends and family members. Many homes have <em>maamoul</em> (cookies) on a plate with other delicacies such as chick peas covered with sugar and sweet almonds.</p> <p>In Bulgaria, many worshippers celebrate outside churches after midnight liturgy, carrying candles to symbolize the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Painted eggs are cracked or smashed and richly-painted Orthodox churches are filled with clouds of incense and choir songs.</p> <p>In Greece, Easter Sunday is also a widely celebrated occasion. Lambs are roasted on a spit and the provision of wine is abundant. The roasted lamb is served in honor of Jesus Christ, who was sacrificed and rose again on Easter. Lamb is the most traditional Greek Easter food. Red-dyed eggs are cracked against each other and the person with the last remaining uncracked egg will have good luck. Easter Sunday is a time of festivity and people eat, chat or dance throughout the night.</p> <p>On the island of Crete, many villages prepare for a bonfire effigy of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament of the Bible. In the lead up to the bonfire event, people gather sticks and branches to prepare to burn the effigy.</p> <p>Around the world, many Orthodox churches, including the Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, hold Easter liturgies during the Easter period according to the Julian calendar. Families unite and join in Orthodox Easter activities, festivities and traditions.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Countries that officially observe the Orthodox Easter period include: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. There are no federal Orthodox Easter public holidays in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, it is a time for families and friends of the Orthodox Christian faith to gather together and to celebrate the Orthodox Easter period.</p> <p>Easter is not a federal holiday in Jordan, although many Orthodox Christians are pushing to make it an official holiday. There have been petitions calling for the government in Jordan to make Easter an official public holiday. Jordan has a population of about six million people, and about six percent consists of Christians while about 92 percent consists of people of the Sunni Muslim faith.</p> <p>In Lebanon – a country with a population of nearly 60 percent being Muslim and about 39 percent being Christian – Easter Sunday and Good Friday are public holidays.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>In 325CE the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the March equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the March equinox. Easter is delayed one week if the full moon is on Sunday, which decreases the chances of it falling on the same day as the Jewish Passover.</p> <p>Although the Council of Nicaea established the Easter date for churches around the world, not all Christian churches observe Easter according the Gregorian calendar. Many Orthodox churches still observe Easter in accordance with the Julian calendar.</p> <p>In the Orthodox circles, tensions exist between New Calendarists – those who use the revised Julian calendar for calculating the feasts of the ecclesiastical year – and Old Calendarists – those who continue to use the traditional Julian calendar. The calendar question reflects the dispute between those who wish to synchronize with the modern Gregorian calendar and those who wish to maintain the traditional ecclesiastical calendar based on the Julian calendar.</p> <p>There have been a number of proposed Easter date reforms. In 1997 the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to solve the Easter date difference between churches that observe the Gregorian calendar and those that observe the Julian calendar. So far, this reform has not been implemented.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Easter celebrations in Orthodox Christian communities usually include a spit-roast lamb dinner and a display of hard-boiled eggs, dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations and was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals. Many Greeks rap their eggs against their friends’ eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky. The red eggs are usually prepared on Holy Thursday in countries such as Greece. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary dyed eggs red to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and to celebrate life. A traditional Easter dinner may consist of red-dyed eggs baked into a braided loaf of bread, spit-roasted, herb-perfumed baby lamb, and assorted vegetables.</p> <p>One of the most common Christian symbols associated with Easter is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the <em>Agnus Dei</em>, meaning “Lamb of God” in Latin. The symbol’s origin relates to the Jewish Passover. In ancient times the Jews sacrificed a lamb in the course of the festival. The early Christians associated the sacrifice of the lamb with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. They connected the joyous Passover festival, which celebrates the liberation of Jewish people from years of bondage in Egypt, with the liberation from death represented by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</p> </section> </article> </section> </article>2025-04-012025-04-02YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/orthodox-easter-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Day-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8374@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZZipper Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On April 29, celebrate the zipper it because it is Zipper Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8375" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8375" class="wp-image-8375 size-medium" title="Zipper Day Fun Church The zipper makes our daily life simpler. ©iStockphoto.com/Nomadsoul1" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Zipper Day Fun Church The zipper makes our daily life simpler. ©iStockphoto.com/Nomadsoul1" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8375" class="wp-caption-text">The zipper makes our daily life simpler.</p></div> <p>We all tend to take for granted most things around us. The humble zipper that is holding up your pants, skirt or dress right now is one of those things.</p> <h2>Swedish-American Invention</h2> <p>This unofficial holiday commemorates the day in 1913 when Swedish-American engineer, Gideon Sundback received the patent for the modern-day zipper.</p> <p>Before Sundback came up with his tool, there were many versions of this wondrous device without which, being fashionable today may have just been a bit more harder.</p> <h2>World’s Fair Debut</h2> <p>One of the first recorded versions of the zipper came in 1851 from Elias Howe – an American inventor who is often credited as a developer of the technology for sewing machines. In the late 19th century, Whitcomb Judson invented a clasp locker which made its debut in the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. This invention did not catch on as much as Judson had hoped for, but did earn him the title of the Inventor of the Zipper.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>It is such a simple thing, but a zipper makes our lives so much easier. Spend the day contemplating on other similar objects that are simple, but vital to our day to day lives.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Japanese manufacturer YKK Group accounts for 45% of the world’s zippers?</p>2025-04-012025-04-02YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/zipper-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Zipper-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8235@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZHonesty Day<p><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April begins with a day that celebrates falsehoods –<a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=april-fools-day"> April Fool’s Day</a>. End it with a day that celebrates and acknowledges the importance of honesty – Honesty Day.</span></p> <div id="attachment_8236" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8236"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8236" class="wp-image-8236 size-medium" title="Honesty Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Honesty Day Fun Church Honor truthfulness and honesty today. ©iStockphoto.com/starfotograf" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8236" class="wp-caption-text">Honor truthfulness and honesty today.</p></div> <p>Celebrated annually on April 30, the day was created by M. Hirsh Goldberg, the former press secretary to the state of Maryland, United States in the early 1990s.</p> <h2>Speak the Truth</h2> <p>Goldberg created the holiday as a way to encourage people to speak the truth and to “honor the honorable”.</p> <h2>A Rare Quality</h2> <p>Famous American singer-songwriter, Billy Joel once sang that <em>honesty is such a lonely word</em>, suggesting that honesty is a very rare quality in all kinds of relationships – personal, professional and social.</p> <p>This unofficial holiday, also sometimes called National Honesty Day, emphasizes that honesty does not need to be a lonely word and that truthfulness can strengthen relationships and make them more productive.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Be truthful. Embrace truth and honesty.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the phrase <em>honesty is the best policy</em> was coined by Benjamin Franklin?</p>2025-04-022025-04-03YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/honesty-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Honesty-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8401@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZOrthodox Holy Saturday<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Holy Saturday is the day between Jesus Christ’s crucifixion (Good Friday) and his resurrection (Easter Sunday), according to Christian belief. Many Orthodox Christians commemorate the burial of Christ on this day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8402" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8402" class="wp-image-8402 size-medium" title="Holy Saturday Orthodox Church Many Orthodox churches contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ’s descent into Hades. He was placed in a tomb after he died. ©iStockphoto.com/Tim Kimberley" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Holy Saturday Orthodox Church Many Orthodox churches contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ’s descent into Hades. He was placed in a tomb after he died. ©iStockphoto.com/Tim Kimberley" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8402" class="wp-caption-text">Many Orthodox churches contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ’s descent into Hades. He was placed in a tomb after he died.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Holy Communion can be received on Holy Saturday morning in some Orthodox churches in countries such as the United States. Some churches hold a midnight liturgy between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.</p> <p>In Greece, Holy Saturday is filled with the anticipation of celebrating Easter Sunday. In some areas, people begin to gather in the churches and squares in cities, towns and villages by 11pm for the Easter liturgies. Many people carry large white candles and the church bells toll as the priests announce “Christ is Risen!” at midnight between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Fireworks are set off and each person in the crowd responds with set joyous responses. After this, everybody goes home for a meal – the fasting period is over. If their candles are still burning, a cross is made in the doorway with the soot to protect the house for the coming year.</p> <p>An Easter liturgy is also held on Saturday night in many Russian Orthodox churches. Worshippers congregate in a darkened church. As midnight approaches, worshippers light candles and church bells announce the resurrection of Christ at midnight. An intensely joyful Orthodox liturgical chant can be heard throughout the streets in some parts of Russia until the conclusion of Easter liturgy at dawn.</p> <p>In Lebanon, which also observes the Orthodox Easter, it is traditional that on the afternoon of Easter Saturday people visit seven churches to be blessed at each of them. Some people place a piece of dough in a tree on Saturday night, believing it will be blessed by Christ. On Sunday evening they place small pieces of that dough in other food containers so that these will also become blessed.</p> <p>Many people flock to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which is believed to be the site of Jesus Christ’s burial, on Holy Saturday. They come to this place to experience an annual event, which is deemed as a miracle, known as the Holy Fire. According to many Orthodox Christian sources, this fire occurs annually at the same place and time, and in the same manner. The Holy Fire liturgy is broadcast live in countries such as Greece and Russia.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>The Easter period is officially observed in countries including: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Republic of Macedonia, Romania and Ukraine. There are no federal Orthodox Holy Saturday public holidays in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, it is a time for families and friends of the Orthodox Christian faith to gather together and to celebrate the Orthodox Easter period.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Holy Saturday is the day between Jesus’ death and his resurrection. Many Orthodox churches contemplate the mystery of Jesus Christ’s descent into Hades, the world of the dead. According to the story of Christ’s death and resurrection, death is defeated from within. It is the day of watchful expectation when mourning is transformed into joy. Holy Saturday is part of the Easter period observed by both Orthodox and western churches alike, although Easter dates often tend to differ between the churches.</p> <p>The Council of Nicaea established the Easter date for churches around the world in 325CE but not all Christian churches observed Easter according the Gregorian calendar after it was first introduced in 1582. Many Orthodox churches still observe Easter in accordance with the Julian calendar. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of the March equinox.</p> <p>In the Orthodox circles, tensions exist between New Calendarists – those who use the revised Julian calendar for calculating the feasts of the ecclesiastical year – and Old Calendarists – those who continue to use the traditional Julian calendar. There have been a number of proposed Easter date reforms. In 1997 the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to solve the Easter date difference between churches that observe the Gregorian calendar and those that observe the Julian calendar. So far, this reform has not been implemented.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The tomb of Christ is an important symbol on Holy Saturday – it is no ordinary grave because it does not represent a place of corruption, decay and defeat. It is life-giving, a source of power, victory and liberation.</p> <p>During Holy Saturday it is customary for the clergy and people to hold candles during the singing of the Lamentations and at the procession of the Epitaphios, an icon most often found as a large cloth, embroidered and often richly adorned,. This practice is rooted in ancient Christian burial practices. Candles are lit to symbolize the victory of Christ over death, and to express as well the church’s belief in Christ’s resurrection.</p> <p>In many Russian Orthodox churches, the darkened church on Holy Saturday symbolizes the despair of a world without faith in Jesus Christ. Historically, the eve of Holy Saturday was considered a haunted time when satanic creatures tormented townsmen. People were afraid to go out after dark, but persevered to attend a liturgy because the church was considered a safe haven. As midnight approaches, candles are lit and, at midnight, church bells ring as a symbol of Christ’s resurrection.</p>2025-04-022025-04-03YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/orthodox-holy-saturday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Holy-Saturday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8226@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZWorld Party Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 3 is World Party Day. Also known as P Day, it is an annually celebrated unofficial holiday that aims to achieve social change and harmony by encouraging people to celebrate life by partying.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8227" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8227"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8227" class="wp-image-8227 size-medium" title="World Party Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="World Party Day Fun Church ©iStockphoto.com/petrograd99" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8227" class="wp-caption-text">Party for social change on World Party Day.</p></div> <p>The idea behind the holiday is that the opposite of war and suffering should not be to passively observe peace. Instead, people must actively participate in the celebration of life.</p> <h2>First in 1996</h2> <p>The holiday is inspired by the ending of the 1995 novel, Flight: A Quantum Fiction Novel, by Vanna Bonta, where a countdown is set to April 3, 2025 when a worldwide synchronized celebration occurs. The first Party Day was held around the world in 1996.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Research suggests that meeting new people from different cultures helps cultivate intercultural understanding and harmony. So why not throw a party for your family and friends and ask them to bring their friends and coworkers along?</li> <li>Organize a block party. Peace begins at home and by being neighbourly. Spend time with your neighbours and celebrate your neighbourhood.</li> <li>What about partying for a cause? Host a party and have your guests contribute to a cause close to your and your friends’ hearts.</li> <li>Whatever you do and whoever you party with, remember that you need no excuse to celebrate life and to be good to others.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the use of the word, party, to refer to a gathering where people have a good time dates back to 1922?</p>2025-04-032025-04-04YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/world-party-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/World-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8238@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTell a Lie Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Nope, we aren’t lying, we promise! April 4 is Tell a Lie Day!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8239" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8239"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8239" class="wp-image-8239 size-medium" title="Tell A Lie Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Tell A Lie Day Fun Church April 4 is Tell a Lie Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Tomwang112" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8239" class="wp-caption-text">April 4 is Tell a Lie Day.</p></div> <p>The holiday of unknown origins comes just a few days after another holiday that celebrates trickery and lying – <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=april-fools-day">April Fool’s Day</a> and a few weeks before <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=honesty-day">Honesty Day</a>, a made-up holiday that honors the virtue of honesty and truth-telling.</p> <h2>Acceptable Lying</h2> <p>While the name suggests that the holiday encourages people to tell lies all day long, we would like to think that the day is not an actual celebration of lying but an acknowledgement that lying is part of life and sometimes people have to lie to make others feel better. Such lies are called white lies and are possibly the only form of lying acceptable within most religions, cultures and society.</p> <p>Other acceptable forms of lying include: lying while playing a game (bluffing), lies made for the purposes of amusement of the liar or other people (jocose lies) and untruthful statements made without any malicious intent (honest lie).</p> <p>This holiday is also known as National Tell a Lie Day in the US.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>While we cannot in good conscience endorse or encourage lying, here are some harmless ways to celebrate this “fictional” holiday:</p> <ul> <li>Missed April Fool’s Day? Use this day to make up for it by playing harmless tricks on friends, family and colleagues.</li> <li>Make up silly stories about harmless things and recount them to the people around you. Who knows, you may even get a laugh or two out of your listeners!</li> <li>Read more about how to detect deception and lying.</li> <li>Play games that require bluffing.</li> <li>Read tales that warn people about the dangers of lying. Some of these tales include, <em>The Boy who Cried Wolf</em> and <em>Pinocchio</em>.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a true or fase response to the question <em>this statement is not true</em> leads to a contradiction called the Liar’s Paradox? If the response to this statement is that it is true, then the statement is false, and if the response to the statement is that it is false, then the statement is true.</p>2025-04-042025-04-05YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/tell-lie-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tell-A-Lie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8270@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZRead a Road Map Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Read a Road Map Day is on April 5. It encourages people to go on an adventure the old fashioned way, with a paper map!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8271" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8271"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8271" class="wp-image-8271 size-medium" title="Read Road Map Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Read Road Map Day Fun Church Pick up a road map and go on an adventure. ©iStockphoto.com/IPGGutenbergUKLtd" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8271" class="wp-caption-text">Pick up a road map and go on an adventure.</p></div> <p>Also known as National Read a Road Map Day, the unofficial holiday is a throwback to what the kids today call the “old days” before GPSs.</p> <h2>No GPS</h2> <p>Road maps, or route maps, are navigational maps that usually show roads and landmarks in a specific area.</p> <p>In recent years, the rise of Global Positioning System (GPS) and mobile technology is making paper maps outdated.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>When was the last time you picked up a map and used it for directions? No, not a GPS or a map app, but an actual paper map? Don’t remember? Here are some ways to celebrate Read a Road Map Day:</p> <ul> <li>Take a short road trip and use only paper maps to guide you. Take a navigator who does the map reading and directing for you. If you do not have a navigator, please make sure you only read the map when your car is at a complete stop.</li> <li>If you have never read a map, take some time to learn to read one. We reckon it will be a good skill to have in the unlikely event of a zombie apocalypse.</li> <li>Learn more about maps and how they are made.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the Turin Papyrus is thought to be the oldest recorded road map in the world? Historians believe that it was created around 1160 BC.</p>2025-04-052025-04-06YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/read-road-map-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Read-Road-Map-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8276@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNational Tartan Day in Canada<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Tartans of all varieties are worn on Tartan Day, which recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Scots and their descendants in Canada on April 6.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8277" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8277"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8277" class="wp-image-8277 size-medium" title="Tartan Day Canada Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Tartan Day Canada Church Scottish Highland dancers perform at a National Tartan Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. ©iStockphoto.com/PaulMcKinnon" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8277" class="wp-caption-text">Scottish Highland dancers perform at a National Tartan Day celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Tartan Day celebrations include parades with pipe bands, highland dancing and sports, and other community gatherings with Scottish-themed events. While a variety of tartans are displayed, the maple leaf tartan is Canada’s official tartan.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Tartan Day is an observance and not a public holiday in Canada.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>On October 21, 2010, the Minister of Canadian Heritage officially declared April 6 as Tartan Day. It is celebrated on April 6 because it is the anniversary of the signing of Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, the Scottish declaration of independence. In Canada, the day originated in the late 1980s in Nova Scotia, where it was declared an official day by the provincial government. It then spread across the country, with many provinces joining in.</p>2025-04-062025-04-07YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/national-tartan-day-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Tartan-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8272@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSorry Charlie Day<p>April 6 is Sorry Charlie Day, a day to recognize that everyone gets rejected sometime in his or her life. The name of the holiday comes from the phrase, <em>sorry Charlie</em>, popular in the United States.</p> <div id="attachment_8273" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8273"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8273" class="wp-image-8273 size-medium" title="Sorry Charlie Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Sorry Charlie Day Fun Church Sorry Charlie is a phrase that came from a tuna advertisement. ©iStockphoto.com/wrangel" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8273" class="wp-caption-text">Sorry Charlie is a phrase that came from a tuna advertisement.</p></div> <p>According to some, the phrase comes from a Starkist Tuna commercial in the 1970s.</p> <h2>Tasty Tuna</h2> <p>In the commercial, the main character, Charlie the Tuna, believes he has good taste and wants to be caught by the Tuna company. The company however, rejects Charlie by attaching a note to a fish hook that says “Sorry Charlie ”. The reason Charlie is rejected by the tuna company is because the company prefers to catch a tuna that tastes good, and not a tuna that has good taste.</p> <h2>Rejection Phrase</h2> <p>The phrase is now is commonly used as a response to someone who has experienced a rejection. It can be sometimes be seen as an uncaring response.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Think back on all the rejections in your life – academic, professional and personal – and spend the day reflecting on what you learned from each of them.</li> <li>Treat yourself because you didn’t let any rejections let you down.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that some schools of tuna fish swim alongside dolphins as a way to protect themselves from sharks and other predatory sea life?</p>2025-04-062025-04-07YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/sorry-charlie-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Sorry-Charlie-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8278@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBarbershop Quartet Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 11 is Barbershop Quartet Day, a day that celebrates barbershop music, a style of harmony singing without any accompanying music.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8279" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8279"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8279" class="wp-image-8279 size-medium" title="Barbershop Quartet Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Barbershop Quartet Day Fun Church Barbershop quartets started in the barber shop. ©iStockphoto.com/radrev" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8279" class="wp-caption-text">Barbershop quartets started in the barber shop.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday commemorates the founding of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America in 1938.</p> <h2>Waiting Songs</h2> <p>As the name suggests, barbershop music originated in 19th century American barbershops, a place where men, usually African American, came to socialize. While waiting for their turn with the barber, these men sang, harmonized improvised songs and created a genre of music that is now known as barbershop music.</p> <h2>Straw Hats</h2> <p>A barbershop quartet is a group of 4 men, each with their own unique voices – second tenor, first tenor, bass and baritone – singing songs in the barbershop style.</p> <p>Barbershop quartets have a signature dressing style that includes bright striped jackets, straw hats and big moustaches.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate the day by getting acquainted with Barbershop music and its history.</li> <li>Attend a barbershop quartet show and enjoy their music.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that barbershop music is a type of a capella? A capella is a style of singing without any accompanying instrumental music. The word comes from the Italian word for <em>according to the church</em>.</p>2025-04-112025-04-12YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/barbershop-quartet-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Barbershop-Quartet-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8280@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZGrilled Cheese Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 12 is Grilled Cheese Day, a day to celebrate this hearty bread and cheese dish and to make every meal out of it.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8281" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8281"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8281" class="wp-image-8281 size-medium" title="Grilled Cheese Day Fun Church " src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Slice up bread, add cheese in between and grill up a delicious grilled cheese. ©iStockphoto.com/juliedeshaies" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8281" class="wp-caption-text">Slice up bread, add cheese in between and grill up a delicious grilled cheese.</p></div> <p>A grilled cheese consists of grilling or toasting a slice of cheese between two slices of bread.</p> <h2>Comfort Meal</h2> <p>Enjoyed today by people around the world as an after school or as a comfort meal, the modern version of a grilled cheese is believed to have originated in the United States during the 1920s when sliced bread and cheese became easily available.</p> <p>The cheese usually used in grilled cheese is American cheese which is a processed cheese product that has a very low melting point. Hot tomato soup, potato chips and pickles are common accompaniments of a grilled cheese sandwich.</p> <h2>Cheese Toastie</h2> <p>The British version of a grilled cheese is called a cheese toastie. The cheese of choice for a toastie is cheddar cheese.</p> <p>The unofficial holiday of unknown origins is also sometimes known as National Grilled Cheese Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Make grilled cheese for all your meals. Have an egg and bacon grilled cheese for breakfast, a tomato and mozarella grilled cheese for lunch and a traditional grilled cheese for dinner.</li> <li>Who says grilled cheese has to be savory? Make a dessert grilled cheese with fruit and brie or cream cheese and chocolate spread.</li> <li>Gourmet up your grilled cheese by adding gourmet ingredients to it. What about adding some bacon in to the mix or some arugula and roasted beets for the vegetarians? Substitute tomato soup with sweet potato soup or pumpkin soup.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that mozzarella is the most consumed cheese in the world?</p>2025-04-122025-04-13YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/grilled-cheese-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grilled-Cheese-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8337@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZScrabble Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 13 is Scrabble Day, a day to celebrate the popular word board game created in 1938 by American architect Alfred Mosher Butts.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8338" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8338"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8338" class="wp-image-8338 size-medium" title="Scrabble Day Fun Church Challenge your family and friends to a battle of words on Scrabble Day. ©iStockphoto.com/miketea" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Scrabble Day Fun Church Challenge your family and friends to a battle of words on Scrabble Day. ©iStockphoto.com/miketea" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8338" class="wp-caption-text">Challenge your family and friends to a battle of words on Scrabble Day.</p></div> <p>Scrabble is a board word game where 2 to 4 players place tiles each having an alphabet on a board such that the tiles form a word.</p> <h2>29 Languages</h2> <p>First marketed in the United States as <em>Lixiko</em> and <em>Criss-Crosswords</em>, the game is now so popular that it is sold around the word in 29 different languages!</p> <p>The term, scrabble comes from the Dutch word, <em>schrabbelen</em>, meaning to struggle and scramble.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Gather around with your family and friends and play scrabble.</li> <li>Throw a scrabble themed party. Play a game of scrabble or two. Whoever wins takes home a thesaurus or a dictionary!</li> <li>Like baking? Whip up a batch of scrabble tile cookies to serve at your scrabble party.</li> <li>Have some extra scrabble tiles lying around? Use them to make some scrabble jewelry for the scrabble lovers in your life.</li> <li>Don’t have time to play a real game of scrabble? Download one of the many scrabble word game apps out there and play while you are out and about. Just remember not to play when driving or operating heavy and dangerous machinery or when in a meeting!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that if you played the word Oxyphenbutazone in your next game of scrabble, you will make 1458 points as calculated by a Dan Stock of Ohio? Oxyphenbutazone is a medication used to treat arthritis and is the highest scoring single play word in scrabble.</p>2025-04-132025-04-14YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/scrabble-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Scrabble-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8339@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZInternational Moment of Laughter Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On April 14, stop, smell the roses and laugh a little (or a lot), because it is International Moment of Laughter Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8340" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8340"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8340" class="wp-image-8340 size-medium" title="International Moment Laughter Day Fun Church Do something that makes you laugh" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="International Moment Laughter Day Fun Church Do something that makes you laugh. ©iStockphoto.com/Studio1One" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8340" class="wp-caption-text">Do something that makes you laugh.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday, created by humorologist Izzy Gesell, encourages people to forget the stresses of daily life and give into the healing and relaxing power of laughter.</p> <h2>Reduces Stress</h2> <p>Medical studies have shown that <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=lets-laugh-day">laughing</a> reduces stress, increases blood flow and lowers blood sugar levels. Some studies have found that people who laugh just before going to bed are much more likely to sleep better than those who did not.</p> <h2>Spreads Happiness</h2> <p>In addition to its health benefits, laughter also has social advantages. People who are jovial tend to be quickly accepted in social groups and have an easier time making friends. Laughter is a way to spread joy and happiness and bring cheer in the lives of other people.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Take a moment in the day to read or watch something that would make you laugh.</li> <li>Go with family and friends to watch a comedy show or comedy movie.</li> <li>Collect jokes and share them with colleagues, friends and family.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that human laughter has a specific acoustic structure? Laughter can have a ha-ha-ha or ho-ho-ho structure, but it is humanly impossible to have a ha-ho-ha-ho structure to laughter.</p>2025-04-142025-04-15YEARLYen0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/international-moment-laughter-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Moment-Laughter-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8346@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZColumnist Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 18 is celebrated annually as Columnists Day to commemorate the life and work of columnist, Ernest Taylor Pyle.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8347" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8347"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8347" class="wp-image-8347 size-medium" title="Columnist Day Fun Church Columnists inform and create opinions. ©iStockphoto.com/Goodluz" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Columnist Day Fun Church Columnists inform and create opinions. ©iStockphoto.com/Goodluz" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8347" class="wp-caption-text">Columnists inform and create opinions.</p></div> <p>The National Society of Newspaper Columnists created this holiday on the death anniversary of Ernie Pyle.</p> <h2>Died on the Job</h2> <p>Pyle, also known as Ernie, was a Pulitzer Prize winner who reported from both the European and Pacific theaters during the Second World War. He died while reporting in Okinawa.</p> <h2>Dangerous Situations</h2> <p>The purpose of the unofficial holiday is to appreciate the work that journalists do to inform people, create public opinion, keep people in power accountable and to bring to light important stories. The day is especially dedicated to columnists and journalists around the world who work in dangerous situations with the sole aim of uncovering the truth for the benefit of the society.</p> <p>The National Society of Newspaper Columnists was founded in 1977 as a professional organization for columnists and journalists.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>You don’t need a lot of preparation to celebrate Columnists Day. Here are some ways you can show your appreciation for all those who bring news and opinion to you and keep you well informed about the world around you:</p> <ul> <li>Read a newspaper column.</li> <li>Write to your favorite newspaper columnist and thank them. If you know a columnist personally, celebrate them by doing something special for them, like baking them their favorite cake or taking them out for dinner.</li> <li>Learn more about the history of newspapers and journalism.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the Ordinari Post Tijdender, a Swedish newspaper is the oldest newspaper in the world that is still being published? The newspaper was first published in 1645. Its print version was stopped in 2007. Since then the newspaper is online only.</p>2025-04-182025-04-20YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/columnist-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Columnist-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8344@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZLook Alike Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">If you have ever been told that you look familiar or look like someone else, then Look Alike Day on April 20 is the holiday you should be celebrating.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8345" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8345"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8345" class="wp-image-8345 size-medium" title="Look Alike Day Fun Church Celebrate people who look like you. ©iStockphoto.com/_jure" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Look Alike Day Fun Church Celebrate people who look like you. ©iStockphoto.com/_jure" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8345" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate people who look like you.</p></div> <p>Look Alike Day is a fun holiday invented to celebrate identical twins, clones, copycats and anyone else who you look like or who looks like you.</p> <h2>Dress Alike</h2> <p>The unofficial holiday with unknown origins encourages people to dress up and look like someone else. This person could be someone you look up to or a celebrity you are a fan of.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If you know your look alike, spend the day with them. Dress up identically and copy each other’s mannerisms, and have fun with people struggling to tell you apart!</li> <li>Find out what celebrity looks like you. Dress up like them, talk like them and walk like them. If it is a singer you look alike sing their songs the whole day long. If it is a author, then read out lines from their books every time you speak with someone.</li> <li>If you are on social media websites change out your display picture and replace it with your look alike’s. Make sure you take permission from the owner of the picture before you do so.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that it is said that there are at least 7 people in the world who look like you?</p>2025-04-202025-04-21YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/look-alike-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Look-Alike-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8348@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZJelly Bean Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 22 is Jelly Bean Day. It is an unofficial holiday that honors the sugary bean-shaped candies that are hard on the outside and gel-like on the inside.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8349" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8349"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8349" class="wp-image-8349 size-medium" title="Jelly Bean Day Fun Church Celebrate the chewy, sugary and delicious delights that are jelly beans. ©iStockphoto.com/kcrep" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Jelly Bean Day Fun Church Celebrate the chewy, sugary and delicious delights that are jelly beans. ©iStockphoto.com/kcrep" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8349" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate the chewy, sugary and delicious delights that are jelly beans.</p></div> <p>Popular during Easter and Halloween, jelly bean candies come in a variety of flavors and colors.</p> <h2>Cherry and Popcorn</h2> <p>According to Jelly Belly, a popular jelly bean manufacturer, the most popular jelly bean flavors include cherry and buttered popcorn.</p> <p>Food historians believe that turkish delights, a chewy candy from Turkey inspired the creation of the jelly beans, though it is unclear who invented them.</p> <h2>Presidental Favourite</h2> <p>Some sources suggest that jelly beans were popularized during the American Civil War when people were encouraged to send the candy to soldiers in the field.</p> <p>Jelly beans are equally loved by children and adults alike. President Ronald Reagan was known to be a big fan of these delicious chewy candy, so much so that about 3 tonnes of red, white and blue jelly beans were used during his inauguration as the 40th President of the United States in 1981. It is said that his favorite flavor was licorice.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Have jelly beans with all your meals.</li> <li>What about trying bacon flavored jelly beans for breakfast?</li> <li>Been told that you don’t eat enough fruits? Eat a handful of fruit flavored jellybeans.</li> <li>Make art using colorful jellybeans.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that it can take anywhere from 7 to 21 days to make a single piece of jelly beans?</p> <h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"></span></h4>2025-04-222025-04-24YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/jelly-bean-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Jelly-Bean-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8390@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZLover’s Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">April 23 is Lover’s Day, a day to celebrate your significant other and let them know how much they mean to you.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8391" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8391" class="wp-image-8391 size-medium" title="Lovers Day Fun Church Celebrate your lover today. ©iStockphoto.com/mrovka" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Lovers Day Fun Church Celebrate your lover today. ©iStockphoto.com/mrovka" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8391" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate your lover today.</p></div> <p>While the origin of Lover’s Day is a mystery, some sources believe that the unofficial holiday is based on <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=st-georges-day-canada"><em>St. George’s Day</em></a>, a religious holiday celebrated in many parts of Europe.</p> <h2>Other Versions</h2> <p>Some countries have their own versions of Lover’s Day. Brazilians for example, celebrate Lover’s Day, also called <em>Dia dos Namorados</em>, on June 12.</p> <p>Lover’s Day is also known as National Lover’s Day in the US.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>Missed <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=valentines-dance-st-stephens">Valentine’s Day</a>? No worries. Now, you have a chance at a do-over. Here are some ideas on how you can make your lover feel special on Lover’s Day:</p> <ul> <li>Do something thoughtful and special for your loved one. Maybe do their errands for them or make their favorite dish for dinner.</li> <li>Since Lover’s Day has not yet been taken over by commercial interests, you can celebrate it in your own style without the pressures of having to go all out. For example, make them a handmade gift, clean up their closet, watch that movie you hate but they love, write a poem, take them out dancing, go to the carnival, throw a party in their honor, surprise them with a weekend getaway.</li> <li>It is still spring in the Northern Hemisphere, so what about surprising your loved one with a spring picnic? Pack some bubbly, some of his or her favorite candy and let the romance bloom!</li> <li>If you are planning on getting married soon, choose April 23 as your wedding date. It certainly less clichéd and common.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that in some countries women can propose marriage to their significant others only on a Leap Day?</p>2025-04-232025-04-24YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/lovers-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lovers-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8289@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSt. George’s Day in Canada<h4> St George’s Day commemorates the life of St George, a Roman soldier and Christian martyr. St George’s Day is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. It is observed on the Monday closest to April 23 each year.</h4> <div id="attachment_8290" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8290"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8290" class="wp-image-8290 size-medium" title="St Georges Day Canada" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg" alt="St George is remembered on St George's Day in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/bogdb" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8290" class="wp-caption-text">St George is remembered on St George’s Day in Canada.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Many people are reminded on this day of St George’s achievements and sacrifices during his lifetime. People who have a day off work on St George’s Day enjoy it as is part of a three-day long weekend in Newfoundland and Labrador, as the day is held on a Monday. Some people take a scenic drive, while others engage in sporting activities. Many people in the province who have a day off spend time on personal hobbies and some people catch up with friends and family.</p> <p>St George’s Day celebrations are not limited to Newfoundland and Labrador. Some societies, such as the Royal Society of St. George (British Columbia Branch), celebrate St George’s Day. There are also calls from groups devoted to the saint to make St George’s Day a national holiday in Canada.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>St George’s Day is a provincial holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador, so it is designated as a paid holiday for government employees. School calendars in the province are set by individual school districts so those wishing to find out if St George’s Day is a school holiday should check with these districts.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>St George was born sometime around the year 280 CE in what is now Turkey. He was a soldier and rose up through the ranks of the Roman army, eventually becoming a personal guard to the Emperor Diocletian. He was executed for being a Christian on April 23, 303 CE, and is buried in the town of Lod in Israel.</p> <p>St George is most widely known for slaying a dragon. According to legend, the only well in the town of Silene was guarded by a dragon. In order to get water, the inhabitants of the town had to offer a human sacrifice every day to the dragon. The person to be sacrificed was chosen by lots. On the day that St George was visiting, a princess had been selected to be sacrificed. However, he killed the dragon, saved the princess and gave the people of Silene access to water. In gratitude, they converted to Christianity.</p> <p>It is thought that the dragon represents a certain type of pagan belief that included the sacrifice of human beings. St George is the patron saint of some places around the world, including England, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, and Russia.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The most widely recognized St George’s Day symbol is St George’s cross. This is a red cross on a white background, which is often displayed as a flag. It is used as England’s national flag, forming part of the Union Flag, the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Saint George’s cross was originally the flag of the maritime Republic of Genoa. Around 1190, the King of England started paying the Doge of Genoa to protect ships originally from the city of London and the rest of England that sailed in the Mediterranean region.</p>2025-04-232025-04-24YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/st-georges-day-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/St-Georges-Day-Canada-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8370@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZInternational Guide Dog Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Every year, the last Wednesday in April is set as International Guide Dog Day</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8371" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8371" class="wp-image-8371 size-medium" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg" alt="Guide dogs receive formal training which takes two years and costs around $25,000" width="300" height="212" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-260x184.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-160x113.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church.jpg 448w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8371" class="wp-caption-text">Even guide dogs have their ups and downs.</p></div> <p>This is a day to celebrate the important role of guide dogs that help the blind and visually impaired remain safe and independently mobile day in and day out. Guide dogs are carefully trained to recognize obstacles, and to help guide their handlers around such things. They are trained to help handler’s access public transportation, navigate public places and cross roads safely.</p> <p>Guide dogs are legally allowed into all public places due to their handler’s dependence on them for safety and mobility. Due to this fact however, guide dogs must have a special calm, quiet, non-aggressive and well-behaved temperament.</p> <p>According to GuidedogsofAmerica.org the breeds most commonly used as guide dogs are as follows:</p> <ul> <li>70% Labrador Retrievers</li> <li>15% Golden Retrievers</li> <li>15% German Shepherds</li> </ul> <p>After two year’s of training dogs, are carefully matched with handlers based on the handler’s lifestyle and environment. Consideration is also given to the size of the dog, the strength, pace of walk and energy levels. Each of these things is taken into consideration so to match dogs and humans to create the best relationship possible.</p> <p>International Guide Dog Day is intended to honor the dogs that are working hard to help their handlers as well as all the people who work very hard to train and match dogs with their owners, creating such important life-changing relationships.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Adopt a dog and give it a loving home.</li> <li>If you have a dog, treat them with their favorite treats.</li> <li>If you are unable to have a dog in your family, celebrate the day by donating your time and money to the local animal and dog shelter.<br /> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…Guide dogs receive formal training which takes two years and costs around $25,000?</p> </li> </ul>2025-04-242025-04-25YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/international-guide-dog-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg;300;212,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg;300;212,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg;300;212,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/International-Guide-Dog-Day-Church-300x212.jpg;300;212ai1ec-8352@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZDNA Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Observed every year on April 25 since 2003, DNA Day celebrates and recognizes the importance of genetics and the scientific advances made in the field.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8353" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8353"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8353" class="wp-image-8353 size-medium" title="DNA Day Fun Church Learn more about DNA that makes you. ©iStockphoto.com/Svisio" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="DNA Day Fun Church Learn more about DNA that makes you. ©iStockphoto.com/Svisio" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8353" class="wp-caption-text">Learn more about the DNA that makes you.</p></div> <p>DNA Day was instituted as a one-time celebration in the United States by a proclamation of the US Congress in 2002.</p> <h2>Double Helix</h2> <p>April 25 was chosen as the day to acknowledge the contribution of genetics. It was on this day in 1953, scientists James Watson, Francis Crick and their colleagues published the double helix structure of DNA in the journal, <em>Nature</em>.</p> <h2>Worldwide Celebration</h2> <p>While DNA Day was first commemorated in the United States in 2003, it is now celebrated around the world. In the US, the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) is at the helm of organizing celebrations for the day. Universities and scientific organizations around the world also celebrate DNA day by organizing scientific conferences, educational outreach, online discussions and essay competitions.</p> <p>The holiday is also called International DNA Day and World DNA Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Attend scientific lectures to learn about the advances made in genetics.</li> <li>Learn more about DNA, its structure, and its components. Read up about how it affects our daily lives.</li> <li>If you have kids in your life, make a 3-d model of DNA with them. Get creative, use materials you can find at home or in your kitchen.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that each human cell contains approximately 6.5 feet (2 meters) of DNA?</p>2025-04-252025-04-26YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/dna-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/DNA-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8354@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZPretzel Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Celebrate the doughy, salty snack called Pretzel on April 26, Pretzel Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8355" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8355"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8355" class="wp-image-8355 size-medium" title="Be Humble Day Heritage Church Celebrate the delicious snack that is the pretzel. ©iStockphoto.com/Electra-K-Vasileiadou" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Be Humble Day Heritage Church Celebrate the delicious snack that is the pretzel. ©iStockphoto.com/Electra-K-Vasileiadou" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8355" class="wp-caption-text">Be Humble Day Heritage Church Celebrate the delicious snack that is the pretzel.</p></div> <p>Considered to be one of the oldest surviving snacks in the world, the humble but delicious pretzel is thought to have originated in Europe, possibly created by monks in monasteries.</p> <h2>Soft or Hard</h2> <p>The knot shape of the traditional soft dough pretzels are thought to signify folded hands during prayers.</p> <p>The commonly found hard pretzels are a much more recent invention. They are considered to have been first made by German immigrants in Pennsylvania, United States.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate pretzel day by making your own pretzels at home. Try new flavors of pretzels.</li> <li>If you don’t have time to make your own, visit your local pretzel store. Chances are, they will be celebrating the day by giving away free pretzels.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Pennsylvanians eat more pretzels per capita than people in any other state in the United States? Because of this, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell declared April 26 as National Pretzel Day in 2003.</p>2025-04-262025-04-27YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/pretzel-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Be-Humble-Day-Heritage-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8512@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMacaroon Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 31 is Macaroon day, a day to celebrate the unleavened cakes or cookies made of egg whites, sugar, and almond paste or coconut.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8513" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8513" class="wp-image-8513 size-medium" title="Macroon-Day-Church Try your hands at baking a batch of delicious macaroon cookies on May 31, Macaroon Day. ©iStockphoto.com/ajafotoTry your hands at baking a batch of delicious macaroon cookies on May 31, Macaroon Day. ©iStockphoto.com/ajafoto" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Macroon-Day-Church Try your hands at baking a batch of delicious macaroon cookies on May 31, Macaroon Day. ©iStockphoto.com/ajafotoTry your hands at baking a batch of delicious macaroon cookies on May 31, Macaroon Day. ©iStockphoto.com/ajafoto" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8513" class="wp-caption-text">Try your hands at baking a batch of delicious macaroon cookies on May 31, Macaroon Day.</p></div> <p>Macaroons are thought to have originated in the 9th century in Italy.</p> <h2>Coconut and Egg Whites</h2> <p>The original macaroon recipe called for egg whites, sugar, and almond paste. In many parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, coconut is used as the main ingredient of these delicious cakes, instead of almond paste. They can also be topped with jam, chocolate, or fruits in syrup.</p> <p>Even though macaroons look like cookies, bakers technically classify them as cakes because they do not contain any flour.</p> <h2>Not a Macaron</h2> <p>Oftentimes, macaroons are confused with with the colorful <em>macaron</em>. While a macaron is made of similar ingredients – almond flour, egg whites and sugar, there is a world of difference in the taste, texture, and presentation of the two treats.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Learn how to make macaroons. Whip up a batch and share them with your family and friends.</li> <li>Try different variations of the cake, perhaps by adding fruit or chocolate? Or maybe a spice like cinnamon or cardamom?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the word <em>macaroon</em> comes from the Italian word maccarone, meaning paste?</p>2025-05-012025-05-02YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/macaroon-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Macroon-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8510@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMy Bucket’s Got a Hole Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 30 is My Bucket’s Got A Hole in It Day, a day to carry around a bucket with a hole with you.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8511" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8511" class="wp-image-8511 size-medium" title="My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church Get yourself a bucket and make a hole in it. ©iStockphoto.com/AnitaPatterson" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church Get yourself a bucket and make a hole in it. ©iStockphoto.com/AnitaPatterson" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8511" class="wp-caption-text">Get yourself a bucket and make a hole in it.</p></div> <p>It is unclear if the unofficial holiday was created in honor of the song by the same name made popular by American singer Hank Williams or to celebrate buckets with holes in them. Either way, see below on how to celebrate this offbeat hole-i-day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Listen to the song by the same name.</li> <li>Trick someone by making a hole in their bucket. Ask them to do something silly with the bucket, like fill another bucket or water the lawn.</li> <li>Ask people you meet the answer to the Hole in the Bucket puzzle: <em>I am weightless, but you can see me. Put me in a bucket, and i’ll make it lighter. What am i?</em> A hole.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the children’s song <em>there is a hole in the bucket</em> describes a deadlock situation? To fix a bucket with a hole, the protagonist needs to cut a piece of straw with a knife, which needs to be sharpened on a sharpening stone which needs to be watered with water using the bucket, which has a hole.</p>2025-05-022025-05-03YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/buckets-got-hole-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/My-Buckets-Got-A-Hole-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8405@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZOrthodox Easter Monday<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Many Orthodox churches around the world observe Easter Monday, which is the day after the Orthodox Easter Sunday.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8406" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8406" class="wp-image-8406 size-medium" title="Easter Monday Orthodox Church Painted eggs are an important tradition during the Easter period. ©iStockphoto.com/Bob Drapella" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Easter Monday Orthodox Church Painted eggs are an important tradition during the Easter period. ©iStockphoto.com/Bob Drapella" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8406" class="wp-caption-text">Painted eggs are an important tradition during the Easter period.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>In countries such as Greece, the Orthodox Easter Monday is a much more relaxed day when people can wind down or prepare to resume their work or study schedules. For some, it is a reflection of the events that occurred during Holy Week. Easter Monday is a day to finish leftover Easter meals that were not eaten the day before. The menu may include: lamb, <em>spanokopita</em> (spinach pie), <em>dolmadakia</em> (stuffed vine leaves), and <em>loukoumathes</em> (honey balls).</p> <p>Easter Monday is also referred to as “Bright Monday” or “New Monday” in many Orthodox churches. “Bright Monday” falls on “Bright Week”, which is a seven-day period that begins on Easter Sunday. For many Orthodox Christians, the fast and the time of mourning is over and it is a time to be joyous and happy.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Easter Monday is observed as an official holiday in countries including: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, and Ukraine. Schools, banks and public offices may be closed on this day. Some embassies are closed in these countries on Easter Monday so travelers will need to confirm with their own embassies.</p> <p>There are no federal Orthodox Easter public holidays in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, Easter Monday is a time for families and friends of the Orthodox Christian faith to relax and reflect on the past week.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>In 325 CE the Council of Nicaea established the Easter date for churches around the world. However, in 1582 the Gregorian calendar was introduced and many western churches decided to observe the Easter period according to that calendar over the centuries. Many Orthodox churches still observe Easter in accordance with the Julian calendar, therefore they often follow a different Easter date compared with many western churches.</p> <p>In the Orthodox circles, tensions exist between New Calendarists – those who use the revised Julian calendar for calculating the feasts of the ecclesiastical year – and Old Calendarists – those who continue to use the traditional Julian calendar. There have been a number of proposed Easter date reforms. In 1997 the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to solve the Easter date difference between churches that observe the Gregorian calendar and those that observe the Julian calendar. So far, this reform has not been implemented.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>One of the most common Orthodox Easter symbols is the dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. The egg was an important symbol in the mythologies of many early civilizations and was also connected with the springtime fertility rituals. Many Greek people rap their eggs against their friends’ eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky. The red eggs are usually prepared on Holy Thursday in countries such as Greece. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary dyed eggs red to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ and to celebrate life.</p> <p>One of the most common Christian symbols associated with Easter is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the <em>Agnus Dei</em>, meaning “Lamb of God” in Latin. The symbol’s origin relates to the Jewish Passover. In ancient times Jewish people sacrificed a lamb in the course of the festival. The early Christians associated the sacrifice of the lamb with Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. They connected the joyous Passover festival, which celebrates the liberation of Jewish people from years of bondage in Egypt, with the liberation from death represented by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.</p>2025-05-022025-05-03YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/orthodox-easter-monday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Easter-Monday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8376@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZStar Wars Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 4 is considered as a Star Wars Day by fans of the popular film series, Star Wars. It is one of the two days in a year that recognize the importance of the Star Wars movies in popular culture and to allow fans of the saga to express their love for the movies.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8377" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8377" class="wp-image-8377 size-medium" title="Star Wars Day Church The lightsaber is a weapon used by the characters on Star Wars and is one of the most recognizable items in pop culture. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Star Wars Day Church The lightsaber is a weapon used by the characters on Star Wars and is one of the most recognizable items in pop culture. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8377" class="wp-caption-text">The lightsaber is a weapon used by the characters on Star Wars and is one of the most recognizable items in pop culture.</p></div> <p>The origin of this day comes from a play on the words “<em>may the force be with you”</em>, an often quoted phrase in the Star Wars movies. Fans around the world have modified the phrase to create the pun “<em>may the fourth be with you”</em>. Fans have expanded the pun to include “<em>revenge of the fifth”</em>, which is a play on the title of the sixth movie in the series, Revenge of the Sith.</p> <p>It is believed that the phrase was first used on May 4, 2025 when the Conservatives in the United Kingdom congratulated their candidate, Margaret Thatcher for taking office as UK’s Prime Minister by taking out a newspaper advertisement that said “<em>may the fourth be with you, Maggie. Congratulations.</em>“</p> <p>Star Wars is a film series and francise created by George Lucas. The fim series follow events in a galaxy “far, far away” in the “distant past”.</p> <p>The other Star Wars Day celebrated in the year is May 25. This is when the first movie in the series was released in 1977. This unofficial holiday is also sometimes known as <strong>Greek Pride Day</strong>.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Dress up like Star War characters and have a Star Wars themed party.</li> <li>Greet everyone you meet with the phrase “may the force be with you”.</li> <li>Organize marathon viewings of the saga, and participate in Star Wars trivia contests. .</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the South Pacific island of Niue accepts collectible Star Wars themed coins issued by the New Zealand Mint in 2011 as legal tender?</p>2025-05-042025-05-05YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/star-wars-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Star-Wars-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8378@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBeverage Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Raise a glass to all your favorite beverages on Beverage Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8379" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8379" class="wp-image-8379 size-medium" title="Beverage Day Church Celebrate Beverage Day by drinking as much of your favorite beverage as you can! ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Beverage Day Church Celebrate Beverage Day by drinking as much of your favorite beverage as you can! ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8379" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate Beverage Day by drinking as much of your favorite beverage as you can!</p></div> <p>This unofficial holiday is celebrated annually on May 6 and is also sometimes called National Beverage Day. While the origins of Beverage Day are unknown, we can all safely assume that the day encourages people to honor their beverages of choice and acknowledge that a humble beverage has the power to make or break many situations. A good beverage can energize you after a long, tiring day; it can make a long, boring meal go fast; it can bring together two strangers; and it can make a party more fun.</p> <p>Whether your preferred beverage is a hot cup of tea, a delicious and healthy smoothie or a tall glass of lemonade, Beverage Day is the perfect excuse to indulge yourself by drinking it all day long.</p> <ul> <li>Sit back, relax and celebrate the day with your favorite beverage. It could be anything from something as simple as water to a fancy cocktail.</li> <li>Try new beverages. What about tasting the national drink of a country you have never visited?</li> <li>Have a tasting party at home. Pick up a beverage you and your guests like and make or find different versions of it to taste and try. For example, you could do a beer or wine tasting party or a tea or coffee tasting party. Have each of your guests bring their favorite brand of beverage to share and serve foods that pair with the beverage of your choice. Who knows, you may just find your next favorite beverage at one of these parties!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that in common usage, water is not usually considered to be a beverage?</p>2025-05-062025-05-07YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/beverage-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Beverage-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8380@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZHerb Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Herb Day is an unofficial holiday annually celebrated on the first Saturday of May.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8381" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8381" class="wp-image-8381 size-medium" title="Herb Day Fun Church You can grow a herb garden right in your kitchen. ©iStockphoto.com/CBCK-Christine" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Herb Day Fun Church You can grow a herb garden right in your kitchen. ©iStockphoto.com/CBCK-Christine" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8381" class="wp-caption-text">You can grow a herb garden right in your kitchen.</p></div> <p>Created and organized by the HerbDay Coalition which is an organization of five non-profit groups. The holiday encourages people to learn more about herbs and use them more extensively in their daily lives.</p> <p>The holiday first began in 2006 in the United States. It brings together herbalists, gardeners, manufacturers of herbal products, culinarians and home cooks. It attempts to spread knowledge about the medicinal, culinary and cosmetic benefits of herbs.</p> <h2>Different From Spices</h2> <p>Botanically, herbs are green parts of a plant that are used in food, medicine or as addional flavoring. They are usually leaves and can be used fresh or dried. Herbs are distinct from spices. Spices are usually dried or processed non-leafy – seeds, barks, roots or stems – parts of a plant or a tree.</p> <h2>Worshipped Plants</h2> <p>People around the world use herbs for cooking and for medicinal purposes. Some cultures consider herbs as having spiritual qualities. And extensively use them during religious ceremonies. In India for example, basil is considered to be a holy plant and is worshipped in many parts of the country.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Learn more about different kind of herbs and their uses.</li> <li>Start a small herb garden in your kitchen – herbs are easy to grow and make your kitchen smell nice.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that some people perceive the taste of cilantro or coriander as being soapy and like eating bugs? Studies have shown that this is because they have a special olfactory receptor gene called OR6A2. This makes them sensitive to the aldehyde chemicals found in the herb.</p>2025-05-072025-05-08YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/herb-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Herb-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8426@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMother’s Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Many Canadians celebrate Mother’s Day by showing their appreciation for mothers or mother figures. The Mother’s Day date in Canada is on the second Sunday of May each year.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8427" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8427" class="wp-image-8427 size-medium" title="Mothers-Day-Canada-Church Mother's Day is a day to remember mothers and mother figures. ©iStockphoto.com/Kateryna Govorushchenko" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Mothers-Day-Canada-Church Mother's Day is a day to remember mothers and mother figures. ©iStockphoto.com/Kateryna Govorushchenko" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8427" class="wp-caption-text">Mother’s Day is a day to remember mothers and mother figures.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Many people remember their mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. Mother figures may include stepmothers, relatives, mothers-in-law, a guardian (eg. a foster parent), or a family friend. There are many different ways to celebrate Mother’s Day. They include (but are not limited to):</p> <ul> <li>Giving cards, flowers, or cakes.</li> <li>Family gatherings or visits.</li> <li>Family breakfasts, brunches, lunches, and dinners either at home, at a café or at a restaurant.</li> <li>Personal phone calls, particularly from children who live away from their mothers and/or mother figures.</li> <li>Mother’s Day poems and messages.</li> <li>Gifts of chocolate, jewelry, accessories, clothing, hobby equipment or tools, handmade items, or gift vouchers.</li> <li> A day at the movies with mothers and/or mother figures.</li> </ul> <p>Mother’s Day is celebrated in different countries, including China where carnations are popular Mother’s Day presents. Some groups in Samoa organize elaborate song and dance performances throughout the country. They celebrate the contributions that mothers make to Samoan society.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Mother’s Day falls on different days depending on the countries where it is celebrated. It is held on the second Sunday of May in many countries, such as Australia, Canada and the United States. It is held exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday in the United Kingdom. Sundays are usually non-school and non-working days in these countries.</p> <p>Mother’s Day is an annual public holiday in countries such as Costa Rica (August 15, on the same day as Assumption Day), Georgia (March 3), Samoa (second Monday of May), and Thailand (August 12). Restaurants and cafes may be busier than usual as some people take their mothers out for a treat.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Early Mother’s Day celebrations can be dated back to the spring celebrations to honor Rhea, the Mother of the Gods, in ancient Greek civilization, according to some sources. Later, Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom was traditionally a day for people to visit the church where they were baptized, although it now also celebrates motherhood in modern times.</p> <p>The modern-day origins of Mother’s Day can be attributed to two women – Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, who were important in establishing the tradition in the United States. Around 1870, Julia Ward Howe called for Mother’s Day to be celebrated each year. It continued to be held in Boston for about 10 years under her sponsorship, but died out after that. Other sources say that Juliet Calhoun Blakely initiated Mother’s Day in Albion, Michigan, in the late 1800s. Her sons paid tribute to her each year and urged others to honor their mothers.</p> <p>In 1907, Anna Jarvis held a private Mother’s Day celebration in memory of her mother, Ann Jarvis, in Grafton, West Virginia. In 1908, she played a key role in arranging a church service that attracted 407 children and their mothers. A Mother’s Day International Association was founded in 1912 to promote the holiday in other countries. Mother’s Day has grown increasingly popular since then.</p> <p>Many people believe that Mother’s Day is now largely commercialized, with card companies, flower shops, jewelry stores, gift shops, restaurants, hotels, and department stores advertising promotions and special deals for this event. Anna Jarvis, in her lifetime, unsuccessfully filed a lawsuit to stop the over-commercialization of Mother’s Day.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>There are various ways to show an appreciation for mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. They include white carnations, which Anna Jarvis asked to be the official symbol for the day, as well as the International Mother’s Day Shrine. This shrine is dedicated to the preservation of motherhood. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. It is located together with a museum at Grafton, West Virginia, and aims to preserve, promote and develop the spirit of motherhood.</p>2025-05-082025-05-09YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/mothers-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Mothers-Day-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8382@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZLost Sock Memorial Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Lost Sock Memorial Day on May 9 is a day to commemorate lost socks. The unofficial holiday also encourages people to let go of all the remaining single socks they are collecting in hopes of finding their partners one day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8383" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8383" class="wp-image-8383 size-medium" title="Lost Sock Memorial Day Church Honor all the socks you have lost on Lost Sock Memorial Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Lost Sock Memorial Day Church Honor all the socks you have lost on Lost Sock Memorial Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8383" class="wp-caption-text">Honor all the socks you have lost on Lost Sock Memorial Day.</p></div> <p>There are few mysteries in life that are as perplexing as the mystery of the missing sock. No matter how hard you try to keep pairs of socks together, invariably one of them ventures out into the netherworld never to be found again.</p> <p>Lost Sock Memorial Day is a day to honor all those disappeared socks.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Throw out all the single leftover socks.</li> <li>Use the leftover socks as cleaning cloths. Or spend the day making sock monkeys out of the socks that have sadly lost their partners to the sock blackhole.</li> <li>Have a minute of silence for all the socks you have lost.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the feet have about 250,000 sweat glands that are capable of producing about 1 cup of sweat a day?</p>2025-05-092025-05-10YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/lost-sock-memorial-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lost-Sock-Memorial-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8393@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZClean Up Your Room Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 10, is Clean Your Room Day – an unofficial holiday that is bound to be any parentan’s or roommate’s favorite holiday and perhaps every child’s, teenager’s and lazy person’s nightmare.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8394" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8394" class="wp-image-8394 size-medium" title="Cleanup Your Room Day Church Roll up your sleeves and clean up your room on Clean Your Room Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Cleanup Your Room Day Church Roll up your sleeves and clean up your room on Clean Your Room Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8394" class="wp-caption-text">Roll up your sleeves and clean up your room on Clean Your Room Day.</p></div> <p>Also sometimes called the National Clean Up Your Room Day, this holiday of unknown origins aims at keeping the dust bunnies where they belong – the trash. The holiday promotes clean rooms and homes and encourages people to collect their cleaning supplies, don their cleaning clothes and gloves and spend the day spring cleaning.</p> <p>Spring cleaning is a practice in many cultures where people clean their homes throughly once a year on the first warm day of spring. It is thought that this practice dates back to the days when people lit fires to keep warm during cold winter months. The first warm day of spring allowed people to open their windows and doors and to get rid of all the soot and ash that collected over the winter.</p> <p>Even though Clean Your Room Day falls towards the end of the Spring season in the Northern Hemisphere, and Fall (Autumn) in the Southern Hemisphere, it is a good day as any to get cracking on the dusting, scrubbing and organizing. And who know, you may just find that thing you were looking for forever hiding in some dusty corner of your room.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Clean up your room and resolve to keep it clean every day.</li> <li>Give away or throw any unwanted items or pieces of clothing that you no longer use.</li> <li>If you have children, teach them about the virtues of a clean room. Help them organize their toys and books and reward them for keeping their room clean.</li> <li>Get the family together and make cleaning a fun chore. Put on some fun music and dance while you clean. Give out rewards for milestones crossed – fastest time taken to clean, best organizer, and room with the least amount of dust.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that many cultures have a day assigned to cleaning during a year? In Iran, people clean their houses in preparation of the Persian New Year called Norooz, while in India people clean up their homes before the festivals of lights, Diwali.</p>2025-05-102025-05-11YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/clean-room-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Cleanup-Your-Room-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8411@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNational School Nurse Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">The Wednesday between May 6 and May 12 of each year is National School Nurse Day, a day to celebrate and thank all school nurses that take care of children when they are at school.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8412" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8412" class="wp-image-8412 size-medium" title="School Nurse Day Church Thank all your school nurses for making sure you went to school and stayed in school healthy on National School Nurse Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="School Nurse Day Church Thank all your school nurses for making sure you went to school and stayed in school healthy on National School Nurse Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8412" class="wp-caption-text">Thank all your school nurses for making sure you went to school and stayed in school healthy on National School Nurse Day.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday was created in 1972 by the National Association of School Nurses, based in the United States. The day aims to recognize school nurses and acknowledge their role in the educational setting.</p> <p>School nurses are nursing practitioners usually affiliated with a school or an educational institution. School nurses are one of the first line of medical professionals to ensure the health and mental well-being of school going children and young adults. They are also responsible for monitoring that children in schools are achieving their developmental milestones as well as ensuring that their lives outside the school are safe and healthy.</p> <p>National School Nurse Day, also known as School Nurse Day, is celebrated during National Nurse Week, which runs annually from May 6 to May 12. May 6 is celebrated as National Nurses Day, while May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale is celebrated worldwide as International Nurses Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Thank your school nurse for taking care of you.</li> <li>Learn more about what school nurses do.</li> <li>If you have school going children, help your children make thank you gifts or write thank you notes for their school nurse.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Florence Nightingale is thought to be responsible for creating the foundation for modern day nursing? Known as the Lady with the Lamp, she opened the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery in 1860, which was the world’s first secular nursing school and remains one of the world’s oldest schools to be still operational.</p>2025-05-112025-05-12YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/national-school-nurse-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/School-Nurse-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8413@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZLimerick Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 12 is Limerick Day. It is an unofficial holiday that encourages people to read and write limericks, a genre of humorous poetry that first originated in England in the 18th century.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8414" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8414" class="wp-image-8414 size-medium" title="Limerick Day Church The Adare manor and gardens in Limerick, Ireland. ©bigstockphoto.com/Patryk Kosmider" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Limerick Day Church The Adare manor and gardens in Limerick, Ireland. ©bigstockphoto.com/Patryk Kosmider" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8414" class="wp-caption-text">The Adare manor and gardens in Limerick, Ireland.</p></div> <p>Limerick Day, also sometimes called National Limerick Day honors the birthday of Edward Lear, English poet, and author. Born in 1812, Lear popularized this form of poetry in his 1846 book called <em>A Book of Nonsense</em>.</p> <p>Limerick is a genre of poetry that traditionally has 5 lines and has a AABBA rhyme scheme. A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes in a poem. To identify a poem’s rhyme scheme, each line is designated with a letter. Lines that share a letter rhyme have words at the end that rhyme with each other. This means that in a limerick, which has a AABBA rhyme scheme, the words at the end of the first, second and fifth sentences rhyme, while the words at the end of the third and fourth sentence rhyme with each other.</p> <p>Traditionally, the first line of a limerick introduced a person and a place and the rest of the poem described a humorous and often times obscene situation involving the subject or the place.</p> <p>It is believed that the term limerick to refer to this specific genre of poetry comes from the city of Limerick, Ireland.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate limerick day by reading some of Lear’s limericks. Also, check out other poets’ limericks as well.</li> <li>Write your own limericks and share them with your family and friends.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that oldest surviving poem, the Epic of Gilgamesh, is from the 3 BCE?</p>2025-05-122025-05-13YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/limerick-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Limerick-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8415@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZFrog Jumping Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 13 is Frog Jumping Day, a fun day to jump like a frog.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8416" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8416" class="wp-image-8416 size-medium" title="Frog Jumping Church Jump like a frog or learn more about frogs on Frog Jumping Day ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Frog Jumping Church Jump like a frog or learn more about frogs on Frog Jumping Day ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8416" class="wp-caption-text">Jump like a frog or learn more about frogs on Frog Jumping Day</p></div> <p>According to several sources the unofficial holiday celebrates a short story named <em>Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog</em> by Mark Twain. In the story, a compulsive better named Jim Smiley trains a frog to jump and bets with a man that his frog can jump higher than any other frog in the town. The man dupes Jim Smiley and wins the bet. It is however, unclear why the inventor of this day chose May 13 as the date for this “hoppy” holiday.</p> <p>Frogs have great jumping capabilities and are the best jumpers among all vertebrates given their size.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Anyone celebrating the day could jump like a frog. Make sure you do not do this in a heavily crowded or trafficked area.</li> <li>Go see frogs jump at your local aquarium or pond. And learn more about frogs and their habitats.</li> <li>Read <em>Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog</em> and other works by Mark Twain.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a group of frogs is called an army?</p>2025-05-132025-05-14YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/frog-jumping-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Frog-Jumping-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8420@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZAstronomy Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Astronomy Day is celebrated twice a year, once in spring and once in the fall.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8421" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8421" class="wp-image-8421 size-medium" title="Astronomy Day Fun Church Look up the sky and behold the celestial wonders of the universe on Astronomy Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ababaka" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Astronomy Day Fun Church Look up the sky and behold the celestial wonders of the universe on Astronomy Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ababaka" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8421" class="wp-caption-text">Look up the sky and behold the celestial wonders of the universe on Astronomy Day.</p></div> <p>In the spring, the holiday is held on the Saturday closest to the first quarter Moon between the months of April and May, while in the fall (autumn) it occurs on a Saturday closest to the quarter moon between September and October.</p> <h2>Created in 1973</h2> <p>Astronomy Day was created in 1973 by Doug Berger, then president of the Astronomical Association of Northern California. The unofficial holiday is an attempt to raise the interest of the general public in astronomy by giving them easy access to astronomical instruments like telescopes.</p> <p>The holiday also seeks to bridge the knowledge gap by giving the public a chance to interact with astronomers and space scientists.</p> <h2>Observe the Sky</h2> <p>On the day, museums, observatories, universities and astronomy clubs around the world set up easily accessible telescopes in public spaces including schools, parks and shopping malls to allow people to observe the skies during the day and night. Other events include lectures and conferences, educational outreach, exhibitions, and essay competitions.</p> <h2>An Ancient Science</h2> <p>Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies and non-Earthly phenomena. It deals with objects like the planets, stars, asteroids as well as events such as eclipses and meteor showers.</p> <p>Studied since ancient times, the field of astronomy originated and evolved over millennia due to the need for humans to understand the history and science of the Earth and to comprehend the causes of celestial events.</p> <p>Until very recently, astronomy and astrology were seen as related fields of study. It was only in the 17th century, that the two separated ways. Today, astrology is seen as a field that deals with spirituality rather than science.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Attend a local Astronomy Day event. Bring family and friends with you and spend some time gazing at the sky through the lenses of a telescope.</li> <li>Learn more about astronomy and how to study it as an amateur astronomer. You can start here.</li> <li>If you have children in your life, today is the perfect day to introduce them to the magic of astronomy. Who knows, they may grow up to become the next Carl Sagan or Carolyn Shoemaker!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that we can actually see the past? Light from distant stars take a very long time to reach the Earth, so when we look at a star through a telescope we are looking at the light that left the star several hundred, thousands or even million years ago!</p>2025-05-142025-05-15YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/astronomy-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Astronomy-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8447@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZPack Rat Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Pack Rat Day is celebrated every year on May 17. The unofficial holiday encourages people to do some late spring-cleaning and to make space for newer, more useful things in their lives.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8448" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8448" class="wp-image-8448 size-medium" title="pack-rat-day-church Pack Rat Day is about acknowledging that all of us sometimes collect useless and unnecessary things. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="pack-rat-day-church Pack Rat Day is about acknowledging that all of us sometimes collect useless and unnecessary things. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8448" class="wp-caption-text">Pack Rat Day is about acknowledging that all of us sometimes collect useless and unnecessary things.</p></div> <p>Have you ever noticed how easy it is to collect useless things? Get rid of things that you don’t need anymore and de-clutter your house, workspace and your life on Pack Rat Day.</p> <p>Pack rat is the term used to describe a person who tends to collect objects – useful and useless – and does not easily get rid of them. While many of us can be pack rats in certain areas of our lives, being a hoarder can be a serious issue. In many people the pack rat behavior can create major mental and physical health issues.</p> <p>The term pack rat comes from the rodent of the same name. Also called woodrats, these rodents are known to be nesters. They collect anything they can find to make their nests. They are known to get distracted by shiny new things – if they see something they like, they will drop what they are currently holding to get the shiny new item for their nest!</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>Collecting is not always a bad thing. Whether it is baseball cards, vintage chocolate wrappers or old cars, Pack Rat Day is a reminder that there is a fine line between collecting and hoarding and that sometimes it is ok to get rid of old things to make way for newer things. Here are some ways to observe this holiday:</p> <ul> <li>Take the day off to do some organizing. Throw away or donate anything you haven’t used for over 6 months.</li> <li>If you know of someone who is a hoarder, get them some help. Hoarding can sometimes become a problem that can have a negative effect on a person’s life.</li> <li>Read more about actual pack rats, rodents who pick up shiny objects and leave pebbles and nuts in their place.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that fosslized pack rat middens are a rich source of information about the history of the environment in the area? Middens are debris piles created by the materials collected by the rodents and preserved by their urine. The oldest middens found were about 50,000 years old.</p>2025-05-172025-05-18YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/pack-rat-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/pack-rat-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8449@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNo Dirty Dishes Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 18 is No Dirty Dishes Day, a day you could celebrate by either not washing any dirty dishes or by washing all the dishes you can!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8450" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8450" class="wp-image-8450 size-medium" title="no-dirty-dishes-day-church Take a break from the often times boring chore of washing dishes on No Dirty Dishes Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="no-dirty-dishes-day-church Take a break from the often times boring chore of washing dishes on No Dirty Dishes Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8450" class="wp-caption-text">Take a break from the often times boring chore of washing dishes on No Dirty Dishes Day.</p></div> <p>Dirty dishes, they are part of life. A lot of time, money and energy is spent every day on washing and drying dishes and putting them away. This unofficial holiday with unknown origins encourages people to take a break from doing the dishes for the day and spend the time saved doing things for fun.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Wash all your dishes so that your sink and kitchen is all clean and sparkly.</li> <li>Or, don’t wash any and pile them up. But remember, you will have to clean them some time soon, even if you take a break today.</li> <li>Or use disposable dinnerware. Just remember to make sure they are environmental friendly.</li> <li>Make No Dirty Dishes Day even more fun by eating all your meals out – make dirty dishes someone else’s problem for this one day!</li> <li>Hate doing the dishes day in and day out? Use this day to draw up a schedule and a plan for cleaning dishes everytime you sue them. That way, you’ll never be stuck with a sink full of dirty dishes!</li> <li>If you don’t own a dish washer, maybe today is the day to get one installed. Make sure you get a energy efficient washer and that you use environmentally friendly detergent.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the first iterations of dish washing machines were all hand operated?</p>2025-05-182025-05-19YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/no-dirty-dishes-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/no-dirty-dishes-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8453@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMay Ray Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On May 19, step out of your offices and homes and soak in the Sun’s rays because it is May Ray Day. While the origins of the day are unknown, the day encourages people to enjoy some time under the Sun.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8454" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8454" class="size-medium wp-image-8454" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="May-Ray-Day-Church Have some fun in the Sun on May Ray Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8454" class="wp-caption-text">Have some fun in the Sun on May Ray Day.</p></div> <p>According to meteorologists, the month of May is the last month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It is when the temperatures start raising and the anticipation of summer is evident all around us – in stores with summer clothing and agricultural produce, in nature with summer flowers and plants getting ready to bloom, and in our schools where students are getting ready for the upcoming summer vacations. This makes it the best time of the year to get some sunshine and enjoy the Sun before it gets too hot.</p> <p>In the Southern Hemisphere, May is the last month of fall (autumn). If you live below the Equator, then celebrate May Ray Day by spending some time under the Sun before the temperatures fall.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Studies have shown that time in the Sun can be good for one’s physical and mental health. So, wear a hat and your sunglasses and enjoy some May Sun.</li> <li>Be careful though, too much time in the Sun can be damaging to your skin. So make sure you take sun screen with you.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the month of May is named after Maia, the Greek goddess? In Greek mythology she is the eldest of the 7 Pleiades and the mother of Hermes.</p>2025-05-192025-05-20YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/may-ray-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/May-Ray-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8455@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZPizza Party Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Mark our words, the third Friday of May will soon become your favorite holiday of the year. Why? You ask? Because it is Pizza Party Day!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8456" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8456" class="wp-image-8456 size-medium" title="Pizza-Party-Day-Fun- Church Get together with friends and enjoy some pizza on Pizza Party Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/gstockstudio" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Pizza-Party-Day-Fun- Church Get together with friends and enjoy some pizza on Pizza Party Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/gstockstudio" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8456" class="wp-caption-text">Get together with friends and enjoy some pizza on Pizza Party Day.</p></div> <p>It is an unofficial holiday that celebrates the delicious, doughy pie traditionally topped with tomato sauce, cheese, herbs, vegetables and meat and baked until cooked.</p> <h2>People Pleasing Dish</h2> <p>Thought to have originated in Italy, pizza today has become a popular dish served in restaurants and homes around the world. It is often considered by many as the perfect party dish – a single pie can feed a lot of people, it can be easily made at home or ordered from a restaurant, eating it does not require utensils or fancy dishware, and most importantly it is delicious even when consumed cold.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>By hosting a pizza party, of course! Order in pies from your favorite pizza place or make your own. Start off by serving bite size pizzas as appetizers. Serve a variety of pizzas next – may we suggest a selection of cheese pizza, an Indian-inspired pizza made with a <em>naan</em> base topped with curried chicken, and a salad pizza topped with fresh vegetables and arugula? And of course, end the meal with a dessert pizza.</li> <li>Why not have your guests make their own pizzas? Provide the bases and ingredients and let them unleash their creativity on their pie. Who know, they may end up creating your new favorite pizza?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the month of October is celebrated as National Pizza Month in the United States?</p>2025-05-202025-05-21YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/pizza-party-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Pizza-Party-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8457@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTalk Like Yoda Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Talk like Yoda Day it is on May 21. The day honors the popular Star Wars character whose grammar is any language teacher’s worst nightmare.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8458" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8458" class="wp-image-8458 size-medium" title="Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church Like Yoda talk you must on May 21, Talk Like Yoda Day. ©iStockphoto.com/tpnagasima" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church Like Yoda talk you must on May 21, Talk Like Yoda Day. ©iStockphoto.com/tpnagasima" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8458" class="wp-caption-text">Like Yoda talk you must on May 21, Talk Like Yoda Day.</p></div> <p>Yoda, is a fictional Star Wars character created by George Lucas. Known as the oldest wisest and most powerful Jedi in the Star Wars universe, Yoda made his debut appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, which was released in the United States on May 21 1980. He has since appeared in over 50 films and TV shows.</p> <p>While many of the Star Wars characters have a background story, much of Yoda’s background is a mystery. No one knows where he comes from or what species he belongs to.</p> <p>Yoda has a peculiar style of speaking. His language, Yodish is similar to English except the sentence structure follows the order of object-subject-verb instead of the usual subject-verb-object order that English speakers follow while constructing sentences.</p> <p>It is believed that the puppet used to play the character in the Star War movies was modeled after Einstein’s appearance.</p> <p>The holiday is also sometimes known as National Talk like Yoda Day or International Talk like Yoda Day.</p> <h2>To celebrate how?</h2> <ul> <li>Yoda, talk like. Simple, it is. Add verb and subject at the end of your sentence in the order of object-subject-verb.</li> <li>Have a Star Wars themed party and have your friends come up with their favorite Yoda quotes.</li> <li>Do a Star Wars marathon.</li> <li>Learn more about Yoda’s background and history – as much as is available.</li> <li>Show off your Star Wars geek pride. Wear a Star Wars inspired costume or t-shirt the whole day long.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>… that there is a deep sea worm, named after Yoda? The Yoda purpurata can be found about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) below the surface of the Atlantic sea.</p>2025-05-212025-05-22YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/talk-like-yoda-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Talk-Like-Yoda-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8460@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBuy a Musical Instrument Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Fancy yourself a musician? Then, on May 22 take the first step towards fulfilling your dreams and go and buy yourself a musical instrument because it is Buy a Musical Instrument Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8462" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8462" class="wp-image-8462 size-medium" title="Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church Take the first step towards becoming a musician, get yourself a musical instrument on Buy a Musical Instrument Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church Take the first step towards becoming a musician, get yourself a musical instrument on Buy a Musical Instrument Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8462" class="wp-caption-text">Take the first step towards becoming a musician, get yourself a musical instrument on Buy a Musical Instrument Day.</p></div> <p>Music has been an important part of human society throughout history, and musical instruments have occupied an important space in human communication and culture. Those who made and played musical instruments were given a place of honor in almost all societies.</p> <p>It is believed that primitive musical instruments were made of bones, shells and wood and were used rituals like hunting and religious ceremonies. As time has passed and human communication evolved, historians and archaeologists believe that humans developed the idea of melody and started inventing and playing musical instruments for purposes of entertainment.</p> <p>While musical instruments have evolved over time, with each generation developing new instruments and improving on older ones, the Renaissance is thought to have been the best time in the history of musical instruments, when many of the classical musical instruments were given the shape they still have.</p> <p>In the past century, advances in electronics have entered the field of musical instruments as well, as many of the innovations in the field have been in the area of electronic musical instruments.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Go out and buy the instrument you have always wanted to play but never had the time to.</li> <li>If you already have an instrument, what about starting to learn to play it?</li> <li>Don’t have the money to buy a new musical instrument? What about DIY-ing one at home using common household materials?</li> <li>Interested in the history of musical instruments? There is an academic field called organology dedicated it. Use this day to delve deep into the history and the science behind your favorite musical instrument.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that historians believe that the flute was one of the oldest musical instruments created by humans?</p>2025-05-222025-05-23YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/buy-musical-instrument-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Buy-A-Musical-Instrument-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8501@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZVictoria Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Victoria Day, also known as May Long Weekend, is a Canadian holiday on the Monday preceding May 25.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8502" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8502" class="wp-image-8502 size-medium" title="Victoria-Day-Church Victoria Day is celebrated nationally in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/Georgethefourth" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Victoria-Day-Church Victoria Day is celebrated nationally in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/Georgethefourth" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8502" class="wp-caption-text">Victoria Day is celebrated nationally in Canada.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>In some cities, fireworks displays or parades are held to mark Victoria Day. One of the most notable parades is held in the city of Victoria, British Columbia, which was named after Queen Victoria. Many people gather in parks to enjoy fireworks displays, which are particularly impressive in Hamilton and Toronto.</p> <p>For many people, the long Victoria Day weekend marks the end of the winter and the unofficial start of the spring or summer season. After this weekend, gardeners can be reasonably sure that there will be no more frost until the autumn so they can sow or plant out delicate crops and plants. For the same reason, people with recreational homes in colder parts of the country often go to them to open them up for the summer. In addition, many amusement parks and outdoor attractions open for their summer season this weekend. Notably, stores on Prince Edward Island are permitted to open on Sunday only between Victoria Day and Christmas Day.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Victoria Day is marked as a public holiday at a national level. Many people have a day off work and schools are closed. However, it is not one of the general paid holidays listed in the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code and it is not a designated retail closing day in Nova Scotia. An employer may agree to provide employees with Victoria Day as a paid holiday in Nova Scotia.</p> <p>It is not listed in the Quebec government’s list of statutory general holidays either, although National Patriots’ Day is celebrated in the province. Nor is Victoria Day listed as a paid public holiday in New Brunswick, but it is listed as a prescribed day of rest. It is not listed as a paid public holiday in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Newfoundland and Labrador Lieutenant Governor-in-Council can proclaim an additional day though. Moreover, different holidays can be set by collective agreements to substitute the public holidays designated under the province’s law.</p> <p>Many stores are closed in many Canadian provinces and territories. However, there are some local variations. Post offices across Canada are closed. Public transport services may run to a normal or reduced timetable.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Following the death of three uncles and her father, she became Queen of the United Kingdom on June 20, 2025 and reigned until her death on January 22, 1901. During Victoria’s life, the British Empire expanded considerably. However, her powers as Queen of the United Kingdom were reduced as the House of Commons became more important and powerful in British politics.</p> <p>The monarch’s birthday has been celebrated in Canada since before the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign. After her death, in 1901, May 25 became known as Empire Day. The sovereign’s official birthday was still celebrated, often on the King’s or Queen’s actual birthday. In 1952, Empire Day was moved to the Monday before May 25 and since 1953, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II has been celebrated on this date in Canada. In 1958, Empire Day became known as Commonwealth Day, which was moved to the second Monday in March. The Monday before May 25 then became known as Victoria Day, which is a Canadian statutory holiday.</p>2025-05-232025-05-24YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/victoria-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Victoria-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8492@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZScavenger Hunt Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">May 24 is Scavenger Hunt Day, an annual celebration of the popular party game called scavenger hunt. The unofficial holiday encourages people to get together with friends and family and participate in a scavenger hunt.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8493" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8493" class="wp-image-8493 size-medium" title="Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church Participate in a scavenger hunt to celebrate Scavenger Hunt Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church Participate in a scavenger hunt to celebrate Scavenger Hunt Day. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8493" class="wp-caption-text">Participate in a scavenger hunt to celebrate Scavenger Hunt Day.</p></div> <p>A scavenger hunt is a game where individuals or teams compete to find items or perform tasks provided to them as a list by the organizers of the game. The aim of the game is for participants to fulfil the requirements on the list. Usually, at the end the hunt a grand prize awaits the first person/team to reach the end of the list. Scavenger hunts combines aspects of racing, competitive hunting, and hide and seek.</p> <p>In many hunts, the organizers hide items in difficult to find places and give the participants clues on how and where to find them. Other hunts may require contestants to complete a route.</p> <p>In recent years, technology has alleviated the way the game is played and has made it possible for players around the world to participate in scavenger hunts. Internet scavenger hunts require people to surf online and visit websites to find clues and solve problems.</p> <p>Geocaching is yet another recent innovation in the world of scavenger hunting. It is the use of Global Positioning system (GPS) receivers to find caches or geocaches hidden at different spots around the world. A cache is usually a waterproof container that includes a log book and trinkets. Finders are required to leave their signature or name in the log book and may take a trinket out of the box as a way to remind them of their achievement. They must replace the trinket with another one of their choice and leave the cache in the same place they found it for others to find.</p> <p>Scavenger Hunt Day is also sometimes known as National Scavenger Hunt Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Organize a scavenger hunt for family and friends. To make it more interesting, include some attractive looking prizes and do it for charity.</li> <li>Make work fun by doing a scavenger hunt at work during lunch time.</li> <li>Participate in a scavenger hunt organized by your city or other local organizations.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the word scavenger comes from the 14th century English word <em>scawageour</em>? The word referred to officials that collected taxes.</p>2025-05-242025-05-25YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/scavenger-hunt-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Scavanger-Hunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8494@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSing Out Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Open up your vocal chords and sing out loud from your heart on Sing Out Day. Celebrated every year on May 25 the unofficial holiday encourages people to sing their hearts out. Loudly.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8495" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8495" class="wp-image-8495 size-medium" title="Sing-out-Day-Church Sing your heart out on Sing Out Day ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Sing-out-Day-Church Sing your heart out on Sing Out Day ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8495" class="wp-caption-text">Sing your heart out on Sing Out Day</p></div> <p>Whether you make a living by singing, are a bathroom singer, a karaoke champion, or someone who is requested to sing at every party, this is the day to pretend that the whole world is your adoring audience and sing yourself hoarse!</p> <p>The holiday is also sometimes called International Sing Out Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Sing out as loud as you can, wherever you can. Don’t hold back. You never know, there may be a talent scout around who may discover you!</li> <li>If singing is your passion, but if you have never had the courage to sing in front of others, today is your day to unleash your talent to the world.</li> <li>Go to a Karaoke Bar and sing your heart out.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that singing, especially in groups can be beneficial for health? Studies have shown that singing alleviates the mood, reduces stress and can actually improve the body’s immune functions. Now, that’s a very good reason to celebrate Sing Out Day!</p>2025-05-252025-05-26YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/sing-out-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sing-out-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8496@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZWorld Lindy Hop Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Put on your dancing shoes and do the Lindy Hop, because May 26 is World Lindy Hop Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8497" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8497" class="wp-image-8497 size-medium" title="World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church Put on your dancing shoes and dance the lindy hop on World Lindy Hop Day ©bigstockphoto.com/Sergey Nivens" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church Put on your dancing shoes and dance the lindy hop on World Lindy Hop Day ©bigstockphoto.com/Sergey Nivens" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8497" class="wp-caption-text">Put on your dancing shoes and dance the lindy hop on World Lindy Hop Day</p></div> <p>Also known as the jitterbug, Lindy Hop originated in Harlem, New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. The day commemorates Frankie Manning, who some consider one of the creators of the dance form.</p> <p>A combination of different kinds of dances, including jazz, swing and tap, Lindy Hop is a two-person dance where the partners dance hand in hand or in an embrace to jazz music. Just as in jazz, there is some form of improvisation that takes place during the dance.</p> <p>Popular in the 1930s and 1940s, interest in the dance form declined until the 1980s when a number of dance groups around the world revived it by holding annual workshops, camps and competitions.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Learn how to dance the Lindy Hop.</li> <li>Host a Lindy Hop dance party or participate in one near you.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that some people believe that the name, Lindy Hop, may have originated from the name of aviator Charles Lindbergh? Lindbergh was fondly called Lindy by the media and after he successfully finished his solo flight between New York and Paris. Media headlines read “Lindy hops the Atlantic”</p>2025-05-262025-05-27YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/world-lindy-hop-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/World-Lindy-Hop-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8498@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSun Screen Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Get ready for the summer (if you live in the Northern Hemisphere) by learning more about sunscreen and its advantages on May 27, Sunscreen Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8499" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8499" class="wp-image-8499 size-medium" title="Sun-Screen-Day-Church Sunscreen Day promotes the use of sunscreen. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Sun-Screen-Day-Church Sunscreen Day promotes the use of sunscreen. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8499" class="wp-caption-text">Sunscreen Day promotes the use of sunscreen.</p></div> <p>Sunscreen, also known as suntan lotion, sun screen and sun block is usually a cream or spray that is applied to bare skin in order to protect it from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and from sun burn.</p> <p>Medical professionals recommend that people apply sunscreen to skin exposed to sunlight to prevent skin cancer.</p> <p>There are many types of sunscreens available in the market these days – some only prevent sun burns while others prevent both sun burns and the Sun’s harmful UV rays from entering the skin. Us this unofficial, but important holiday to understand which type of sunscreen to use when going out to enjoy the summer sun.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Stock up on sunscreen for the summer.</li> <li>Learn more about the different kinds of sunscreens and how they protect you.</li> <li>Listen to the Sunscreen song. The song is a spoken word song by Baz Luhrmann that features an essay titled <em>Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young</em> written by columnnist Mary Schmich and published in the Chicago Tribune on June 1, 1997.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that even though long-term exposure to UV rays is harmful to our bodies, the human body needs UV rays to form Vitamin D?</p>2025-05-272025-05-28YEARLY5en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/sun-screen-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Sun-Screen-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8514@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSay Something Nice Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On June 1, be kind to everyone you meet and say something nice to them because it is Say Something Nice Day. The day aims to encourage people to spread cheer and goodwill by opening up channels of communication and by focusing on the good in everyone.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8515" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8515" class="wp-image-8515 size-medium" title="Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church Be nice to everyone. It's not only good for them, it is beneficial for you as well! ©bigstockphoto.com/AntonioGuillem" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church Be nice to everyone. It's not only good for them, it is beneficial for you as well! ©bigstockphoto.com/AntonioGuillem" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8515" class="wp-caption-text">Be nice to everyone. It’s not only good for them, it is beneficial for you as well!</p></div> <p>Also known as National Say Something Nice Day, this unofficial holiday is said to have originated in Charleston, South Carolina. According to some, the originators of the holiday were inspired by Mitchell Carnell’s book, <em>Say Something Nice – Be a Lifter @ Work</em>. The book inspires people to be lifters. A lifter is someone who is positive and always says something nice to whoever they meet. The book inspires people to lift others up, not put them down.</p> <h2>Spread Happiness</h2> <p>The message of the day is that positivity goes a long way in spreading happiness and joy. When we are kind in our interactions with others, we receive positivity and kindness back. This enriches our lives, makes us happy and keeps us healthy – studies have shown that happy people are healthier and live longer.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate the day by saying something nice to everyone you meet. Remember, if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.</li> <li>Put aside your petty enmities with people and use this day to try and see the positive in people you usually do not like.</li> <li>Leave a nice note or do something nice for a friend, family member or co-worker.</li> <li>Bottom line: just be nice to friends, foes and strangers alike, and you will notice that you feel much better about yourself!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the saying “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all,” is often known as Thumper’s Law or Thumperian Principle? Thumper is a fictional rabbit character from Disney’s animated movie Bambi.</p>2025-06-012025-06-02YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/say-something-nice-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Say-Something-Nice-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8523@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZLeave the Office Early Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">While we all love our jobs (sure, we do), but nothing is more relaxing and fun than leaving work just a bit earlier than one normally does. So on June 2, pack up your things and get out of the office earlier than usual because it is Leave The Office Earlier Day or Leave The Office Early Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8524" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8524" class="wp-image-8524 size-medium" title="Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church Say goodbye to work and leave the office early today. ©bigstockphoto.com/nruboc" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church Say goodbye to work and leave the office early today. ©bigstockphoto.com/nruboc" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8524" class="wp-caption-text">Say goodbye to work and leave the office early today.</p></div> <p>This unofficial holiday is celebrated annually on June 2, unless it falls on a weekend. When it does, the day moves to the closest Monday to the weekend.</p> <p>The day encourages people to take some time on a workday for themselves and do things that relaxes them. Another plus side of cutting out of work early? You avoid peak traffic hours!</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Get out of the office early. Make sure you inform your managers and coworkers that you will be leaving early.</li> <li>Do something fun since you are out early from work. Go for a movie or the happy hour at your favorite restaurant or bar with your co-workers.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that according to some sources, an average office worker spends about 50 minutes a day looking for files and other work related documents?</p>2025-06-022025-06-03YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/leave-office-early-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Leave-Office-Early-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8592@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZMeteor Watch Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 30 is Meteor Watch Day, a day to look up at the skies and behold the wonder of nature’s celestial fireworks, meteors</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8593" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8593" class="wp-image-8593 size-medium" title="Meteor-Watch-Day-Church A shooting star goes across a cobalt blue star filled winter night with an apple tree silhouetted in the foreground. ©bigstockphoto.com/Faux Toe" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Meteor-Watch-Day-Church A shooting star goes across a cobalt blue star filled winter night with an apple tree silhouetted in the foreground. ©bigstockphoto.com/Faux Toe" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8593" class="wp-caption-text">A shooting star goes across a cobalt blue star filled winter night with an apple tree silhouetted in the foreground.</p></div> <p>Commonly known as shooting stars, meteors are space particles known as meteoroids that burn up with a flash of light when they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. Even though meteors can only be seen by the naked eye when it is dark, meteoroids enter the Earth’s atmosphere all the time. It is estimated that about 20 to 25 million meteors weighing about 100 tons in total enter the Earth’s atmosphere every day!</p> <h2>Meteor Showers</h2> <p>Meteors can sometimes enter the Earth in clusters. When this happens the event is known as a meteor shower. Some meteor showers occur at the same time every year.</p> <p>The unofficial holiday is also sometimes called National Meteor Watch Day or Meteor Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate</h2> <ul> <li>Have a meteor watching party with friends – grab a blanket, find a good spot to spread it, lay down on it and gaze over the night sky – you may be able to spot a meteor or two.</li> <li>Remember to check the weather before you step out of the house and always wear weather appropriate clothing.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that meteors that enter the Earth’s atmosphere and hit the ground are called meteorites?</p>2025-06-022025-06-03YEARLY6enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/meteor-watch-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Meteor-Watch-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8525@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZHug Your Cat Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 4 is Hug Your Cat Day. On this unofficial holiday, go give your feline friend a big hug. You never know, the hug might just be the thing to stop them from plotting against you!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8526" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8526" class="wp-image-8526 size-medium" title="Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church They may not like it, but go ahead and try to hug your feline friend on Hug Your Cat Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ soupstock" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church They may not like it, but go ahead and try to hug your feline friend on Hug Your Cat Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ soupstock" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8526" class="wp-caption-text">They may not like it, but go ahead and try to hug your feline friend on Hug Your Cat Day.</p></div> <p>Some people celebrate this made-up holiday on May 3.</p> <h2>Different Signs of Affection</h2> <p>Unlike dogs, cats do not show affection towards humans through loud, obvious gestures. This can lead people to believe that cats do not love their humans as much as dogs so. The truth, however, is far from it. According to animal behaviorists, cats are independent creatures who show love in subtle ways. They may purr at you or just spend time hanging with you to show you their love and appreciation. Bumping heads on their humans is another way cats reveal their affection.</p> <h2>Hug the Stress Away</h2> <p>Although the origins of Hug Your Cat Day, which is also sometimes known as National Hug Your Cat Day are unknown, it is clear that the creators of the holiday wanted people to let their cats know that they are loved by embracing them in a warm hug. Hugging cats can also have health benefits. Studies have shown that giving your cat a cuddle can reduce stress and help you relax.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Hug your cat. If it refuses to hug you back, don’t be disappointed. It will show you love some other way. Forgive it for refusing to cuddle with you and instead treat it to its favorite treats.</li> <li>If you don’t have a cat, but always wanted to have one, maybe today is the day to adopt one from the animal shelter.</li> <li>Don’t have a cat, but love dogs? Don’t worry, you have a holiday that you can celebrate with your canine friends: <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=hug-hound-day">Hug Your Hound Day!</a></li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that cats have 5 toes on their front paws, but 4 toes on their back paws?</p>2025-06-042025-06-05YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/hug-cat-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Cat-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8532@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZDrive-In Movie Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Get the popcorn and soda, pop or water and drive over to your closest drive-in theater to watch a movie on June 6, because it is Drive-in Movie Day!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8533" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8533" class="wp-image-8533 size-medium" title="Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church Watch a movie outdoors on Drive-in Movie Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/Steve Lagreca" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg" alt="Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church Watch a movie outdoors on Drive-in Movie Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/Steve Lagreca" width="300" height="169" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-560x315.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-260x146.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-160x90.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8533" class="wp-caption-text">Watch a movie outdoors on Drive-in Movie Day.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday celebrates the anniversary of the day in 1933 when the first drive-in theater was opened in Camden, New Jersey by Richard M. Hollingshead, Jr.</p> <p>A drive-in theater screens movies on a large projector outdoors. Patrons drive on to the grounds in their cars and usually sit in them to watch the movie. Sound is provided either through large loudspeakers or through individual speakers attached to the car.</p> <h2>Rise, Fall and Rise of Drive-ins</h2> <p>Drive-in theaters became popular in the United States and in many other parts of the world in the 1950s and 1960s. They capitalized on the fact that they were convenient for families and romantic for couples. By the 1970s, the rise of conventional movie theaters led to a decline in drive-in movie theaters.</p> <p>In recent years, the improvement in movie screening technologies has led to a resurgence of drive-in theatres in many cities in the US.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If you have a drive in theater close to your home, go to one and watch a movie. Take a picnic basket with you to make it more enjoyable.</li> <li>If you don’t have one, what about hosting a backyard movie night? Of course your guests probably can’t drive up to the projector, but they will still get the same experience of watching a movie in the outdoors.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the first movie ever seen on a drive-in theater screen was the British comedy, <em>Wives Beware</em>?</p>2025-06-062025-06-07YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/drive-movie-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg;300;169,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg;300;169,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg;300;169,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Drive-In-Movie-Day-Church-300x169.jpg;300;169ai1ec-8540@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBest Friends Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 8 is Best Friends Day, a day to celebrate your best friend and let them know how important they are to you.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8541" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8541" class="wp-image-8541 size-medium" title="Best-Friends-Day-Church Share moments of joy and laughter with your best friend. ©bigstockphoto.com/sirikornt" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Best-Friends-Day-Church Share moments of joy and laughter with your best friend. ©bigstockphoto.com/sirikornt" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8541" class="wp-caption-text">Share moments of joy and laughter with your best friend.</p></div> <p>Best friends are the best! They are the friends you can call up at any time of the day, laugh with for no reason at all, and confide in. They are there for you in all your good and bad times, they support you, validate all your good decisions and stop you from making wrong ones. In other words, without best friends, life would be very bleak indeed.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>Whether you grew up with them or met them later in your life, let your best friend know that you cherish them on Best Friends Day. Here are some ways you can celebrate this friendly holiday:</p> <ul> <li>Thank your best friends for being in your life by doing something special for them. Maybe send them a special gift basket full of things they like or treat them to their favorite dessert.</li> <li>Spend time with your best friend and do things that both of you enjoy doing together.</li> <li>Don’t live in the same city as your best friend? Call them or send them a note letting them know how much you miss them. Better yet, why not try to make a surprise visit? They’ll love to see you and you can spend the day with your favorite person in the world!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that according to some sources, the finale of the hugely popular TV series, <em>Friends</em>, ranks as one of the top 5 most watched series finales of all times?</p>2025-06-082025-06-09YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/best-friends-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Best-Friends-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8554@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZDonald Duck Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Celebrate everyone’s favorite cartoon character, Donald Duck on June 9, Donald Duck Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8555" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8555" class="wp-image-8555 size-medium" title="Donald-Duck-Day-Church In the Nordic countries the fandom associated with Donald Duck is known as Donaldism. ©iStockphoto.com/tvierimaa" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Donald-Duck-Day-Church In the Nordic countries the fandom associated with Donald Duck is known as Donaldism. ©iStockphoto.com/tvierimaa" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8555" class="wp-caption-text">In the Nordic countries the fandom associated with Donald Duck is known as Donaldism.</p></div> <p>On this day in 1934, this popular Walt Disney character made his debut on television in the cartoon short named, <em>The Wise Little Hen</em>.</p> <p>Created by Walt Disney, Donald Duck is a short-tempered cartoon duck with human features. Considered to be one of the most popular cartoon characters of all times, he featured in hundreds of movies and was the central character in thousands of comic books.</p> <p>Donal Duck comic books are especially sought after in Europe and in Scandinavian countries, where fans of the character even have a special name. They are called donaldists!</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate Donald Duck’s birthday by watching all of his movies and reading comics that feature him.</li> <li>Host a Donald Duck themed party. Have your guests wear red bow ties in honor of Donald.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Donald Duck has a middle name? His full name is Donald Fauntleroy Duck.</p>2025-06-092025-06-10YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/donald-duck-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Donald-Duck-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8556@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZIced Tea Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 10 is Iced Tea Day. Say hello to the summer and celebrate this delicious and refreshing holiday by treating yourself to a big glass of iced tea.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8557" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8557" class="wp-image-8557 size-medium" title="Iced-Tea-Day-Church Raise a glass full of refreshing iced tea to welcome summer on Iced Tea Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ Bota Mochy" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg" alt="Iced-Tea-Day-Church Raise a glass full of refreshing iced tea to welcome summer on Iced Tea Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ Bota Mochy" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8557" class="wp-caption-text">Raise a glass full of refreshing iced tea to welcome summer on Iced Tea Day.</p></div> <p>Iced tea is a beverage made by cooling or chilling brewed tea. Usually served with ice, iced tea is a popular beverage around the world and is usually made from green or black tea.</p> <p>Iced tea can be served sweetened or unsweetened, plain or with added flavors – usually lemon or peach. Some countries however have their special version of this drink. In Brazil, it is made from Yerba Mate, while in Taiwan it is usually served with milk or condensed milk and tapioca pearls.</p> <p>In some parts of the world, iced tea is made by steeping the tea in water for a longer time at a lower temperature instead of boiling the tea with water. Usually this is done by leaving the tea in the Sun to steep. This is known as sun tea.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Mix up a fresh batch of ice tea and have your friends and family over to enjoy the day outdoors with some ice tea.</li> <li>Experiment with different flavors of ice teas. What about adding some summery fruits or perhaps some alcoholic liquor?</li> <li>In the Southern Hemisphere, and getting ready for the winter? Don’t fret. Treat yourself to a tall glass of iced tea and enjoy the last few days of summer!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that tea is the second most popularly consumed beverage in the world? The first is water.</p>2025-06-102025-06-11YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/iced-tea-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Iced-Tea-Day-Church-1-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8558@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZCorn on the Cob Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Summer is finally here, and what better way to celebrate it than with some delicious corn on the cob? Celebrate this popular summer side dish on Corn on the Cob Day, celebrated annually on June 11.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8559" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8559" class="wp-image-8559 size-medium" title="Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church Celebrate summer by treating yourself to some delicious corn on the cob. ©bigstockphoto.com/soupstock" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church Celebrate summer by treating yourself to some delicious corn on the cob. ©bigstockphoto.com/soupstock" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8559" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate summer by treating yourself to some delicious corn on the cob.</p></div> <p>A corn cob is the central woody part of maize or corn on which the corn grains are attached. Corn on the cob is a type of dish where the corn grains are cooked and eaten while still on the cob. Corn on the cob can be boiled, grilled or roasted and served as a side dish or enjoyed as is.</p> <p>Because eating corn on the cob can be a messy affair – hands have to be used, the kernels tend to stick in one’s teeth – etiquette rules that it should never be served at formal occasions or ordered on a first date. According to Emily Post, one of the world leading etiquette specialists, corn on the cob should not usually be served at lunch or dinner, but if it is, one must not “attack it ferociously or greedily”.</p> <h2>An Ancient Crop</h2> <p>Corn or maize is an ancient plant native to the Americas. It is believed that corn was first cultivated in Mexico and spread around the world via European explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries. The starchy seeds or kernels of the plant are now used by millions of people around the world as their staple food.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Get the grill out and grill some delicious corn on the cob to accompany the <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=iced-tea-day">iced tea</a> you made on June 10. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, make some corn of the cob to remind you of the summer.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a corncob is part of the corn plant’s flower? The individual kernels are seeds of the plant.</p>2025-06-112025-06-12YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/corn-cob-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Corn-on-the-Cob-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8560@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSewing Machine Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">They say a stitch in time saves nine. So, on June 13, Sewing Machine Day, dust off your sewing machine and sew away!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8561" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8561" class="wp-image-8561 size-medium" title="Sewing-Machine-Day-Church Sewing machines makes sewing "sew" easy! ©bigstockphoto.com/Mr. Alliance" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Sewing-Machine-Day-Church Sewing machines makes sewing "sew" easy! ©bigstockphoto.com/Mr. Alliance" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-560x374.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-260x174.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8561" class="wp-caption-text">Sewing machines makes sewing “sew” easy!</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday celebrates the day in 1790 when English inventor Thomas Saint received a patent for the very first sewing machine design. However, it took 14 more years before the first working sewing machine was created in 1804, and another 15 years before sewing machines became easily accessible to consumers.</p> <h2>Agents of Social Change</h2> <p>The invention of sewing machines made the process of sewing easier, faster and more streamlined. In addition, the manufacturing of sewing machines for household use meant that women who spent a majority of time sewing, stitching and mending clothes by hand could now do all these tasks in a matter of hours instead of days and weeks. This gave them more time to seek paid employment. In this way, the sewing machine had a huge hand to play in the economic and social progress of women around the world.</p> <p>Sewing Machine Day is also celebrated by some people on September 10.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Bring out your sewing machine to sew a new pattern.</li> <li>If you have always wanted to learn how to sew, now is the time to start learning.</li> <li>Have a sewing party – invite friends to teach you new patterns or exchange your sewed creations with them.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the earliest sewing needles were made of bones and stone?</p>2025-06-132025-06-14YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/sewing-machine-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sewing-Machine-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8564@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBourbon Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 14 is Bourbon Day. So, set aside some time in the day to enjoy a glass of the uniquely American distilled liquor.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8565" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8565" class="wp-image-8565 size-medium" title="Bourbon-Day Sit back and enjoy a glass of bourbon on Bourbon Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/donfiore" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg" alt="Bourbon-Day Sit back and enjoy a glass of bourbon on Bourbon Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/donfiore" width="300" height="217" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-560x405.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-260x188.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-160x116.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8565" class="wp-caption-text">Sit back and enjoy a glass of bourbon on Bourbon Day.</p></div> <p>Bourbon is a type of whiskey that is made from corn and rye or wheat, and aged in charred oak barrels. Although it is usually associated with Kentucky – about 90% of the world’s bourbon is made in the state – bourbon is distilled all over the United States. In fact, for a whiskey to be considered bourbon it must be made in the US, have at least 51% corn and should not contain any artificial flavors or coloring. The higher the percentage of corn, the sweeter the whiskey is.</p> <h2>Mysterious Origins</h2> <p>There is some dispute as to why the whiskey is called bourbon. Some people believe that it comes from Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, while others think that the whiskey is named after Bourbon County in Kentucky. The origins of the beverage are equally mysterious. A Baptist minister called Elijah Craig is sometimes credited as being the first person in the US to make bourbon.</p> <h2>A Connoisseur’s Drink</h2> <p>Because of its bold flavors, bourbon is a niche drink – people either love it or hate it. Experts suggest that beginners mix it with water or on the rocks. Many people enjoy bourbon in a cocktail. Some popular bourbon mixed drinks are whiskey sour, old fashioned and mint julep.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If you have never tasted bourbon, today is the perfect excuse to try it. Have a friend who is knowledgeable about the whiskey help you.</li> <li>Have a bourbon tasting party. Ask guests to bring a bottle of bourbon from a specific region or brand and then get around with some good eats and start tasting. Have a rating sheet and have everyone rate the bourbon they taste.</li> <li>Like many other liquors, bourbon can be used to flavor many dishes. For instance, you could make a bourbon pecan pie or add some bourbon to your chocolate milkshake.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the oak barrels used to age the whiskey can only be used once? After a batch of bourbon has been aged, the barrels can be used to store other liquors like tequila, scotch or beer, but never bourbon again.</p>2025-06-142025-06-15YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/bourbon-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg;300;217,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg;300;217,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg;300;217,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Burbon-Day-300x217.jpg;300;217ai1ec-8571@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNature Photography Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 15 is Nature Photography Day. The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) created the day in 2006 as a way to encourage people to learn and enjoy capturing the beauty of nature through their cameras.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8572" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8572" class="wp-image-8572 size-medium" title="Nature-Photography-Day-Church Take pictures of the beautiful outdoors on Nature Photography Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ l i g h t p o e t" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Nature-Photography-Day-Church Take pictures of the beautiful outdoors on Nature Photography Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/ l i g h t p o e t" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8572" class="wp-caption-text">Take pictures of the beautiful outdoors on Nature Photography Day.</p></div> <p>The day also promotes conservation through photography.</p> <p>Nature photography is a branch of photography that is devoted to taking pictures of natural elements including landscapes, geological formations, and flora and fauna in their natural habitats and in zoos. As a rule, nature photography does not include photographic human subjects, though some exceptions can be made depending on the situation.</p> <h2>Preserving Nature’s Bounties</h2> <p>NANPA is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes the nature photography as a way to preserve and conserve nature and to promote appreciation of the bounties of our natural environment.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Join a local nature photography club and participate in any events they may have on this day.</li> <li>Take a nature photography class.</li> <li>Take a hike with your family and friends and take in the nature around you, while capturing the scenes with your camera.</li> <li>Share your favorite outdoorsy picture on social media.</li> <li>Volunteer time and money to a local conservation organization.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…the largest flower in the world is the Rafflesia arnoldii? Found in the rain forests of Indonesia, the flower can grow up to 3 feet (0.914 meters) across.</p>2025-06-152025-06-16YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/nature-photography-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Nature-Photography-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8576@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZBloomsday<h4>Celebrated annually on June 16, Bloomsday celebrates the life and times of Irish author James Joyce.</h4> <div id="attachment_8577" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8577" class="wp-image-8577 size-medium" title="Bloomsday-Church View of James Joyce statue in Trieste, Italy. ©bigstockphoto.com/bepsimage" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Bloomsday-Church View of James Joyce statue in Trieste, Italy. ©bigstockphoto.com/bepsimage" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8577" class="wp-caption-text">View of James Joyce statue in Trieste, Italy.</p></div> <p>The name and the date of this unofficial holiday comes from Joyce’s epic novel, Ulysses. Published in 1922 as a novel, the book follows Leopold Bloom, an advertising agent as he goes about his day in Dublin on June 16, 1904. According to some sources, June 16, 2025 is the date when Joyce met his future wife Nora Barnacle.</p> <h2>Controversial Book</h2> <p>Considered to be one of the most defining works of modernist literature, Ulysses courted controversy when it was first came out in serial form in the American literary magazine, The Little Review. It was banned in the United States and the United Kingdom until the mid 1930s.</p> <p>Thought to have been first observed in 1924, fans of the novel re-enact the events that occur in the book as a way to celebrate this literary holiday.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Participate in your local Bloomsday events.</li> <li>If there aren’t any such events, what about organizing one of your own?</li> <li>If you haven’t read the book or it has been a while since you last read the book, maybe it is time to get a copy and read it.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that James Joyce suffered from cynophobia or the irrational fear of dogs?</p>2025-06-162025-06-17YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/bloomsday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bloomsday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8578@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZEat your Vegetables Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Whether you love your veggies or can’t stand them, you should celebrate Eat Your Vegetables Day on June 17. Why, you ask? Because the doctor says so, and because vegetables are delicious!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8579" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8579" class="size-medium wp-image-8579" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church Veggies can be colorful, tasty and fun. ©bigstockphoto.com/oksun70" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8579" class="wp-caption-text">Veggies can be colorful, tasty and fun.</p></div> <p>If you can’t stand greens and veggies on your plate at a meal, maybe it is time to start today. Vegetables are healthy and full of vitamins, phytonutrients, fiber and minerals. Eating vegetables every day can help reduce the risk of a variety of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, obesity and some types of cancers. Doctors around the world recommend that people eat at least five portion or servings of vegetables during the day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>This is an easy day to celebrate. Eat up your veggies today and make a resolution to add more greens and vegetables to your diet in the future. Here are some more ways you can celebrate Eat Your Vegetables Day:</p> <ul> <li>Visit your local farmer’s market and get some locally grown produce.</li> <li>Prepare all your favorite veggies for all your meals.</li> <li>Make your desserts using veggies.</li> <li>Have at least five vegetables today.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that onions are the world’s most widely used vegetable?</p>2025-06-172025-06-18YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/eat-vegetables-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Eat-Your-Vegetables-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8580@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZInternational Picnic Day<h4>International Picnic Day is a made-up holiday that is celebrated annually on June 18. So, pack your picnic basket, hop into the car or walk to a park or a picnic area and enjoy an outdoors meal by yourself or with your family and friends to celebrate this unofficial holiday.</h4> <div id="attachment_8581" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8581" class="wp-image-8581 size-medium" title="International-Picnic-Day-Church Pack up a meal and head outdoors for a picnic on International Picnic Day ©bigstockphoto.com/Frazao" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="International-Picnic-Day-Church Pack up a meal and head outdoors for a picnic on International Picnic Day ©bigstockphoto.com/Frazao" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8581" class="wp-caption-text">Pack up a meal and head outdoors for a picnic on International Picnic Day</p></div> <p>International Picnic Day is a day to commune with nature and enjoy a lovely summer day if you are in the Northern Hemisphere. For those of you in the Southern Hemisphere, who says you can’t picnic indoors? Just spread a blanket in the middle of your living room. Maybe even create a pillow fort and enjoy some time with your family!</p> <p>A similar holiday is celebrated in the Australia’s Northern Territory on the first Monday of August each year. Picnic Day in this region is a public holiday.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Plan a picnic and invite all your friends and family.</li> <li>If you are working take your lunch hour off to have a picnic by yourself.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s largest picnic was held in Lisbon, Portugal on June 20, 2009? Over 22,000 people attended this picnic organized by Realizar Impact Marketing and Modelo.</p>2025-06-182025-06-19YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/international-picnic-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/International-Picnic-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8516@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZFather’s Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Father’s Day is celebrated worldwide to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting. Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, many countries observe this day on the third Sunday in June.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8517" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8517" class="wp-image-8517 size-medium" title="Fathers-Day-Church Father's Day in Canada is a day to remember fathers and father figures. ©iStockphoto.com/ veesvision" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Fathers-Day-Church Father's Day in Canada is a day to remember fathers and father figures. ©iStockphoto.com/ veesvision" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8517" class="wp-caption-text">Father’s Day is a day to remember fathers and father figures.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>The date when Father’s Day is celebrated varies from country to country. It is celebrated in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States on the third Sunday of June. It is also observed in countries such as Argentina, Canada, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, and Venezuela. In Australia and New Zealand Father’s Day is on the first Sunday in September. In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5, which is the birthday of the country’s king. Brazilian dads are honored on the second Sunday of August.</p> <p>On Father’s Day many people make a special effort for their fathers or father figures. Some people visit their fathers, while others give cards, flowers or other gifts, such as clothing or sporting equipment, or luxury food items. Father’s Day is a relatively modern holiday, so different families have different traditions. These can range from a simple phone call or greetings card to large parties honoring all father figures in an extended family. Father figures can include fathers, step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and even other male relatives.</p> <p>Father’s Day in India is a relatively new concept but it is celebrated in similar ways as in the United Kingdom or the United States, although on a smaller scale. There is a greater awareness of Fathers Day events in metropolitan cities and bigger towns due to the greater exposure of people to the western cultures in these areas. In Mexico Father’s Day is referred to as “Día del Padre”, where many families get together, prepare meals and distribute gifts to fathers or father figures. In South Africa, many social and cultural societies host Father’s Day celebrations to stress the important role of fathers in nurturing children and building stronger society.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Father’s Day is not a federal holiday in most countries, with exception to Thailand because it falls on the same day as the King’s Birthday, which is a public holiday. For other countries, Father’s Day is on a Sunday, so public offices are closed on this day and very few organizations are open for business. Public transit systems run to their weekend schedules. It is important for people wanting to dine in a restaurant on Father’s Day to think about booking in advance because restaurants may be busier than usual, as many people take their fathers out for a treat.</p> <h2>Background and symbols</h2> <p>There are some suggestions that the idea of Father’s Day may originate in pagan sun worship. Some branches of paganism see the Sun as the father of the universe. The June solstice occurs around the same time of year as Father’s Day so some people see a link between the two.</p> <p>The idea of a special day to honor fathers and celebrate fatherhood was introduced from the United States. There, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations to plan a day to honor fathers. In the USA, Father’s Day has been celebrated in June since 1910. The celebrations in the United Kingdom and other countries are thought to have been inspired by the American custom of Father’s Day. This is in contrast to <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=mothers-day">Mother’s Day</a>, which has a very different history in the United States and the United Kingdom.</p> <p> </p>2025-06-192025-06-20YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/fathers-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Fathers-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8566@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZDaylight Appreciation Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On June 21, wear your flip-flops, put on your sunglasses and step outdoors to enjoy some Sun, because it is Daylight Appreciation Day. The holiday was created by Solatube International as a way to raise awareness about the advantages of daylighting</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8567" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8567" class="wp-image-8567 size-medium" title="Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church Daylighting has a lot of benefits, especially in the workplace. ©bigstockphoto.com/Rawpixel" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg" alt="Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church Daylighting has a lot of benefits, especially in the workplace. ©bigstockphoto.com/Rawpixel" width="300" height="248" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-560x464.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-260x215.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-160x132.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8567" class="wp-caption-text">Daylighting has a lot of benefits, especially in the workplace.</p></div> <p>Daylighting is the use of natural light to light up interior spaces. This can be done by simply opening windows and raising shades in a room or by constructing windows and adding reflective surfaces to them to allow the maximum amount of sunlight indoors.</p> <h2>An Ancient Practice…</h2> <p>Daylighting is an ancient practice and is highly recommended by architects, interior decorators and energy experts today, due to its health and energy saving benefits. Using natural light cuts down on energy and electricity costs. Studies have shown that daylighting in the workplace can help increase productivity, work performance, employee satisfaction and retention.</p> <h2>…With Health Benefits</h2> <p>By connecting people with nature and the outdoors even when they are indoors, daylighting helps reduce stress. Studies have shown that people who spend time in a room lit with bright sunlight tend to be happier than those who spend a lot of time under artificial lights.</p> <h2>Longest Day of the Year</h2> <p>Daylight Appreciation Day is fittingly celebrated on the longest day of the year for Northern Hemisphere residents – in most years, the June Solstice occurs on June 21. In the Northern Hemisphere, the day is also called the Summer Solstice and is considered by many to be the first day of summer. In the Southern Hemisphere, it is the shortest day of the year and is thought to mark the first day of winter in the region.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Speak to an architect or a civil engineer to find ways to daylight your indoor spaces. If you don’t want to spend the time and money to make major structural changes to your place of work or home, what about taking some simple steps like opening the window, installing light colored drapes or curtains or applying a reflective surface to the window to let more natural sunlight in?</li> <li>If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, spend some time in the outdoors and appreciate the extended period of daylight. Maybe you could celebrate the day by hosting a BBQ and a pool party? Treat everyone with homemade creamsicles, iced tea and corn on the cob.</li> <li>Since it is also the June Solstice, why not spend the day participating on local solstice related events. Many cultures assign special significance to the solstices. Read about their traditions and participate in any local festivals or events marking the day.</li> <li>If you are a southern Hemisphere dweller, make the most of the sunlight before peak winter sets in. Maybe host a soup party, where everyone brings warm soup to share? Serve warm and spiced wine to usher in the winter.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that daylighting designers and architects take into account the direction when deciding on where to build windows? South facing windows let in a lot of winter sunlight but very little direct light in the summer. East and west facing windows on the other hand let in a lot of light during the morning and evenings but also tend to cause glare.</p>2025-06-212025-06-22YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/daylight-appreciation-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg;300;248,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg;300;248,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg;300;248,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Daylight-Appreciation-Day-Church-300x248.jpg;300;248ai1ec-8520@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNational Aboriginal Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Canada’s National Aboriginal Day is annually held on June 21 to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of the nation’s Aboriginal peoples. There are three Aboriginal groups in Canada – the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8521" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8521" class="wp-image-8521 size-medium" title="National-Aboriginal-Day-Church Traditional dancing, music and festivals are part of the National Aboriginal Day celebrations. ©iStockphoto.com/zennie" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="National-Aboriginal-Day-Church Traditional dancing, music and festivals are part of the National Aboriginal Day celebrations. ©iStockphoto.com/zennie" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8521" class="wp-caption-text">Traditional dancing, music and festivals are part of the National Aboriginal Day celebrations.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Canada’s National Aboriginal Day gives many people the chance to learn more about Aboriginal people and their contributions towards the country’s development and progress. First Nations, Métis and Inuit people have the opportunity to showcase their cultures and achievements throughout Canada on this day.</p> <p>National Aboriginal Day events are held in every region across Canada. Activities and events include (but are not limited to):</p> <ul> <li>Summer solstice festivals.</li> <li>Barbecue fundraisers.</li> <li>Social networking gatherings with traditional and contemporary music, dance and singing.</li> <li>Sacred fire extinguishing ceremonies.</li> <li>Traditional feasts, which may include fry bread and moose stew.</li> <li>The cutting of a cake to honor National Aboriginal Day.</li> </ul> <p>National Aboriginal Day in Canada gives people of all walks of life the opportunity to celebrate and share knowledge about the Aboriginal peoples’ values, customs, languages, and culture.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>National Aboriginal Day is a paid holiday for employees in the Northwest Territories, except those in the Northwest Territories Teachers’ Association (NWTTA). It is not a statutory holiday in other parts of Canada. Traffic and parking conditions may be affected in areas where there are large celebrations to commemorate the day.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>The Canadian Constitution recognizes three groups of Aboriginal peoples: Indians (First Nations), Inuit and Métis. Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage, language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.</p> <p>Many people have pushed for a national day to recognize and celebrate Canada’s Aboriginal peoples and cultures prior to 1996. For example, in 1982 the National Indian Brotherhood (now the Assembly of First Nations) called for June 21 to be National Aboriginal Solidarity Day. In 1995 the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples recommended for a National First Peoples Day to be designated. The Sacred Assembly, a national conference of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, called for a national holiday to celebrate the contributions of Aboriginal peoples.</p> <p>Canada’s governor general proclaimed the first National Aboriginal Day in 1996. In cooperation with Aboriginal organizations, the Canadian government chose June 21 for National Aboriginal Day because it was on or near the June solstice. Many of Canada’s Aboriginal peoples celebrated their culture and heritage on or near this day for many generations. National Aboriginal Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the unique achievements of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in fields as diverse as agriculture, the environment, business and the arts.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> Any mention of summer in this article refers to summer in the northern hemisphere. Moreover, Timeanddate.com wishes to thank Indian and Northern Affairs Canada for the background information regarding National Aboriginal Day.</p>2025-06-212025-06-22YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/national-aboriginal-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/National-Aboriginal-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8586@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZOnion Ring Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Celebrate the delicious deep fried snack on June 22, Onion Ring Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8587" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8587" class="wp-image-8587 size-medium" title="Onion-Ring-Day-Church Breaded onion rings in a basket. ©bigstockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Onion-Ring-Day-Church Breaded onion rings in a basket. ©bigstockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8587" class="wp-caption-text">Breaded onion rings in a basket.</p></div> <p>Commonly found in most bar menus in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia, onion rings are made by breading and deep frying rings of onions. Onion rings are usually served with ketchup or some other form of dip or sauce.</p> <h2>Found Around the World</h2> <p>Some food historians believe that this snack was first created sometime in the 1930s in the United States, though versions of the dish can be found in many other parts of the world. In India for example, strips of onions are battered and fried and then served as a roadside snack.</p> <p>A blooming onion is a whole onion that is cut in a shape of a flower and then battered and deep fried. This version of a fried onion was first served in the late 1980s in a chain restaurant in the United States.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Have onion rings for all your meals. Make it more interesting by creating different dipping sauces for each meal.</li> <li>Health conscious? What about baking onion rings instead of deep-frying them?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that people in Libya consume more onions than people in any other country?</p>2025-06-222025-06-23YEARLY6enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/onion-ring-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Onion-Ring-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8588@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTypewriter Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">June 23, the anniversary of the granting of a patent to American inventor Christopher Latham Sholes in 1868 is celebrated around the world as Typewriter Day. So, take out your old typewriter from the attic, dust it and get started on your magnum opus!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8589" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8589" class="wp-image-8589 size-medium" title="Typewriter-Day-Church A young man typing in an old typewriter at the beach. ©bigstockphoto.com/nito" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="Typewriter-Day-Church A young man typing in an old typewriter at the beach. ©bigstockphoto.com/nito" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8589" class="wp-caption-text">A young man typing in an old typewriter at the beach.</p></div> <p>A typewriter is a mechanical device that allows users to type directly on a sheet of paper. While many people had been working on different prototypes of typewriters before 1868, Christopher Latham Sholes’ typewriter was the first one to be commercially marketed. Known as the Sholes and Glidden typewriter or the Remington 1 typewriter, the device could only type uppercase letters.</p> <h2>Revolutionary Device</h2> <p>Typewriters revolutionized the world of communications. Letters and correspondences looked more professional, followed a consistent format and were more legible when typed out on a typewriter compared to handwritten communications that dominated the workplace in the past. In addition to creating an efficient and more organized workspace, the use of typewriters in businesses and governments worldwide meant that typing became a required skill for many jobs. A large percentage of these jobs were administrative in nature and were usually done by women, who were specifically hired for their typing skills – the typewriter played an very important role in opening up workspaces for women.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Organize a typewriting contest – whoever types the fastest and with the least number of errors wins.</li> <li>Show your typewriter pride by wearing typewriter shaped jewelry.</li> <li>Avoid using your computer and email, type letters and send them in the post/ mail.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that most typewriters and computers today share the same keyboard layout?</p>2025-06-232025-06-25YEARLY6enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/typewriter-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Typewriter-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8583@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTake Your Dog to Work Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Studies have shown that bringing pets to work can increase productivity. So, on the third Sunday of June take your dog to work to celebrate Take Your Dog to Work Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8584" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8584" class="wp-image-8584 size-medium" title="Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church Fashion designer with his chihuahua at work. ©bigstockphoto.com/Wavebreak Media Ltd" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church Fashion designer with his chihuahua at work. ©bigstockphoto.com/Wavebreak Media Ltd" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8584" class="wp-caption-text">Fashion designer with his chihuahua at work.</p></div> <p>Celebrated annually since 1999 on the first Friday after <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=fathers-day">Father’s Day</a> in the United States, the unofficial holiday was created by Pet Sitters International as a way to encourage dog adoption and to celebrate the love and joy dogs bring to the lives of their pet parents.</p> <p>The week preceding this unofficial holiday is Take Your Pets to Work Week.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Take your furry friend to work on this day. Make sure you let your co-workers know that you will be bringing your dog to work and clear it with anyone who may have allergies or other issues.</li> <li>Have your company organize a visit to the local dog shelter or better yet, let the local dog shelter come to your workplace with dogs that are in need of a loving home – you may never know, some of your co-workers may adopt a dog!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>… that in ancient China, royals would carry little dogs in their sleeves to keep warm?</p>2025-06-242025-06-25YEARLY6enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/take-dog-work-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Take-Your-Dog-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8590@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZPlease Take my Children to Work Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Please Take my Children to Work Day first began as a tongue-in-cheek holiday for overworked and tired stay-at-home mothers to take a day off from their routines. The holiday is celebrated annually on June 25.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8591" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8591" class="wp-image-8591 size-medium" title="Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church Father working in office with daughter. ©bigstockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church Father working in office with daughter. ©bigstockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8591" class="wp-caption-text">Father working in office with daughter.</p></div> <p>Today, as times have changed, this day applies to any parent who would like to take a break from their parental duties.</p> <p>The unofficial holiday, which is not be confused with Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, was created in 2003 by Jen Singer of MommaSaid.net – a parenting blog. The holiday encourages friends and family to take care of the children so that the stay-at-home parent can have some time to relax and rejuvenate.</p> <p>The holiday is also sometimes celebrated on June 30 or on the last Monday of June.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>Being a stay-at-home parent can be one of most rewarding as well as an exhausting experience for parents. This unofficial holiday is a great excuse for them to take a break and enjoy some much needed me-time. Here are some ways to celebrate it:</p> <ul> <li>Ask friends or family members to look after your children for the day. And if they can’t, hire a babysitter and take the day off to pamper yourself. Go to the spa or take the day to go to the movies. Shop or do anything else that you may not be able to do on a normal day.</li> <li>If you know someone who is stay-at-home parent, take this day to show your appreciation of them. Do something nice for them! Take them out for an adults only lunch or volunteer to babysit their children so that they can have some much needed time to themselves.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a new born child has 300 bones while a fully grown adult has 206? The bones fuse together as the child grows.</p>2025-06-252025-06-26YEARLY6enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/please-take-children-work-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Please-Take-My-Children-To-Work-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8562@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZHelen Keller Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Celebrate human resilience and achievement on Helen Keller Day. Celebrated annually on June 27, the day commemorates the life and achievements of Helen Keller, American activist, author and suffragist.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8563" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8563" class="wp-image-8563 size-medium" title="Helen-Keller-Day-Church Street art of Helen Keller in Montreal, Canada. ©bigstockphoto.com/meunierd" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Helen-Keller-Day-Church Street art of Helen Keller in Montreal, Canada. ©bigstockphoto.com/meunierd" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8563" class="wp-caption-text">Street art of Helen Keller in Montreal, Canada.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday is also a celebration of human grit and hard work. It promotes the idea that people can overcome challenges and achieve anything they want if they put their hearts and souls into it.</p> <h2>A Life Spent Overcoming Challenges</h2> <p>Born on June 27, 1880, in Alabama, United States, Helen Keller suffered from an illness in her childhood that left her blind and deaf at the age of two. Despite her challenges, Keller learned to communicate in sign language with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan. In 1904, Keller became the first deaf and blind person to earn a bachelors degree in the US.</p> <h2>Disability Advocate</h2> <p>Helen Keller spent the rest of her life advocating for people with disabilities, supporting the socialist party, traveling the world and writing.</p> <p>In 1980, during her birth centennial President Jimmy Carter proclaimed June 27, her birthday to be celebrated as Helen Keller Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Read about the life and times of Helen Keller.</li> <li>Honor and celebrate people in your life and community who have conquered hardships and achieved something in life.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Helen Keller won an Oscar for a documentary on her life? The documentary was called Helen Keller in Her Story. It was released in 1954 and received the Oscar in 1955.</p>2025-06-272025-06-28YEARLYen0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/helen-keller-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Helen-Keller-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8568@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTau Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Tau Day, an anti-Pi Day holiday is an unofficial observance held every year since 2010 on June 28, or 06/28 as written in the American date format.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8569" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8569" class="wp-image-8569 size-medium" title="Tau-Day-Church Celebrate the Tau, a mathematical constant on Tau Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/FZ Design" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg" alt="Tau-Day-Church Celebrate the Tau, a mathematical constant on Tau Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/FZ Design" width="300" height="258" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-560x482.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-260x224.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-160x138.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8569" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate the Tau, a mathematical constant on Tau Day.</p></div> <p>The day began as a way to recognize tau, τ, a ratio constant describing the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its radius. In recent years, some mathematicians and physicists have argued for the replacement of the pi (π) by tau.</p> <h2>Replacing Pi</h2> <p>The concept of replacing pi by the tau as a better way to describe the relationship between a circle’s circumference and its radius was first brought up by mathematics professor, Bob Palais in the <em>Mathematical Intelligencer</em> in an article called <em>π is wrong!</em>. This was followed by the publishing of the <em>Tau Manifesto</em> by physicist Michael Hartl. Both of these articles called for the replacement of pi by tau. Tau, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its radius is equal to 2 π or 6.283.</p> <h2>Not Widely Accepted</h2> <p>Tau is not yet widely accepted within the scientific community, though there is a large community of scientists and technologists who have called for the replacement of pi by tau.</p> <h2>Other Mathematical Dates</h2> <p>The Gregorian Calendar is full of dates that when written in a special manner represent a mathematical or scientific concept. Some of these include: Yellow Pig Day, Mole Day, Fibonacci Day, Palindrome Day and e-Day. Use our Date Pattern Calculator to find out other interesting calendar dates during the year.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Because the value of tau is twice the value of pi, proponents of tau day call for “twice as much of pie” and to eat circular shaped food. So, instead of one slice of pie, eat two or four.</li> <li>If you are a teacher, use this day to encourage students to get interested in mathematics and to consider mathematics as a career choice.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>… that Michael Hartl, called for renaming March 14 (3/14) or Pi Day to Half Tau Day?</p>2025-06-282025-06-29YEARLY6en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/tau-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg;300;258,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg;300;258,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg;300;258,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tau-Day-Church-300x258.jpg;300;258ai1ec-8594@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZCanada Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On July 1, 1867, Canada became a self-governing dominion of Great Britain and a federation of four provinces: Nova Scotia; New Brunswick; Ontario; and Quebec. The anniversary of this date was called Dominion Day until 1982. Since 1983, July 1 has been officially known as Canada Day</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8595" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8595" class="wp-image-8595 size-medium" title="Canada-Day Church Canadians of all ages can be proud of their heritage on Canada Day, an event widely celebrated throughout the country. Illustration based on artwork from ©iStockphoto.com/Carrie Bottomley" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="Canada-Day Church Canadians of all ages can be proud of their heritage on Canada Day, an event widely celebrated throughout the country. Illustration based on artwork from ©iStockphoto.com/Carrie Bottomley" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8595" class="wp-caption-text">Canadians of all ages can be proud of their heritage on Canada Day, an event widely celebrated throughout the country.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>In many towns and cities, municipal governments organize a range of events, often outdoors. These include pancake breakfasts, parades, concerts, carnivals, festivals, firework displays and citizenship ceremonies for new Canadian citizens. The celebrations often have a patriotic mood. Canada’s national flag is widely displayed and a lot of people paint their faces red and white, which are Canada’s national colors. The celebrations in Ottawa, which is Canada’s capital city, are particularly exuberant.</p> <p>In the province of Quebec, many home leases start on July 1 and last for exactly one year. Hence, many people in Quebec spend Canada Day moving their possessions from one house to another. In this province, Canada Day is also known as Moving Day.</p> <p>In the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 is also Memorial Day. This commemorates the heavy loss of life in the Newfoundland Regiment on the first day of the Battle of the Somme during World War I. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the morning of July 1 is usually somber. Flags are flown at half-mast and memorial services are held at cenotaphs (war memorials). In the afternoon, Canada Day celebrations in the province are similar to those in the rest of the country.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>July 1 is a statutory holiday in Canada unless it falls on a Sunday; then it moves to July 2. All provincial governments observe this day. Many organizations, businesses and stores are closed, although some book stores, pharmacies and gas stations may be open. Post offices are closed. As Canada Day falls in the Canadian summer holiday period, all schools are closed.</p> <p>Public transport services may operate to their usual or a reduced timetable. In some areas, extra services are provided for large scale events. Street closures due to concerts, parades and festivals may cause some local disruption to traffic.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>On July 1, 1867, the <em>British North Americas Act</em> created the Dominion of Canada as a federation of four provinces. This event is known as the confederation of Canada. The four original provinces were created from the former British colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and the Province of Canada, which was divided into the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Canada’s boundaries have been extended since 1867. The country now consists of 10 provinces and three territories.</p> <p>On June 20, 1868, the Canada’s Governor General proclaimed that Canadians should celebrate the anniversary of the confederation. July 1 became a statutory holiday, known as Dominion Day, in 1879. However, no official celebrations were held until the 50th anniversary in 1917 and the 60th anniversary in 1927. After World War II, Dominion Day was celebrated more frequently and more events were organized by the national government. After the centenary of the confederation in 1967, Dominion Day events became more widespread. July 1 became popularly known as Canada Day. The date was also officially known as Canada Day from 1983 onwards.</p> <p>Since 2006 Canada Day celebrations were also held at London’s Trafalgar Square in the United Kingdom. It is expected that these celebrations will be held annually. Depending on the availability of Trafalgar Square, these events may be held just before, on or just after July 1.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Canada’s national flag is seen on Canada Day. This consists of two vertical red rectangles separated by a white square. The white square contains a red image of a maple leaf. Canada’s national colors are red and white and are used in many ways on Canada Day. Some people wear red and white clothing and others paint their faces in these colors.</p>2025-07-012025-07-02YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/canada-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Canada-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8597@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZI Forgot Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 2 is I Forgot Day. If you are you a forgetful person who frequently forgets anniversaries, birthdays, special occasions or even to bring the milk from the store on your way back home, then this is the unofficial holiday you should be celebrating.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8598" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8598" class="wp-image-8598 size-medium" title="I-Forgot-Day-Church Man slapping forehead because he forgot something. ©bigstockphoto.com/olly2" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="I-Forgot-Day-Church Man slapping forehead because he forgot something. ©bigstockphoto.com/olly2" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8598" class="wp-caption-text">Slapping my forehead because I forgot something.</p></div> <p>Created by Gaye Anderson, the holiday encourages people to apologize and make up for all the events and occasions they might have forgotten in the past few months.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Acknowledge your mistake and do something nice for those whose birthdays and anniversaries you missed. Some ideas include: making a nice dinner for them or sending them flowers.</li> <li>Write a nice apology note to your loved ones telling them how sorry you are that you forgot their birthday or that special occasion.</li> <li>Create an online reminder or calendar for all the special occasions in your life. That way, you’ll never have to forget a thing, except today’s holiday!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that according to some studies, walking through a door can create memory lapses? Psychologists believe that this is because when people walk through a door from one room to another, the transition indicates to the brain that the scene has changed and all information gathered in the previous room or scenario is no longer needed.</p>2025-07-022025-07-03YEARLY7en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/i-forgot-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/I-Forgot-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8650@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZNational Cheesecake Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 30 is National Cheesecake Day, a day to treat yourself with a slice (or two) of this decadent dessert made of cream cheese, eggs, sugar and a graham cracker crust.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8651" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8651" class="wp-image-8651 size-medium" title="national-cheesecake-day-church We won't judge you! Celebrate National Cheesecake Day with a slice or two or three of your favorite cheesecake. ©iStockphoto.com/william87" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="national-cheesecake-day-church We won't judge you! Celebrate National Cheesecake Day with a slice or two or three of your favorite cheesecake. ©iStockphoto.com/william87" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8651" class="wp-caption-text">We won’t judge you! Celebrate National Cheesecake Day with a slice or two or three of your favorite cheesecake.</p></div> <p>Believed to have originated in ancient Greece, cheesecakes, whether baked or chilled, have become a restaurant and bakery staple around the world. There are many different regional variations of the cake. For example, the Germans use Quark and a freshly made pastry as the base for their version of the cake. In Brazil, on the other hand, cheesecake is served with a thin layer of guava jelly or marmalade.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>With a big slice of cheesecake of course! Add some fruits to it, and you can claim that it is healthy!</li> <li>Bake a cheesecake at home and add new twists to the traditional recipe. Here are some ideas: replace the graham cracker crust by chocolate cookie crust; add bacon to the crust for a salty and smoky flavor; replace cream cheese with ricotta or goat cheese.</li> <li>Make a savory version of the cake for dinner and a sweet version for dessert.</li> <li>In honor of National Cheesecake Day, many restaurants and bakeries have cheesecake specials on their menus. Take your family and friends out to try out one of these specials.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that a <em>turophile</em> is someone who loves and fancies cheese?</p>2025-07-022025-07-03YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/national-cheesecake-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/national-cheesecake-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8605@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZWorkaholics Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 5 is Workaholics Day, a day dedicated to people who spend all their time working and tend to ignore other pursuits in life.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8606" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8606" class="wp-image-8606 size-medium" title="Workaholics-Day-Church Accountant doing financial reports being surrounded by huge piles of documents. ©bigstockphoto.com/pressmaster" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Workaholics-Day-Church Accountant doing financial reports being surrounded by huge piles of documents. ©bigstockphoto.com/pressmaster" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8606" class="wp-caption-text">Accountant doing financial reports being surrounded by huge piles of documents.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday raises awareness about the fact that all work and no play can be harmful to the mental and physical health of workers. The day encourages workaholics to make lifestyle changes so that they give other aspects of their lives as much importance as their work.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If there is a workaholic in your life, ask them to take the day off and take them out to do something fun. Perhaps a trip to a theme park or a hike?</li> <li>Make a nice meal for the workaholic in your life and tell them about the problems associated of working all the time.</li> <li>If you are a workaholic, take the day off to reevaluate your life and take some time off for yourself.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…workaholic is a portmanteau word. It comes from combining two words – work and alcoholic. The term was first used extensively to refer to people who excessively and compulsively work in the late 1960s.</p>2025-07-052025-07-06YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/workaholics-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Workaholics-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8599@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZTell the Truth Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 7 is Tell the Truth Day, a day dedicated to honesty and the rejection of manipulation and lying. <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-8600 size-medium" title="Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church Chalkboard with writing. ©iStockphoto.com/yuriz" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church Chalkboard with writing. ©iStockphoto.com/yuriz" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-560x371.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-260x172.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></span></h4> <p>The unofficial holiday encourages people to always tell the truth, even if it is often times inconvenient and hard.</p> <p>Honesty and truthfulness are virtues that are emphasized by all world religions. Cultures around the world put a premium on integrity and sincerity – people who tell the truth are always honored and celebrated over people known to tell lies.</p> <p>Tell The Truth Day is also sometimes celebrated on April 2, the day after <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=april-fools-day">April’s Fool Day</a>, a holiday that encourages pranks and harmless forms of lying.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Celebrate honesty by telling the truth the whole day.</li> <li>If you have kids in your life teach them that lying is harmful and tell them the benefits of telling the truth all the time.</li> <li>If you have been lying to a loved one or a family member, today is the day to come clean.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Benjamin Franklin is thought to have popularized the phrase “honesty is the best policy”?</p>2025-07-072025-07-08YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/tell-truth-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Tell-The-Truth-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8618@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSugar Cookie Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On July 9, whip up a batch of warm, delicious sugary sugar cookies because it is Sugar Cookie Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8619" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8619" class="wp-image-8619 size-medium" title="Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church Star-shaped sugar cookies with pink, green and yellow frosting. ©bigstockphoto.com/Hank Shiffman" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg" alt="Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church Star-shaped sugar cookies with pink, green and yellow frosting. ©bigstockphoto.com/Hank Shiffman" width="300" height="225" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-560x420.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-260x195.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-160x120.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8619" class="wp-caption-text">Star-shaped sugar cookies with pink, green and yellow frosting.</p></div> <p>While the origins of this unofficial holiday are unknown, the day celebrates a childhood favorite that not only tastes good, but will also makes your kitchen smell amazing!</p> <p>A holiday staple in the United States, sugar cookies are sweet treats made of flour, eggs, butter and sugar. The primary flavor in the cookies is vanilla.</p> <h2>Blank Canvas for Decoration</h2> <p>While sugar cookies can be eaten plain, they are usually used baked in different shapes and decorated with colorful icing, frosting and sprinklers.</p> <p>In the United Kingdom and some other parts of the world, the term biscuits is used to refer to treats similar to cookies.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Learn how to make sugar cookies and bake them. Share the cookies with co-workers, family and friends.</li> <li>Gourmet up your cookies by making them in different shapes and coating them with different colored royal icing.</li> <li>Host a sugar cookie decorating and exchange party. Have your guests bake cookies and bring them to the venue, where all of you can decorate the cookies and take some home.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the term cookie, comes from the Dutch word <em>koekje</em>, meaning little cakes?</p>2025-07-092025-07-10YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/sugar-cookie-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg;300;225,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg;300;225,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg;300;225,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Sugar-Cookie-Day-Church-300x225.jpg;300;225ai1ec-8602@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZCheer Up the Lonely Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Make someone smile on Cheer up the Lonely Day. Annually celebrated on July 11, the unofficial holiday aims to encourage people to give some of their time to make people who are lonely smile.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8603" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8603" class="wp-image-8603 size-medium" title="Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church Young carer giving helping hands for elderly woman. ©bigstockphoto.com/Ocskay Bence" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church Young carer giving helping hands for elderly woman. ©bigstockphoto.com/Ocskay Bence" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8603" class="wp-caption-text">Young carer giving helping hands for elderly woman.</p></div> <p>Loneliness is an inevitable part of life. For some people it can be temporary, and for others it may be a daily struggle. Loneliness can affect the young and the old, and people from all walks of life. It can be harmful to the mental, physical and social health of those suffering from it.</p> <h2>Bringing Cheer</h2> <p>Cheer Up the Lonely Day aims to spread awareness about the damaging effects of loneliness and asks for people to give some of their time to bring happiness and cheer in to the lives of those who may be lonely.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>This is one holiday that is easy to celebrate. All you need to do is make someone feel loved. If you know someone who could use your company, spend some time with them, make them their favorite meal, give them some encouragement and let them know that you enjoy your time with them.</li> <li>If the person lives far away, send them a note to tell them that you miss them and that you think about them. Or what about sending them a little gift – perhaps their favorite candy or a bunch of flowers?</li> <li>Volunteer your time to work with the elderly in a nursing home – not only will you be bringing cheer in their lives, you may get to hear some amazing stories about their past.</li> <li>Learn more about the connection between mental health and loneliness and what you can do to ward of loneliness in your life and in the lives of others.</li> <li>Invite someone who has just moved to your town for coffee and cake and get to know them better.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that some people can have a real fear of being lonely? Autophobia is the fear of being alone.</p> <h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;"></span></h4>2025-07-112025-07-12YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/cheer-lonely-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Cheer-Up-The-Lonely-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8609@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:38ZSimplicity Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Simplicity Day is celebrated every year on July 12. The unofficial holiday commemorates the life, times and work of American philosopher and proponent of simple living, Henry David Thoreau.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8610" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8610" class="wp-image-8610 size-medium" title="Simplicity-Day-Church Spring landscape with tree and a sun. ©bigstockphoto.com/TTstudio" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Simplicity-Day-Church Spring landscape with tree and a sun. ©bigstockphoto.com/TTstudio" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8610" class="wp-caption-text">Spring landscape with tree and a sun.</p></div> <p>Born on July 12, 1817, Thoreau was against slavery, a supporter of small government, an environmentalist and an author. He was also involved in the early transcendentalist movement in the United States. Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that emerged in the U.S. in the mid 1800s. The main idea of the movement was that humans by nature are inherently good and that knowledge can only be gained through looking inwards as well as outwards.</p> <h2>Embrace Simple Living</h2> <p>Simplicity Day was created by the Emily Fund an organization created in memory of Emily Rachel Silverstein. The unofficial holiday encourages people to embrace simple living and a simple outlook to life. It also promotes participants to do one thing to make the world a better place.</p> <p>The holiday is also sometimes known as National Simplicity Day in the United States.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Take a vow of simplicity. Cut out unimportant things in your life.</li> <li>Is there an expensive object you have always wanted to buy? Instead of buying it, donate the money to a deserving organization.</li> <li>Volunteer your time and money to a local organization working on a cause of your choosing.</li> <li>Learn more about Henry David Thoreau’s life and philosophy. Read books and essays written by him. Some of his more well-known works include Walden, A Plea for Captain John Brown and Paradise (to be) Regained.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Thoreau was one of the first people to encourage hiking and other outdoor activities for fun?</p>2025-07-122025-07-13YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/simplicity-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Simplicity-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8620@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZPandemonium Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 14 is Pandemonium Day, an annual celebration of chaos and disorder. Pandemonium Day is a reminder of the chaos and uncertainty that marks most of our lives.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8621" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8621" class="wp-image-8621 size-medium" title="Pandemonium-Day-Church Young mother overwhelmed by her kids. ©iStockphoto.com/Yobro10" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg" alt="Pandemonium-Day-Church Young mother overwhelmed by her kids. ©iStockphoto.com/Yobro10" width="300" height="216" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-560x404.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-260x188.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-160x115.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8621" class="wp-caption-text">Young mother overwhelmed by her kids.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday encourages people to take a different look at upheavals and changes in their lives. It also inspires celebrators to find ways to take a pause from the daily grunt and find ways to bring order and equilibrium in their lives.</p> <h2>From Paradise Lost</h2> <p>The word <em>pandemonium</em> meaning a place of confusion or turmoil, comes from English poet John Milton’s epic poem <em>Paradise Lost</em>. First published in 1667, the epic was a collection of 10 books. In the poem, Pandæmonium or Pandemonium is the capital of Hell. Pandemonium comes from the Greek word, <em>pan</em>, meaning all and <em>daimonion</em> meaning inferior gods.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Acknowledge that chaos is part of your life. The first step for sanity to return is to accept that pandemonium will always be part of your life.</li> <li>Take measures to reduce the chaos and the stress that comes with it. Make a chore chart and stick to it, but don’t feel guilty if you are unable to accomplish a few chores once in a while.</li> <li>Don’t feel like you have to do everything yourself. If the chaos feels overwhelming, ask for help from your family and friends.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Milton wrote another epic poem called <em>Paradise Regained</em> as a sequel to <em>Paradise Lost</em>? <em>Paradise Regained</em> was published in 1671.</p>2025-07-142025-07-15YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/pandemonium-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Pandemonium-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216ai1ec-8622@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZGummi Worm Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Held annually on July 15, Gummi Worm Day celebrates and honors these chewy and yummy creepy crawly sweet treats.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8623" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8623" class="wp-image-8623 size-medium" title="Gummi-Worm-Day-Church Colourful gummi jelly worm candies. ©bigstockphoto.com/bernashafo" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Gummi-Worm-Day-Church Colourful gummi jelly worm candies. ©bigstockphoto.com/bernashafo" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8623" class="wp-caption-text">Colourful gummi jelly worm candies.</p></div> <p>Remember gummi worms? Yes, those delicious sour and sweet candies of your childhood that resembled worms? Remember how you ate them by the fistful just to gross out other adults? Well, now you can do that again once a year on Gummi Worm Day.</p> <h2>German Origins</h2> <p>Gummi worms are gelatin-based candies that look like colorful worms. They were first created and marketed by German candy company, Trolli, and are just one of the many gummi candies available in the market.</p> <p>The first gummi (or gummy) candies were created in 1922 by another German candy company called Haribo. These were in the shape of bears and are now popularly known around the world as gummi bears.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Treat yourself with a big bag of gummi worm candies.</li> <li>Bring gummi worms to works and share them with your co-workers.</li> <li>Learn how to make them at home from scratch.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the word gummi comes from the German word, Gummi, meaning rubber?</p>2025-07-152025-07-16YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/gummi-worm-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Gummi-Worm-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8607@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZCaviar Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On July 18, take out your best vodka and pair it with some top-of-the-shelf caviar because it is Caviar Day. The unofficial holiday of unknown origins encourages people to try out the delicacy while promoting environmentally friendly and humane fishing practices.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8608" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8608" class="wp-image-8608 size-medium" title="Caviar-Day-Church Jar of black caviar and spoon with black caviar on dark background. ©bigstockphoto.com/Yastremska" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Caviar-Day-Church Jar of black caviar and spoon with black caviar on dark background. ©bigstockphoto.com/Yastremska" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8608" class="wp-caption-text">Jar of black caviar and spoon with black caviar on dark background.</p></div> <p>Considered to be a delicacy in many parts of the world, caviar is salt cured roe or fish eggs, usually from sturgeon. Traditionally, the term caviar was used to refer to roe from sturgeons from the Caspian Sea, though in recent years the roe of other fish found elsewhere are also commonly called caviar.</p> <h2>From Pig Feed to Luxury Food</h2> <p>Derived from the Persian word <em>khaya</em> meaning egg, caviar did not gain its status as a food for the rich and famous until the 1800s. Before that, even though sturgeon was a commonly eaten fish, its roe was considered worthless and routinely used as pig and animal feed. By the end of the 18th century however, caviar had found its way onto the dinner tables of royals around the world and had become a coveted food item. Today, caviar is considered to be a luxury food.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>If you have never tried caviar before, today is the day to take the plunge and try it. What is the worst that can happen? You may not like it, but at least you will know what it tastes like.</li> <li>If you like caviar, why not have a caviar tasting party for your friends?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the rarest and the most expensive caviar comes from the beluga sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea?</p>2025-07-182025-07-19YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/caviar-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Caviar-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8635@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZStick Out Your Tongue Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 19 is Stick Out Your Tongue Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8636" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8636" class="wp-image-8636 size-medium" title="stick-out-your-tongue-day-church Sticking out one's tongue at someone else can mean different things in different cultures. ©bigstockphoto.com/Creatista" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="stick-out-your-tongue-day-church Sticking out one's tongue at someone else can mean different things in different cultures. ©bigstockphoto.com/Creatista" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8636" class="wp-caption-text">Sticking out one’s tongue at someone else can mean different things in different cultures.</p></div> <p>It is unclear whether the anonymous inventor of this made-up holiday intended it to be a day for people to stick out their tongues at everyone they come across or for them to visit their doctors to get a general check-up.</p> <p>It is also possible that the creator of this unofficial holiday created it to encourage people to defy odds and attempt things that they find difficult to do.</p> <p>Many cultures consider sticking out the tongue at someone as a childish, rude and insulting gesture. In these cultures, when children stick out their tongue at adults, it is seen as an act of disobedience. In Tibet, however, sticking out one’s tongue is considered to be a polite form of greeting.</p> <h2>Perfectly Fine at the Doctor’s Office</h2> <p>There is one place where sticking out one’s tongue is not only considered ok, but can be sometimes essential – in a doctor’s office. The tongue, which is a muscle that helps humans in eating food and speaking, is also one of the many organs in the human body that doctors check to detect signs of illness.</p> <p>Today, sticking out one’s tongue over the Internet or through text (or SMS) is done through emoticons, and seen as a way to express a point that should not be taken very seriously. The emoticon is written by typing a colon, followed by a dash and a capital (:-P).</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Stick out your tongue at people. Just let them know why you are doing it, lest they think of you as a terribly rude person.</li> <li>If there are things that are bothering you, take this day to stick your tongue out at them.</li> <li>If you are overdue for a general check-up, perhaps today is the day to visit the doctor and get a clean bill of health.</li> </ul>2025-07-192025-07-20YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/stick-tongue-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/stick-out-your-tongue-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8637@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZSpace Exploration Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On July 20, look up at the sky and think back on all the advances humankind has made in exploring and understanding space because it is Space Exploration Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8638" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8638" class="wp-image-8638 size-medium" title="Space-Exploration-Day-Church Space shuttle launch from Kennedy Space Center. ©bigstockphoto.com/kjwarden" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg" alt="Space-Exploration-Day-Church Space shuttle launch from Kennedy Space Center. ©bigstockphoto.com/kjwarden" width="300" height="216" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-560x402.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-260x187.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-160x115.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8638" class="wp-caption-text">Space shuttle launch from Kennedy Space Center.</p></div> <p>The annual holiday commemorates the anniversary of the first manned mission to the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Americans astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to step foot on the surface of the Moon.</p> <p>In 1984, the day was proclaimed a holiday by United States President Ronald Reagan. The proclamation also designated June 16-24 U.S. Space Observation in honor of the 9 days that Apollo 11 was in space. The fifth manned mission of NASA’s Apollo program, Apollo 11 was launched from Florida on June 16. It returned to Earth with the 3 astronauts – Armstrong, Aldrin and Michael Collins on June 24.</p> <h2>Moon Day</h2> <p>The holiday, which is also sometimes called Moon Day, encourages people to learn more about space exploration. It attempts to inspire young adults to consider space sciences and space exploration as careers.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Visit your local space and science museums and spend the day there learning about Space and our astronomical neighbors.</li> <li>Join an astronomy club and participate in their Space Exploration Day activities.</li> <li>If you have young children in your life, get them interested in Space and related fields by reading them books about Space and space technology.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that 12 people, including Armstrong and Aldrin, have walked on the surface of the Moon?</p>2025-07-202025-07-21YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/space-exploration-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Space-Exploration-Day-Church-300x216.jpg;300;216ai1ec-8639@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZVanilla Ice Cream Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 23 is Vanilla Ice Cream Day. Celebrate this unofficial holiday of unknown origins by eating as much vanilla ice cream as you want without any guilt.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8640" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8640" class="wp-image-8640 size-medium" title="Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church Vanilla ice cream is the most popular flavor of ice cream around the world ©bigstockphoto.com/Sparkia" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church Vanilla ice cream is the most popular flavor of ice cream around the world ©bigstockphoto.com/Sparkia" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8640" class="wp-caption-text">Vanilla ice cream is the most popular flavor of ice cream around the world</p></div> <p>Made by freezing a custard of cream or milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla beans or flavoring, vanilla ice cream is the most popular flavor of ice cream in the United States and Canada according to some surveys.</p> <h2>Recognizable Flavor</h2> <p>Vanilla is a flavoring that comes from the pods of the fruit of the vanilla orchid. A native plant of Mexico, vanilla was unknown to the the world outside Central America until the late 1600s. Today, it is one of the world’s most recognized flavors. The expression, <em>plain vanilla</em>, is used to refer to something that is commonplace and does not have any special or distinguishing characteristics.</p> <p>Vanilla Ice Cream Day is also sometimes known as National Vanilla Ice Cream Day in the US.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Do we need to say anything else other than it’s Vanilla Ice Cream Day! Eat as much ice cream as you can possibly eat.</li> <li>Having pancakes of breakfast? Add a dollop of vanilla ice cream with it. Brownies for dinner? Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Smoothies for an after work out snack? Add a few scoops of vanilla ice cream. Well, you get our point.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that vanilla is thought to be the world’s second most expensive spice? The most expensive spice in the world is saffron.</p>2025-07-232025-07-24YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/vanilla-ice-cream-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Vanilla-Ice-Cream-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8869@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZCousins Day<h3 class="lead"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Cousins are fun to be with – they are almost like your siblings but you don’t have to share all your prized possessions with them all the time. Celebrate them on Cousins Day, an annual celebration of the special bond you share with your cousins.</span></h3> <h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Celebrated every year on July 24, the unofficial holiday is also sometimes known as National Cousins Day.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8870" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8870" class="wp-image-8870 size-medium" title="cousins-day-church Give your cousins a big hug to celebrate Cousins Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/SerrNovik" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="cousins-day-church Give your cousins a big hug to celebrate Cousins Day. ©bigstockphoto.com/SerrNovik" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8870" class="wp-caption-text">Give your cousins a big hug to celebrate Cousins Day.</p></div> <h2>Shared Ancestors</h2> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">In general, cousins are relatives with whom we share an ancestor, though in many cultures the term is commonly used to refer to the children of our aunts and uncles. In genealogy, which is the study of families and their history, a relationship between cousins – two people who have a common ancestor – is named after which generation they belong to.</span></p> <h2>The Many Different Types of Cousins</h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">When cousins are from the same generation, they are known as first, second or third cousins. For example, first cousins are children of siblings – your uncle and aunt’s children will be your first cousins. The children of first cousins are second cousins, and the children of second cousins are third cousins.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">On the other hand, when two people are not from the same generation, their relationship is described by adding the word <em>removed</em>. First cousin once removed, for example, is used to describe the relationship between a person and the children of his or her first cousin – your first cousin’s child will be your first cousin once removed. First cousin once removed can also be used to refer to a parent’s first cousin.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Confused? One easy way to remember is that once removed means that there is a separation of one generation between the two relatives. Twice removed means there are two generations between them. The same logic applies to other degrees of cousinhood.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">How to Celebrate?</span></h2> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Send a note or message to your cousins wishing them a happy Cousins Day. Tell them that you love them and you care about them.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If you live close to your cousins, why not get together with them and their families and do something fun?</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">If your cousins live far away, you could video chat with them or talk to them over the phone.</span></li> </ul> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Did You Know…</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">…that a genogram is a type of a family tree that includes medical, hereditary, and psychological information about the members of the family?</span></p>2025-07-242025-07-25YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/cousins-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/cousins-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8641@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZUncle and Aunt Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Honour all the awesome uncles and aunts in your life on Uncle and Aunt Day. The unofficial holiday is celebrated every year on July 26.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8642" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8642" class="wp-image-8642 size-medium" title="Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church This holiday is a good opportunity to tell your uncles and aunts how much you love them. ©iStockphoto.com/kevinruss" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church This holiday is a good opportunity to tell your uncles and aunts how much you love them. ©iStockphoto.com/kevinruss" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8642" class="wp-caption-text">This holiday is a good opportunity to tell your uncles and aunts how much you love them.</p></div> <p>Uncles and aunts are fun to spend time. They are just like parents except without the rules and regulations. They buy you gifts that your parents won’t, dote on you, take you to fun vacations and are a huge part of your support system. So, celebrate your uncles and aunts on Uncle and Aunt Day.</p> <p>In many western cultures, the term uncle and aunt is reserved for close family members, related by marriage or through genetics. This is in contrast to several other cultures, especially in Africa, Asia and Middle East, where anyone who is from the generation of one’s parent is referred to as an uncle or aunt.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Call your uncles and aunts or visit them to wish them a happy day.</li> <li>Make them a nice meal or take them out to thank them for all the fun things you have done with them and learned from them.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that “<em>say uncle</em>” is a phrase popularly used in the United States and Canada and is usually used to concede defeat in a game or match?</p>2025-07-262025-07-27YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/uncle-aunt-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Uncle-Aunt-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8644@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZTake your Pants for a Walk Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">July 27 is Take Your Pants For A Walk Day. Because the purpose or the origins of the day are unknown, we can only surmise that the unofficial holiday encourages people (in pants) to go out for a walk and enjoy the many benefits that walking provides.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8645" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8645" class="wp-image-8645 size-medium" title="take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church Go for a walk with your pants on. ©iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church Go for a walk with your pants on. ©iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8645" class="wp-caption-text">Go for a walk with your pants on.</p></div> <p>Studies have shown that walking at a medium to fast pace regularly can have tremendous mental and physical health benefits. Walking not only helps burn calories, but can also boost a person’s mood and can help treat depression. It also reduces the risk of a variety of health problems including obesity, diabetes and heart diseases.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Get up early in the morning, wear your pants and go for a walk!</li> <li>Walking with weights is known to increase the effectiveness of the exercise. SO why not fill a bag with all your pants and literally take them for a walk?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>… that the oldest historical records of pants dates back to 10th BCE China?</p>2025-07-272025-07-28YEARLY7enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/take-pants-walk-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/take-your-pants-for-a-walk-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8652@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZIce Cream Sandwich Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">What is better than a scoop of ice cream on a hot (or cold or rainy or snowy) day? A scoop of ice cream sandwiched between two layers of cookies or cake. In other words, an ice cream sandwich!</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8654" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8654" class="wp-image-8654 size-medium" title="ice-cream-sandwich-day-church Make your own ice cream sandwich today. ©bigstockphoto.com/ALein" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg" alt="ice-cream-sandwich-day-church Make your own ice cream sandwich today. ©bigstockphoto.com/ALein" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8654" class="wp-caption-text">Make your own ice cream sandwich today.</p></div> <p>Celebrated every year on August 2, the unofficial holiday is also known as National Ice Cream Sandwich Day in the US.</p> <p>Many countries around the world have their own version of the ice cream sandwich. In Iran for example, rose or pistachio flavored ice cream is sandwiched between two thin wafers, while in Vietnam, street vendors sell ice cream stuffed between two layers of bread.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Visit your local ice cream shop and treat yourself to an ice cream sandwich.</li> <li>Make your own ice cream sandwiches and share with your family and friends. All you need is some wafers, cookies or biscuits and some ice cream.</li> <li>Experiment with different kinds of ice cream flavors and outside layers of the sandwich. What about making a chipwich, for example? It is an ice cream sandwich made of ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that according to the International Dairy Food Association, chocolate mint ice cream is the second most popular flavor of <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=vanilla-ice-cream-day">ice cream</a> in the United States, after vanilla?</p>2025-08-022025-08-03YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/ice-cream-sandwich-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/ice-cream-sandwich-day-church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8657@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZWork Like a Dog Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">August 5 is Work Like a Dog Day, a day to work hard and to award people who work day and night and are very productive.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8658" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8658" class="wp-image-8658 size-medium" title="work-like-a-dog-day-church Work hard like a dog - or not at all - today. ©bigstockphoto.com/Javier Brosch" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="work-like-a-dog-day-church Work hard like a dog - or not at all - today. ©bigstockphoto.com/Javier Brosch" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8658" class="wp-caption-text">Work hard like a dog – or not at all – today.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday celebrates the English language phrase, <em>working like a dog</em>, meaning to work very hard. It is believed that the idiom comes from the hard work that working dogs – herd dogs, hunting dogs, rescue and service dogs – put in during the day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Work hard. Put in extra hours at work, and who knows, you may be able to get in your boss’s good books.</li> <li>Do you know someone who is a workaholic? Spend the day honoring the hard work they do and celebrate their contribution to the workplace and society by doing something nice for them.</li> <li>Or, since most pet dogs don’t work much and prefer spending time lazing around, you could be a contrarian and celebrate Work Like a Dog Day by not doing any work at all!</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that there are dogs that can’t bark? Basenji is a type of hunting dog native of central Africa that doesn’t bark but makes yodel like sounds.</p>2025-08-052025-08-06YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/work-like-dog-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/work-like-a-dog-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8632@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZBritish Columbia Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">The first Monday of August is known as British Columbia Day, BC Day or B.C. Day, in the province of British Columbia. It is a statutory holiday and gives Canadians in the province the chance to celebrate their achievements or relax with friends and family members.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8633" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8633" class="wp-image-8633 size-medium" title="British-Columbia-Day Church The Steller's Jay is the provincial bird of British Columbia. ©iStockphoto.com/BirdImages" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="British-Columbia-Day Church The Steller's Jay is the provincial bird of British Columbia. ©iStockphoto.com/BirdImages" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-560x371.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-260x172.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8633" class="wp-caption-text">The Steller’s Jay is the provincial bird of British Columbia.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>In British Columbia many people use the long weekend to make short trips out of town and into one of the areas of beautiful scenery in this province. Some go camping, while others walk, hike or plan canoe trips. As the first Monday in August falls in the middle of the summer season, many people incorporate BC Day into their summer vacation or a plan it as part of a longer trip. In urban areas, particularly in Vancouver, various celebrations are organized. These include firework displays, parades and cultural festivals. Events are held to mark the achievements of people from Canada’s west coast in the areas of sport, technology, cuisine and Canadian-Japanese culture.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>BC Day is a statutory holiday in British Columbia and many people have a day off work. Post offices and many businesses and organizations, such as libraries, are closed. A few stores may be open depending on the local custom. Public transport services may be reduced or may not run at all. Schools are closed as the first Monday in August falls in the middle of the summer holiday period.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Indigenous peoples have inhabited British Columbia, as described in their oral traditions. There are claims by the English to have explored the region in the 16th century, but it was the Majorcan-born Spanish navigator Juan José Pérez Hernández who did the first documented travel 1774. In 1778 English explorer James Cook reached Nootka Sound and set foot on British Columbian soil. There were several gold finds in British Columbia in the 1850s. The British colonial office responded to this situation by establishing British Columbia’s mainland as a crown colony in 1858, naming it the Colony of British Columbia. In 1871 British Columbia became the sixth province of the Dominion of Canada.</p> <p>The British Columbia Day Act was first introduced to the Legislative Assembly in 1974. The aim of the Bill was to create a statutory holiday on the first Monday in August to recognize the pioneers in the province and the act gained royal assent in 1996.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>There are a number of symbols of British Columbia. These include the Steller’s Jay (a bird), the Pacific Dogwood (a flower), jade (a mineral), the Western Red Cedar (a tree) and the provincial tartan, which contains colors to represent many aspects of the province. Two important symbols of British Columbia are the flag and the coat of arms. The top part of the flag consists of a union flag with a crown in the center. These represent the colonial links with the country and monarch of the United Kingdom. The lower part of the flag consists of a setting sun on a background of blue and white waves. These represent the geographical location of the province on the west coast of Canada between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. These elements also appear in the coat of arms.</p>2025-08-072025-08-08YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/british-columbia-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/British-Columbia-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8659@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZLeft-Handers Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">August 13 is Left-Handers Day. Created in 1992 by the Left-Handers Club as a way to celebrate left-handers, the unofficial holiday aims to ‘raise awareness of the advantages and disadvantages left-handers face’.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8660" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8660" class="wp-image-8660 size-medium" title="Left-Handers-Day-Church Celebrate the lefties in your life on Left-Handers Day. ©iStockphoto.com/reanas" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="Left-Handers-Day-Church Celebrate the lefties in your life on Left-Handers Day. ©iStockphoto.com/reanas" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8660" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate the lefties in your life on Left-Handers Day.</p></div> <p>The day also encourages businesses and governments to be more left-handed friendly and adapt every-day objects for left-handed people.</p> <h2>10% are Left-Handed</h2> <p>Left-handed people use their left hands to carry out tasks that require the use of hands. About 10% of the world’s population is left-handed. Despite this, most equipment and day-to-day articles are designed and manufactured for the use of right-handed people – those who use their right hands to perform tasks.</p> <p>The purpose of Left-Handers Day is to make the majority right-handers aware of the frustrations that left-handed people face while using devices designed for right-handed people. The day also encourages designers to think about the convenience of those whose left hand is their dominant hand.</p> <p>Left-Handers Day is also sometimes known as International Left-Handers Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Many organizations and public places in cities around the world create “lefty zones”, where every day objects are adapted for use by left-handed people. If you are a “lefty”, go celebrate your awesomeness at one such zone.</li> <li>Take your right-handed friends with you to show them how difficult it can be to use objects not made for them.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that people who are ambidextrous can easily perfrom tasks and use devices with both their hands? Ambidexterity is rare and only occurs in about 1% of the population.</p>2025-08-132025-08-14YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/left-handers-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Left-Handers-Day-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8661@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZRelaxation Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On August 15, take a day off from your daily routine, put your feet up and relax because it is Relaxation Day.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8662" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8662" class="wp-image-8662 size-medium" title="Relaxation-Day-Church Three children relaxing on the grass. ©iStockphoto.com/yaruta" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Relaxation-Day-Church Three children relaxing on the grass. ©iStockphoto.com/yaruta" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8662" class="wp-caption-text">Three children relaxing on the grass.</p></div> <p>The origins of this holiday are unknown, though it is thought that the holiday began as National Slacker in Britain.</p> <p>In the hustle bustle of their daily lives, most people often forget to slow down and take some time for themselves. This can create stress and other stress-related health issues like high blood pressure and heart problems.</p> <h2>Take a Deep Breath</h2> <p>Relaxation Day is a reminder that sometimes it is okay to take a deep breath, slow down and take it easy – not only does relaxation make you feel better about yourself, it can have long term health benefits!</p> <p>So on this day, do things that help you relax and de-stress. Kick back and enjoy a cold beverage in your backyard, read a book while curled up with a hot cup of tea, sleep the whole day long, or take a warm bath and spend the day in your pajamas watching TV.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Relax! Do whatever that you feel relaxes you, even if it is for a short while.</li> <li>Use this day to do a digital detox. Unplug the computer, put away the phone and stay away from all social media. With no work emails to fret over and social dramas to be bothered with, you will feel the stress melt away.</li> <li>Go to the spa for a day of pampering and some “me” time.</li> <li>Take a leisurely walk in the park. Stop and smell the roses, walk barefoot on the grass, have a small picnic by yourself or read a book while people watching.</li> <li>Learn a new skill like knitting or playing golf.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that in physics and chemistry, relaxation is a concept that refers to the movement of a system or a process from a state of disorder or disruption to equilibrium?</p>2025-08-152025-08-16YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/relaxation-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Relaxation-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8670@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZTell a Joke Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On August 16, make everyone around you giggle, guffaw, chortle, cackle or in other words, laugh, by telling them a joke because it is Tell A Joke Day.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8671" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8671" class="wp-image-8671 size-medium" title="tell-a-joke-day-fun-church Laughter is the best medicine on Tell a Joke Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Zhenikeyev" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg" alt="tell-a-joke-day-fun-church Laughter is the best medicine on Tell a Joke Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Zhenikeyev" width="300" height="201" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-560x375.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-260x174.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8671" class="wp-caption-text">Laughter is the best medicine on Tell a Joke Day.</p></div> <p>While the origins of this hilarious day are unknown, we can all safely assume that the creator of this unofficial holiday was aiming to make the world a happier place by encouraging people to tell and listen to jokes.</p> <h2>Different Jokes</h2> <p>A joke can be of different types. They can be verbal like in the case of a one-liner, a whole story or in the form a question and answer, where the answer provides the humor. Jokes can also be physical such as in the case of a prank or a practical joke, where the act rather than the words provide the humor. Either way, the main purpose of a joke is to entertain by providing humor, even though jokes can sometimes be used to make serious commentary like in the case of satire.</p> <p>Jokes have been an integral part of human history and many a great minds have spent time and energy in trying to understand what makes jokes funny.</p> <p>The day is known in the US as National Tell A Joke Day, and not to be confused with International Joke Day on July, 1.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Every time you meet someone on this day, tell them a joke. Just make sure the jokes are appropriate to the setting.</li> <li>Pick up a joke book and spend your lunch hour reading it.</li> <li>Watch your favorite comedians do their thing either on TV or on stage and partake in a few hours of humorous entertainment.</li> <li>Fancy yourself as a comedian? Why not take comedy and Improv classes to hone in your skills?</li> <li>Play a harmless prank on your co-worker or friend.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the study of laughter and humor and their therapeutic effects on the human body is known as Gelotology?</p>2025-08-162025-08-17YEARLY8enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/tell-joke-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg;300;201,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg;300;201,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg;300;201,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/tell-a-joke-day-fun-church-300x201.jpg;300;201ai1ec-8664@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZBe An Angel Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">August 22 is Be An Angel Day. Established in 1993 by Jaune Howard Feldman, the day encourages people to be angels to those in need.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8665" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8665" class="wp-image-8665 size-medium" title="be-an-angel-day-church Be an angel to someone today. ©iStockphoto.com/XtremerX" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg" alt="be-an-angel-day-church Be an angel to someone today. ©iStockphoto.com/XtremerX" width="300" height="195" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-560x364.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-260x169.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-160x104.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8665" class="wp-caption-text">Be an angel to someone today.</p></div> <p>In many religions, angels are supernatural spirits that are thought to be responsible for protecting humans.</p> <p>The day reminds us that even though we can’t be actual angels, we can emulate the kindness they are known for. Being kind and good to our fellow human beings is not hard – all we need to do is to stop thinking about ourselves for a while (or a day) and to think about how we can make the world a nicer and kinder place.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Be kind to others. Do something to help a stranger.</li> <li>Do <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=random-act-kindness-day">random acts of kindness</a> without any expectations of reciprocation. For example, give up your seat in the bus or train to someone else, pay for the coffee the person behind you may buy at the coffee shop or leave small gift in your neighbour’s mailbox.</li> <li>Volunteer your time and money to a charitable organization.</li> <li>Do something that will bring a smile on the face of people.</li> <li>If you know of someone who is going through a difficult time, give them your support and let them know that you are there for them. Help them out in their difficult times.</li> <li>If someone is being an angel to you, thank them and let them know that their kindness is being appreciated.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Angelology is the theological study of angels?</p>2025-08-222025-08-23YEARLY8en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/be-an-angel-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg;300;195,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg;300;195,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg;300;195,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/be-an-angel-day-church-300x195.jpg;300;195ai1ec-8199@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZDog Appreciation Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">August 26 is Dog Day or Dog Appreciation Day, a day to appreciate your best friend on four legs.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8200" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8200"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8200" class="wp-image-8200 size-medium" title="Dog Appreciation Day Fun Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Dog Appreciation Day Fun Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8200" class="wp-caption-text">Give your furry friend a big hug and their favorite treat.</p></div> <p>Founded in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle expert and animal behaviorist, Colleen Paige, the day honors dogs for all that they do to enrich our lives and communities. The holiday also aims to raise awareness about dog adoption and the importance of providing rescue dogs with a safe and loving environment.</p> <h2>Man’s Best Friend</h2> <p>Often known as man’s best friend, dogs were the first animals to be domesticated by humans and were often used for guarding property, herding stock and for hunting. Today, dogs are used as companions and are considered to be a member of the family in many parts of the world.</p> <p>The unofficial holiday is also sometimes called World Dog Day, National Dog Appreciation Day or International Dog Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Adopt a dog and give it a loving home.</li> <li>If you have a dog, treat them with their favorite treats.</li> <li>If you are unable to have a dog in your family, celebrate the day by donating your time and money to the local animal and dog shelter.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that Dalmatians are born without any spots? Their characteristic spots appear as they grow older.</p>2025-08-262025-08-27YEARLY8en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/dog-appreciation-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Dog-Appreciation-Day-Fun-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8666@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZAccording to Hoyle Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On August 29, honor expertise, authority and the rules because it is According to Hoyle Day. Named after the English language phrase, <em>according to Hoyle</em>, the unofficial holiday celebrates the life and times of Englishman Edmond Hoyle, who died on this day in 1769</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8667" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8667" class="wp-image-8667 size-medium" title="according-to-hoyle-day-church Celebrate According to Hoyle Day with a game of Bridge. ©iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="according-to-hoyle-day-church Celebrate According to Hoyle Day with a game of Bridge. ©iStockphoto.com/monkeybusinessimages" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8667" class="wp-caption-text">Celebrate According to Hoyle Day with a game of Bridge.</p></div> <p>A lawyer by trade, Edmond Hoyle is best known for publishing books detailing the rules and regulations of many popular card and board games of his time, including chess and backgammon. He is also known for writing an authoritative pamphlet on the card game of Whist.</p> <h2>Game of Skills</h2> <p>Whist is a trick card game played by two teams of two players each. The card game evolved from a previous game called Ruff and Honors and is the predecessor of Bridge. Popular in the 18th and the 19th century, the game required mathematical and logical skills.</p> <h2>Appeal to Authority</h2> <p>The phrase <em>according to Hoyle</em> came from the authoritative books Hoyle wrote on the rules and regulations of games. When people played these games and made a play that was questioned, they could invoke Hoyle’s rules by saying “according to Hoyle…”. Today, the phrase is used generally to suggest expertise or the highest authority on a subject matter.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Play a game of Whist by following Hoyle’s rules. Don’t know how? Today is a good excuse to learn!</li> <li>Are you an expert on a subject? Why not spend the day jotting your thought about the subject?</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…the word Whist comes from <em>whisk</em>, from whisking or moving the cards during the game?</p>2025-08-292025-08-30YEARLYenHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/according-hoyle-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/according-to-hoyle-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8668@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZCheese Pizza Day<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">September 5 is Cheese Pizza Day, a day to indulge in a slice (or two) of the classic and simple cheese pizza.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8669" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8669" class="wp-image-8669 size-medium" title="cheese-pizza-day-church Cheese pizza may be one of the simplest kinds of pizza, but it is no less delicious. ©bigstockphoto.com/Milkos" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="cheese-pizza-day-church Cheese pizza may be one of the simplest kinds of pizza, but it is no less delicious. ©bigstockphoto.com/Milkos" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8669" class="wp-caption-text">Cheese pizza may be one of the simplest kinds of pizza, but it is no less delicious.</p></div> <p>While the origins of this fun food holiday are unknown, we can all safely assume that it encourages people to pay homage to the humble but delicious pizza pie covered with only tomato sauce, seasonings and cheese.</p> <h2>Hearty Italian Dish</h2> <p>Italian in origin, a pizza is a hearty dish made of rolled out dough topped with tomato, cheese, vegetables or meats, which is baked in an oven before being served. It is believed that the pizza as we know it today originated in Naples, Italy. A Traditional Speciality Guaranteed product in Europe, the Neapolitan pizza is made with tomatoes and Mozzarella cheese. This means that only pizzas made in Naples can be called Neapolitan pizza in the European Union and the rest of Europe.</p> <h2>Fit for a Queen</h2> <p>Legend has it that a variant of Neapolitan pizza, the Margherita, was created by pizza maker Raffaele Esposito in 1889 to honour the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy. The pizza represented the national colors of the flag of Italy with the use of tomato, mozzarella and basil.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <p>Celebrating Cheese Pizza Day, which is also sometimes known as National Cheese Pizza Day in the United States, is easy. Here are some ways to celebrate this delicious holiday:</p> <ul> <li>Make your own cheese pizza at home from scratch. Experiment with different types of cheese. Perhaps you could try replacing the mozzarella with blue cheese, brie or some creamy goat cheese?</li> <li>Have cheese pizza for all your meals. Start with a breakfast pizza, with feta cheese, bacon and eggs. Have a classic cheese pizza for lunch, and a gourmet cheese pizza with your favorite meat and vegetable toppings for dinner. End the day with a dessert pizza – pizza with cream cheese, chocolate and berries.</li> <li>Visit your favorite pizza place and treat yourself to a slice or two of their cheese pizza.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that tomato wasn’t a staple addition to the pizza until the 1700s? Tomatoes only became popular with pizza lovers in Italy in the 1900s. Before that, they were thought to be poisonous and unfit for consumption.</p>2025-09-052025-09-06YEARLY9enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/cheese-pizza-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/cheese-pizza-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8674@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZLabour Day In Canada<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Labour Day in Canada is celebrated on the first Monday of September. It originally gave workers the chance to campaign for better working conditions or pay. The day is now part of a long weekend for many Canadians.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8675" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8675" class="wp-image-8675 size-medium" title="Labour-Day Church Labour Day is a time when many Canadians can relax and unwind from work or studies. ©thinkstockphoto.com" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Labour-Day Church Labour Day is a time when many Canadians can relax and unwind from work or studies. ©thinkstockphoto.com" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8675" class="wp-caption-text">Labour Day is a time when many Canadians can relax and unwind from work or studies.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Traditionally, Labour Day was an occasion to campaign for and celebrate workers’ rights during parades and picnics organized by trade unions. These still play a role in Labour Day for some Canadians, but many people see the first Monday in September as an opportunity to take a late summer trip, perhaps to their country cottage, or enjoy the company of family or friends at picnics, fairs, festivals and fireworks displays. For teenagers and other students, the Labour Day weekend is the last chance to celebrate with a party or to go on a trip before school re-opens for the new academic year.</p> <p>Canadian football fans may spend a large proportion of the weekend watching the Labour Day Classic matches live or on television. The Labour Day Classic consists of three games between high ranking teams in the Canadian Football League. One match is played on the Sunday before Labour Day and two on Labour Day.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Post offices, many businesses, and many organizations are closed on Labour Day in Canada. Schools and other educational establishments are also closed, as Labour Day falls at the end of the summer holiday period. Many public transport services run to a reduced or “Sunday” service, although others may not run at all. There may be some local disruption to traffic around parades, particularly in Toronto, and some congestion on highways and at airports as people return form late summer vacations or trips.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to April 15, 1872, when the Toronto Trades Assembly organized Canada’s first significant demonstration for worker’s rights. The aim of the demonstration was to release the 24 leaders of the Toronto Typographical Union who were imprisoned for striking to campaign for a nine-hour working day. At this time, trade unions were still illegal and striking was seen as a criminal conspiracy to disrupt trade. In spite of this, the Toronto Trades Assembly was already a significant organization and encouraged workers to form trade unions, mediated in disputes between employers and employees and signaled the mistreatment of workers.</p> <p>There was enormous public support for the parade and the authorities could no longer deny the important role that the trade unions had to play in the emerging Canadian society. A few months later, a similar parade was organized in Ottawa and passed the house of Canada’s first prime minister, Sir John Macdonald. Later in the day, he appeared before the gathering and promised to repeal all Canadian laws against trade unions. This happened in the same year and eventually led to the founding of the Canadian Labour Congress in 1883.</p> <p>Labour Day was originally celebrated in the spring but it was moved to the fall after 1894. A similar holiday, Labor Day is held on the same day in the United States of America. Canadian trade unions are proud that this holiday was inspired by their efforts to improve workers’ rights. Many countries have a holiday to celebrate workers’ rights on or around May 1.</p>2025-09-052025-09-06YEARLY9enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/labour-day-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Labour-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8691@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZPardon Day – Forgive and Be Happy<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">September 8 is Pardon Day, a day to seek and give forgiveness. On Pardon Day put aside all your grudges, be kind to everyone and forgive those who may have hurt you.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8692" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8692" class="wp-image-8692 size-medium" title="pardon-day-fun-church Practice forgiveness in your life. ©iStockphoto.com/alexytrener" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg" alt="pardon-day-fun-church Practice forgiveness in your life. ©iStockphoto.com/alexytrener" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8692" class="wp-caption-text">Practice forgiveness in your life.</p></div> <p>It is thought that the day owes its existence to the pardon granted by United States President Gerald Ford to former President Nixon for his involvement in the Watergate Scandal on September 8, 1974.</p> <h2>Giving Pardon</h2> <p>While the word pardon can be commonly used as a synonym of forgiveness, the word has a very specific legal implication. It is used to refer to an official or legal act that releases an individual or a group from the punishment for a crime. In its legal form a pardon is usually given by the head of a government, state or a religious authority. In many countries the rules of a pardon are coded in law or in the constitution.</p> <h2>Forgive and Be Happy</h2> <p>Forgiveness is the deliberate act of giving up on feelings of resentment or vengeance towards a person, group, or institution that may have wronged you. Most religions and cultures hold forgiveness as one of the key elements of living a good, honest and pure life. Scientific studies have shown that practicing forgiveness can improve the physical and mental health of the forgiver. People who forgive those who have hurt them tend to live happier and healthier lives.</p> <p>This unofficial holiday is also known as International Pardon Day or National Pardon Day in the U.S.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>There is nothing wrong in saying sorry, so if you have someone you think you have hurt, tell them that you are sorry. Write a nice note or meet them for coffee.</li> <li>If someone comes to you to apologize for something they have done, be gracious and forgive them.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the word pardon comes from the Latin <em>perdonare</em> meaning to grant freely?</p>2025-09-082024-09-09YEARLY9en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/pardon-day-forgive-happy/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/pardon-day-fun-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8527@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZHug Your Hound Day<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">On September 14, give your four-legged best friend a big hug because it is Hug Your Hound Day.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8528" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8528" class="wp-image-8528 size-medium" title="Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church Give your furry friend a big hug. ©iStockphoto.com/sonyae" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church Give your furry friend a big hug. ©iStockphoto.com/sonyae" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8528" class="wp-caption-text">Give your furry friend a big hug.</p></div> <p>Created by canine behaviorist Ami Moore, the holiday encourages dog parents and owners to focus on their dogs’ health, safety and happiness. The unofficial holiday celebrates the special bond between dogs and their owners.</p> <p>The day also aims at creating a more dog friendly environment in urban areas.</p> <p>The holiday is also known as National Hug Your Hound Day in the United States. Another holiday for man’s best friend is <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=dog-appreciation-day">Dog Appreciation Day</a>.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Take your hound for a long walk or to the dog park to say hello to their friends.</li> <li>Treat them to their favorite treats.</li> <li>And of course, give them a big hug!</li> <li>If you have been thinking of bringing a dog in your life, take this day to visit your local shelter to see if you can adopt a dog.</li> <li>Don’t have the time or space to adopt a dog? What about volunteering your time and money to your local dog shelter. Spend the day bringing joy in the lives of dogs who are waiting to be adopted.</li> <li>If you are a business owner, take steps to make your business more dog friendly.</li> <li>Don’t have a dog, but love cats? Don’t worry, you have a holiday that you can celebrate with your feline friends: <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=hug-cat-day">Hug Your Cat Day!</a></li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that pigs and dogs were the earliest domesticated animals in human history?</p>2024-09-142024-09-15YEARLY9en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/hug-hound-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Hug-Your-Hound-Day-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8695@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZInternational Day of Peace<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21 each year to recognize the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. The International Day of Peace is also a day of ceasefire – personal or political.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8696" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8696" class="wp-image-8696 size-medium" title="international-day-of-peace- church The dove is a symbol often associated with the International Day of Peace. ©iStockphoto.com/Sue McDonald" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg" alt="international-day-of-peace- church The dove is a symbol often associated with the International Day of Peace. ©iStockphoto.com/Sue McDonald" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8696" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> The dove is a symbol often associated with the International Day of Peace.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>On the International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, people around the world take part in various activities and organize events centered on the theme “peace”.</p> <p>Events vary from private gatherings to public concerts and forums involving large audiences.</p> <p>Activities include:</p> <ul> <li>Interfaith peace ceremonies.</li> <li>A toast for peace.</li> <li>A peace choir.</li> <li>Lighting candles.</li> <li>Peace prayers.</li> <li>A peace convoy of vehicles.</li> <li>Tree planting for peace.</li> <li>Art exhibitions promoting peace.</li> <li>Picnics for peace.</li> <li>Peace walks.</li> </ul> <p>Organizations such as Roots & Shoots, an international environmental and humanitarian program for youth, show their support for the event on an annual basis.</p> <p>Young people involved in Roots & Shoots may engage in activities such as crafting giant peace dove puppets from re-used materials and flying the doves in their communities. People from diverse religious and spiritual backgrounds also commit to organizing an International Day of Peace Vigil.</p> <p>Some groups observe a minute of silence at noon in every time zone across the world on Peace Day.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>The UN’s International Day of Peace is a global observance and not a public holiday. It is a day when nations around the world are invited to honor a cessation of hostilities during the day.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>A UN resolution established the International Day of Peace in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982 and was held on the third Tuesday of September each year until 2002, when September 21 became the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.</p> <p>The assembly decided in 2001 that the International Day of Peace should be annually observed on September 21 starting from 2002. By setting a fixed date for the International Day of Peace, the assembly declared that the day should be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.</p> <p>By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged people to work in cooperation for this goal. Since its inception, Peace Day has marked personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people worldwide and many events are organized each year to commemorate and celebrate this day.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The peace dove flying with an olive branch in its beak is one of the most commonly featured symbols for the day. In Judaism, Christianity, and Islam a white dove is generally a sign for peace. The dove can also represent “hope for peace” or a peace offering from one person to another, hence the phrase “to extend an olive branch”. Often, the dove is represented as still in flight to remind people of its role as messenger.</p>2024-09-212024-09-22YEARLY9en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/international-day-peace/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/international-day-of-peace-church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8703@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZGood Neighbor Day<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Neighbors are an integral part of our social lives – whether at home or at work. Good Neighbor Day on September 28 is an annual holiday that promotes neighborliness and kindness towards people who surround us.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8704" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8704" class="wp-image-8704 size-medium" title="good-neighbor-day-church Close neighbors in Dublin. ©iStockphoto.com/mustafa6noz" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="good-neighbor-day-church Close neighbors in Dublin. ©iStockphoto.com/mustafa6noz" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8704" class="wp-caption-text">Close neighbors in Dublin.</p></div> <p>The holiday was created by Becky Mattson of Arizona in the 1970s as a way to encourage neighbors to be good to each other. In 1978, then American President, Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation that designated September 24, 2024 as National Good Neighbor Day. In 2004, the United States Senate passed a resolution to celebrate September 26, 2024 as National Good Neighbor Day.</p> <p>Prior to 2003, the holiday was celebrated on the fourth Sunday in September. Now it is unofficially celebrated in the U.S. and around the world as Good Neighbor Day.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Be nice to your neighbor – at home or elsewhere.</li> <li>If you don’t know your neighbors well, maybe today is your chance to go up to them and strike up a conversation.</li> <li>Bake some goodies and share them with your neighbors. Bring them to work for your work neighbors.</li> <li>Invite your neighbors to your home for a meal.</li> <li>Don’t live in the U.S.? Don’t let that stop you from showing your appreciation for your neighbors.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that the word neighbor comes from the Old English word <em>neahgebur</em>, where neah means near and gebur means inhabitant?</p>2024-09-282024-09-29YEARLY9en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/good-neighbor-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/good-neighbor-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8705@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZWorld Smile Day<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The first Friday of October every year is celebrated around the globe as World Smile Day. The unofficial holiday encourages people to do acts of kindness to spread good will and cheer.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8707" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8707" class="wp-image-8707 size-medium" title="world-smile-day-church Smile and make others smile on World Smile Day. ©iStockphoto.com/shironosov" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="world-smile-day-church Smile and make others smile on World Smile Day. ©iStockphoto.com/shironosov" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8707" class="wp-caption-text">Smile and make others smile on World Smile Day.</p></div> <p>First started in 1999 by the creator of the smiley, Harvey Ball, the holiday celebrates the intent behind the now universally recognized icon – to bring a smile of the faces of people around the world. The purpose of the holiday was the move away from the commercialization of the smiley and to use it as a symbol of kindness and affection.</p> <h2>Morale Booster</h2> <p>The smiley made its debut in 1963 as a way to increase the morale of the employees of a life insurance company. Today, it is one of the most popular nonverbal ways to convey joy, happiness and cheer. The smiley face began as a bright yellow circle with two dots to represent eyes and a black line that represents a smiling mouth.</p> <h2>Emoji</h2> <p>Today, there are many different versions of the smiley, representing many other human emotions such a sadness, surprise, worry and laughter. In modern texting smileys are used to express emotions in online conversations on a smartphone or on a computer. The practice has its origin in Japan, and the smileys and other icons are known as <em>emoji</em>.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>Make people around you smile.</li> <li>Do a random act of kindness. Buy a stranger a coffee. Compliment someone. Give your seat up to someone on the bus.</li> <li>Surprise someone in your family with a visit, cook a meal for them, or do something special for them.</li> <li>Volunteer your time and/ or money at a local nonprofit organization.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that babies are born with the ability to smile?</p>2024-10-072024-10-08YEARLY10en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/world-smile-day/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/world-smile-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8760@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZRemembrance Day in Canada<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifices of people in all armed conflicts.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8761" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8761" class="wp-image-8761 size-medium" title="remembrance-day-church Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifices that Canadians made in armed conflicts, including World Wars I and II. ©iStockphoto.com/James Warren" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg" alt="remembrance-day-church Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifices that Canadians made in armed conflicts, including World Wars I and II. ©iStockphoto.com/James Warren" width="300" height="192" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-560x358.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-260x166.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-160x102.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8761" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Remembrance Day commemorates the sacrifices that Canadians made in armed conflicts, including World Wars I and II.</p></div> <h2>What Happens on Remembrance Day?</h2> <p>Many people wear artificial poppies on their clothes in the weeks before Remembrance Day. Red poppies symbolize the memory of those who died and white poppies campaigns for non-military interventions in conflict situations. On November 11, special church services are organized. These often include the playing of “The Last Post”, a reading of the fourth verse of the ‘Ode of Remembrance’ and two minutes silence at 11:00 (or 11am). After the service, wreaths are laid at local war memorials.</p> <p>The official Canadian national ceremonies are held at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, Ontario, according to a strict protocol. A service is held and wreaths are laid by armed services representatives. In May 2000 the remains of a Canadian soldier who died in France in World War I, but was never been identified, were laid in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memorial.</p> <p>Since then, members of the public have laid poppies, letters and photographs on the tomb. Similar services and events are held throughout Canada. Some schools that are open on Remembrance Day hold special assemblies, lessons and presentations on armed conflicts and those who died in them.</p> <h2>What’s Open or Closed?</h2> <p>The federal government recognizes Remembrance Day in the Holidays Act as a national holiday, but not all provinces treat it as a paid statutory holiday. Its status varies by province.</p> <h3>Manitoba</h3> <p>Manitoba retail business is prohibited between 9am and 1pm on Remembrance Day, with exception to professional health services, goods or services relating to:</p> <ul> <li>Living accommodation or prepared meals.</li> <li>Veterinary services.</li> <li>Drugs, medicines, surgical appliances, or infant formula.</li> <li>Gasoline, motor oil or related products.</li> <li>Or parts and services for emergency repairs to a vehicle.</li> </ul> <p>Remembrance Day is not a general holiday under Manitoba’s labour legislation but most industries in Manitoba are not allowed to operate that day, with some specified exceptions.</p> <h3>Ontario</h3> <p>In Ontario, some employers give their employees a holiday on Remembrance Day, but they are not require to do so under the <em>Employment Standards Act, 2000</em> (ESA).</p> <h3>Quebec</h3> <p>Remembrance Day is also not a statutory holiday in Quebec, although corporations that are federally registered may make the day a full holiday, or instead, designate a provincially recognized holiday on a different day. When Remembrance Day falls on a Sunday or Saturday that is a non-working day, workers are entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately preceding or following the general holiday.</p> <h3>Nova Scotia</h3> <p>Remembrance Day is governed by the <em>Remembrance Day Act</em> in Nova Scotia. Some employees may be entitled to a benefit. Employees required to work on Remembrance Day in Nova Scotia get an alternate day off with pay, except for those types of businesses that are exempt from the Act. Employees who do not work that day, do not get paid for the day, unless the employer offers pay as an added benefit. Remembrance Day must be observed on the actual date.</p> <h2>About Remembrance Day</h2> <p>Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the official end of the World War I hostilities on November 11, 1918. World War I was a massive conflict was played out over the whole globe, but particularly in Europe, where troops from Canada supported the Allied forces.</p> <p>World War I resulted in the loss of huge numbers of lives amongst both civilians and military personnel. Many more people were badly injured. The war left great emotional scars in the servicemen, who had experienced it, and in the communities, whose sons, brothers, fathers, uncles and even grandfathers had died. Remembrance Day commemorates those who died in armed conflicts, particularly in and since World War I.</p> <p>In Canada, November 11 is officially called Remembrance Day, but it is also known as Armistice Day and Poppy Day. Remembrance Day is commemorated in many countries, particularly members of the Commonwealth, including Australia and New Zealand (where it is also referred to as Armistice Day). In the United States, Veterans Day falls on the same date. In the United Kingdom, the Sunday closest to November 11 is known as Remembrance Sunday.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Remembrance Day is symbolized by the artificial poppies that people wear and place at war memorials. The poppies may be worn or placed singly or as wreaths. The use of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance comes from a poem written by John McCrae, a Canadian doctor serving in the military. The poem is called In Flanders Fields and describes the poppies growing in the Flemish graveyards where soldiers were buried.</p> <p>Poppies grow well in soil that has been disturbed. They also grew in large numbers on battle fields. The red color of their petals reminded people of the blood lost by victims of and casualties in the conflict. Some people choose to wear white poppies to campaign for non-military interventions in conflict situations.</p> <p>Other symbols of Remembrance Day are the war memorials, which are often near the geographical center of communities. These commemorate members of the community, who have died in military action. A particularly well-known memorial is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa, Ontario. The military parades held on November 11 are also symbolic of Remembrance Day.</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> For more information on the day, government sources such as Veterans Affairs Canada have a more detailed account.</p>2024-11-112024-11-12YEARLY11enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/remembrance-day-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg;300;192,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg;300;192,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg;300;192,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/remembrance-day-church-300x192.jpg;300;192ai1ec-8779@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZWorld Hello Day – Promote Peace<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">World Hello Day on November 21 is an unofficial holiday created to promote world peace through interpersonal communication.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8780" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8780" class="wp-image-8780 size-medium" title="world-hello-day-church Say "hello" to everyone you meet on World Hello Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Maridav" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg" alt="world-hello-day-church Say "hello" to everyone you meet on World Hello Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Maridav" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8780" class="wp-caption-text">Say “hello” to everyone you meet on World Hello Day.</p></div> <p>The unofficial holiday was created by Brian and Michael McCormack as a response to the Yom Kippur War between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/egypt/">Egypt</a>and Syria in 1973.</p> <h2>Say Hello</h2> <p>The purpose of World Hello Day is simple – to encourage communication and dialogue between people of different backgrounds in order to achieve peace and understanding.</p> <p>Since its beginning in 1973, the day has been celebrated around the world annually with several Nobel Peace Prize winners and peace activists taking part in it.</p> <h2>How to Celebrate?</h2> <ul> <li>World Hello Day requires that participants greet at least 10 people. These people can be family and friends, but it is suggested that one finds strangers to greet and talk to.</li> </ul> <h2>Did You Know…</h2> <p>…that <em>hello</em> was used as a telephone greeting for the first time by Thomas Edison?</p>2024-11-212024-11-22YEARLY11enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/world-hello-day-promote-peace/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/world-hello-day-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8790@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZFirst Sunday of Advent in Canada<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Many Christians in Canada celebrate the beginning of the Advent season on the first Sunday of Advent. It marks the start of the Christian year in western Christianity. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8791" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8791" class="wp-image-8791 size-medium" title="advent-canada-st-stephens-church Many church liturgies are used with the lighting of Advent candles in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/Jasmin Awad" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg" alt="advent-canada-st-stephens-church Many church liturgies are used with the lighting of Advent candles in Canada. ©iStockphoto.com/Jasmin Awad" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8791" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Many church liturgies are used with the lighting of Advent candles in Canada.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>In the Roman Catholic Church and in some Anglican communities the third Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, from the first word of the introit (psalm or antiphon) “Rejoice”. In some churches rose-colored vestments may replace the purple and flowers may be placed on the altar. In many eastern Christian churches, the church year begins in September 1 so Advent begins at a different time to when it starts in the western churches. The Eastern equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, which runs for 40 days. It is sometimes called Philip’s Fast, or the Philippian Fast, and begins on the day following the Feast of St Philip the Apostle (November 14).</p> <p>Advent around the world is usually associated with the Advent calendars that parents give their children to help them count the days until Christmas. Preparation for Christmas is an important theme for Advent, particularly at the beginning. It is a time when the Christmas menu is planned, gifts are bought or made, then wrapped, carols are sung, Christmas cards are sent and houses are decorated with Christmas-themed lights and other decorations. Advent customs in some European countries, such as Germany, include lighting candles and hanging special Advent wreaths.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>The first Sunday of Advent is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States. However, churches may be busy on this day, as are families who use the beginning of Advent as a time to prepare for the Christmas season.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>It is uncertain as to when exactly the celebration of Advent was first introduced in the Christian church. Some sources say that Advent began on November 11 (St Martin’s Day) at some time in the fifth century in the form of a six-week fast leading to Christmas. Advent was reduced to its current length at some stage in the sixth century and the fasting was later no longer observed.</p> <p>It was customary, although no longer practiced, for poor women to carry “Advent images”, which were two dolls dressed to represent Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the northern parts of England. Those who saw the dolls were expected to give a donation in form of money and bad luck was believed to occur to those who were not visited by the doll-bearers before Christmas Eve.</p> <p>Advent is originally a time to reflect and prepare for Christmas similarly to how Lent is in preparation for Easter. Advent has sometimes been referred to as the Winter Lent. In recent times the restrictions that Advent brings to Christians have become more relaxed.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Purple is historically the main color used for Advent because it reflects penitence, fasting, and the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the king (Jesus Christ). The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his first Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his second Advent. Some churches use other colors in recent times. For example, some churches mark the third Sunday of Advent with pink or rose, colors that represent joy. Many Protestant churches use blue to distinguish the Season of Advent from Lent.</p> <p>Advent wreaths are symbolic of Advent in some countries. They are usually made of fir and decorated with gold and silver ribbons or scarlet woolen threads. Lit wreaths may be displayed on the table where family and friends sit while singing carols and preparing handmade gifts.</p>2024-11-272024-11-29YEARLY11enReligious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/first-sunday-advent-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/advent-canada-st-stephens-church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-8831@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZNew Year’s Eve in Canada<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">New Year’s Eve is a day of reflection of the past year’s events and a time to prepare for the New Year. It is also the last day of the Canadian tax year. Many people attend special parties or other events to mark the end of one year and the start of the next one.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8832" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8832" class="wp-image-8832 size-medium" title="new years eve fireworks-montreal st stephens church Fireworks over the Jacques-Cartier bridge in Montreal, Canada." src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg" alt="new years eve fireworks-montreal st stephens church Fireworks over the Jacques-Cartier bridge in Montreal, Canada." width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8832" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Fireworks over the Jacques-Cartier bridge in Montreal, Canada.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>On New Year’s Eve, social gatherings of all sizes are organized to mark the end of one year and the start of the next. These range from small parties with family members and a few good friends in private homes to huge street parties with live entertainment, music, dancing and even public fireworks. Many events start in the middle of the evening on December 31 and continue into the early hours of January 1.</p> <p>Some people mark the stroke of midnight by opening bottles of champagne or sparkling wine and drinking a toast to the New Year and the health of everyone present. Others take a short vacation to enjoy Canada’s natural beauty at its wintry best or to take part in winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding. In rural areas in northern Canada, particularly in Quebec, some people spend all night on a frozen lake with a group of good friends and fish through holes in the ice.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>December 31 is not a public holiday and in general post offices, stores and other businesses are open. However, they may close earlier than usual. Bars, restaurants and clubs may have special opening hours and different entrance policies to usual. Public transit services usually run as usual in the morning and early afternoon but may offer a reduced service or close down completely in the late afternoon or early evening. In some large cities, there may be extra transport services late in the evening on December 31 and the early hours of January 1 to enable people to return home from New Year celebrations safely.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>In Europe, the darkest part of winter has been a time of celebration with displays of fire, evergreen plants and nature’s bounty since pre-Christian times. When many inhabitants of Europe were converted to Christianity, these festivals were merged with Christian beliefs and in time came to mark Christmas and the New Year. When European settlers came to Canada, they brought these customs with them and their celebrations evolved into the events seen today.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Symbols of New Year’s Eve include images of Canada’s winter landscape, winter sports, champagne bottles, and some New Year fireworks are in the form of traditional symbols associated with Canada, such as the maple leaf.</p>2024-12-032024-12-04YEARLY12en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/new-years-eve-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/new-years-eve-fireworks-montreal-st-stephens-church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8806@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZFeast of the Immaculate Conception<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Many Christians, particularly those of Catholic faith, in Canada observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on or around December 8.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8807" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church.jpe" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8807" class="wp-image-8807 size-medium" title="feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-st-stephens-church Various statues and other forms of artwork on the Immaculate Conception often feature the Virgin Mary as a young woman. ©iStockphoto.com/Domenico Pellegriti " src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe" alt="feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-st-stephens-church Various statues and other forms of artwork on the Immaculate Conception often feature the Virgin Mary as a young woman. ©iStockphoto.com/Domenico Pellegriti " width="300" height="239" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-560x446.jpe 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-260x207.jpe 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-160x127.jpe 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church.jpe 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8807" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Various statues and other forms of artwork on the Immaculate Conception often feature the Virgin Mary as a young woman.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Some churches in Canada, particularly the Catholic churches, hold special services (or masses) to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on or close to December 8. The feast focuses on the concept that the Virgin Mary was conceived without sin. Many churches that observe the Feast of the Immaculate Conception are busy preparing for the occasion prior to its occurrence.</p> <p>Many church-run schools teach their students about the observance and its meaning around this time of the year. Some people write feature articles about the observance in publications or gazettes that are centered on the theme of religion.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is an observance among many Christian churches but it is not a nationwide public holiday in Canada.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>The Feast of the Immaculate Conception centers on the belief that Jesus’ mother, the Virgin Mary, was conceived without sin. Pope Pius IX issued an apostolic constitution, known as the <em>Ineffabilis Deus</em>, on December 8, 1854. This document clarified the importance of the Immaculate Conception in the Catholic Church.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Various paintings, statues and other forms of artwork have been made depicting the Immaculate Conception. Images of the Virgin Mary are shown in many of these artworks. Some churches and church-run schools in Canada are named in honor of the Immaculate Conception.</p> <p>Conception Bay, in Newfoundland and Labrador, is named to commemorate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. People from Europe came to this area as far back as the early 1500s to use the bay for its rich marine resources.</p>2024-12-082024-12-09YEARLY12enHolidays,Religious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/feast-immaculate-conception/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe;300;239,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe;300;239,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe;300;239,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Feast-of-the-Immaculate-Conception-St-Stephens-Church-300x239.jpe;300;239ai1ec-8803@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZAnniversary of the Statute of Westminster<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is observed in Canada on December 11 each year to mark the statute’s establishment. The Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on this day.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8804" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church.jpe" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8804" class="wp-image-8804 size-medium" title="the-anniversary-of-the-statute-of-westminster-canadian-flag-royal-union-flag-st-stephens-church Both the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster. ©iStockphoto.com/philpell" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe" alt="the-anniversary-of-the-statute-of-westminster-canadian-flag-royal-union-flag-st-stephens-church Both the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster. ©iStockphoto.com/philpell" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-560x372.jpe 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-260x173.jpe 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-160x106.jpe 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church.jpe 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8804" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Both the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together on the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster.</p></div> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Flags Up from Sunrise to Sunset</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Businesses, individuals and government offices across Canada observe the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster on this day. Canada’s national flag and the Royal Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, are flown from sunrise to sunset. The flags can be seen at federal buildings, airports, military bases and other government establishments.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">What’s Open or Closed?</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster is not a public holiday but government and military officials ensure that the Canadian flag and the Royal Union flag are flown together from sunrise to sunset on this day.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">About the Day</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The original Royal Union flag, or Union Jack, was first raised at a British settlement in Newfoundland, Canada, after 1610. In 1870 the flag was incorporated into the flags of the Governor General and the Lieutenant Governors of Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In 1904 the flag became a Canadian symbol and was used by Canadian troops during World War I.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">However, for many years during the early 20th century Canada sought to gain formal recognition of its autonomy from the United Kingdom. Finally, in 1931 the <em>Statute of Westminster, 1931</em>, which was an Act of the British Parliament, gave Canada its autonomy. This statute marks the independence of Canada as the nation that it is today.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">In 1964 Canada’s parliament approved for the Royal Union flag to be used as a symbol of Canada’s membership in the Commonwealth of Nations and of the nation’s allegiance to the British Crown. Canada remains close with the United Kingdom and flies the Royal Union Flag along with the Canadian flag for occasions such as the Anniversary of the Statute of Westminster, <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/commonwealth-day">Commonwealth Day</a>, and <a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/victoria-day">Victoria Day</a>.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Symbols</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The Royal Union Flag, which is seen on the arms of British Columbia and on the flags of Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia, incorporates the diagonal cross of St Patrick with England’s St George’s cross and Scotland’s St Andrew’s cross. The Canadian flag is red and white, the official colors of Canada, with a stylized 11-point red leaf in its center. When flown together, there must be at least two flag poles and the Canadian flag takes precedence, never being replaced by the Union Jack.</span></p> <p>xx</p>2024-12-112024-12-12YEARLY12enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/anniversary-statute-westminster-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/The-Anniversary-of-the-Statute-of-Westminster-Canadian-flag-Royal-Union-flag-St-Stephens-Church-300x199.jpe;300;199ai1ec-8809@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZChristmas in Canada<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Many Christians in Canada mark the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25, which is known as Christmas Day. It is a day of celebration when many Canadians exchange gifts and enjoy festive meals.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8810" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8810" class="wp-image-8810 size-medium" title="christmas-church-st-stephens Christmas stockings near a decorated Christmas tree. ©iStockphoto.com/DNY59" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg" alt="christmas-church-st-stephens Christmas stockings near a decorated Christmas tree. ©iStockphoto.com/DNY59" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8810" class="wp-caption-text"><br /> Christmas stockings near a decorated Christmas tree.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Many Canadians have a day off work on December 25 and many spend the day with close relatives or friends. It is customary to exchange gifts, enjoy a special festive meal and, perhaps, attend a special church service. However, some people, particularly in Quebec, do some or all of these things on Christmas Eve as well as, or instead of, on Christmas Day.</p> <p>The traditions centered on Christmas gifts in Canada vary a lot between families. In some families, a mythical figure called Santa Claus brings gifts. He travels on a sleigh pulled by reindeer, enters homes via the chimney and leaves presents and candy in Christmas stockings or in a pile under the Christmas tree. In other families, individual members exchange carefully selected gifts. Popular gifts are toys, games and candy for children and clothes, music, alcohol and practical or luxury items for adults. Canadians may open their presents on Christmas Eve after a special church service or during the morning or after lunch on Christmas Day.</p> <p>Some people consume large quantities of food and drinks on Christmas Day. The day may start with a cooked breakfast, such as ham and eggs or pancakes. Lunch is often a very large meal with a stuffed or dressed roast turkey, potatoes, a selection of vegetables and cranberry sauce and gravy to add flavor. After the savory part of the meal, plum or Christmas pudding is traditionally eaten. Some families also eat a large evening meal, perhaps based around a leg of pork or ham, or re-heat the leftovers from the lunch. During the day, many types of sweet and savory snacks are served, including candy, oranges or mandarins, nuts and butter tarts or shortbread.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Christmas Day is a national public holiday in Canada. Schools, post offices and many businesses and organizations are closed on Christmas Day. Some stores may be open. Many public transport services are closed or offer a reduced service. When Christmas Day falls on a Sunday or Saturday that is a non-working day, workers are entitled to a holiday with pay on the working day immediately preceding or following the general holiday.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Many Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem on December 25, although the true date and year of his birth is unclear. The tradition of celebrating his birth at the end of December may come from the widespread European tradition of celebrations around the winter solstice. Christians who follow the Eastern Orthodox tradition celebrate the birth of Jesus on January 7, while it is marked on January 6 by the Armenian Apostolic Church.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>There are many symbols of Christmas. These include images of baby Jesus and the Holy family in the stable, stars and Christmas trees. Another important symbol of Christmas is Santa Claus. This is a mythical figure with origins in European, particularly British, Dutch and German, cultures. He is a jolly man who wears a red suit, has a long white beard, lives at the North Pole and travels in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. On Christmas Eve, he travels to the homes of children and leaves them presents in Christmas stockings or under the Christmas tree.</p> <p>The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which monitors and controls the aerospace above the United States and Canada, even “monitors” Santa’s movements during November and December. Images and models of Santa Claus and actors playing his role can be seen in many places in the lead up to Christmas.</p>2024-12-252024-12-26YEARLY12enReligious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/christmas-in-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/christmas-church-st-stephens-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8837@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZValentine’s Day in Canada<h3><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for people in Canada to tell somebody that they love them in a romantic way. It falls on February 14, the name day of two saints, St Valentine of Rome and St Valentine of Terni. In pre-Christian times, the middle of February was a time of pagan fertility festivals in Europe and allegedly the time when birds chose a mate.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8838" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church.jpg" target="_blank"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8838" class="wp-image-8838 size-medium" title="valentine's-day-church Romantic dinners are a popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day. ©iStockphoto.com/g_studio" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg" alt="valentine's-day-church Romantic dinners are a popular way to celebrate Valentine's Day. ©iStockphoto.com/g_studio" width="300" height="169" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-560x315.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-260x146.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-160x90.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8838" class="wp-caption-text">Romantic dinners are a popular way to celebrate Valentine’s Day.<br /> ©iStockphoto.com/g_studio</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Many people send letters, cards, presents and gifts to the person with whom they have or want to have a romantic relationship. Valentine’s Day cards are often red or pink and decorated with images of hearts, red roses, teddy bears, presents or happy couples kissing or embracing. They may be in brightly colored, perhaps pink or red, envelopes.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Many people give gifts to loved ones on Valentine’s Day. Common gifts are:</span></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Flowers, particularly red roses.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Chocolates and/or candy.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Teddy bears.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Toy hearts.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Sparkling wine.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Cosmetics.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Clothing, including lingerie.</span></li> <li><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Jewelry.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Some people celebrate Valentine’s Day lavishly. They may treat their partner to a themed meal in a restaurant or a night in a luxury hotel. Others may take short breaks or vacations on Valentine’s Day.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Valentine’s Day can also be an occasion for a more general celebration of love and appreciation of people who are personally important to an individual. School children may help decorate their classrooms with hearts and spring birds and make cards or presents for their parents. Stores may also sell Valentine’s Day themed cakes, cookies or candy. Teenagers and young adults may hold Valentine’s Day parties or dances on or near February 14.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Public Life</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Valentine’s Day is not a public holiday. Schools, businesses, organizations, post offices and stores are open as usual. Public transport services run to their usual timetables. Restaurants and hotels may be busy as many people take out their partner for a romantic meal or night away in a hotel.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Background</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The origins of Valentine’s Day are not clear. It is thought that there were a number of local fertility festivals in Europe in pre-Christian times. These were often in the middle of February. Many people also thought that birds chose their mates at this time of year. Around the year 1380, the English poet Chaucer wrote a poem for the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II to Anne of Bohemia. This is thought to be the first association between celebrations of romantic love and St Valentine’s Day on February 14. The connection remained important throughout the middle ages.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">In the mid-19th century, there was an increase in interest in Valentine’s Day, first in the United States, then in Canada. It was promoted by manufacturers of paper lace and cards as a means of increasing their sales. Gradually, this date was seen as an occasion for a man to present gifts to a woman with whom he had or would like to have had a romantic relationship. It was also customary for lovers to exchange handwritten notes. These have now largely been replaced by commercially produced cards.</span></p> <h2><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">Symbols</span></h2> <p><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;">The most common symbols of Valentine’s Day are heart shapes, which are used to decorate many things, including cards, trees, wrapping paper, cookies and gift boxes. Other symbols associated with February 14 are pairs of birds, cute teddy bears, Cupid and his arrows and couples kissing or embracing. The colors red and pink are often associated with Valentine’s Day.</span></p>2025-02-142025-02-15YEARLY2enHolidays0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/valentines-day-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg;300;169,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg;300;169,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg;300;169,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/valentines-day-church-300x169.jpg;300;169ai1ec-8182@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZGood Friday in Canada<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Good Friday occurs two days before <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=easter-sunday&instance_id=925">Easter Sunday</a>. It is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which plays an important part in the Christian faith. It is also a statutory holiday in all Canadian provinces and territories except Quebec, where it is partially observed.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8183" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church.jpg" rel="attachment wp-att-8183"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8183" class="size-medium wp-image-8183" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Good Friday Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8183" class="wp-caption-text">Good Friday Church A depiction of Jesus on the cross.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Christians may attend special church services, even if they do not attend church regularly during the rest of the year. Good Friday is a day of mourning and quiet prayer among many Christians. The candles are often extinguished and statues, paintings and crosses may be draped in black, purple or gray cloth. Some Catholics observe a partial fast on Good Friday and do not eat any meat.</p> <p>Hot cross buns are a traditional treat on Good Friday. These are small bread-like buns, made from dough that contains raisins, currants and other dried fruit. The top of a hot cross bun is marked with a cross and covered with a sugar glaze. The cross may be cut into the bun or marked with a special dough that remains pale even after it has been baked. Hot cross buns may be eaten as they are, split and spread with butter or toasted.</p> <p>For Canadians who are not Christians Good Friday is the start of a three or four-day weekend. This is a welcome spring break, which some people use to visit family or friends. It is also a popular time to take a short vacation.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Good Friday is a public holiday at a national level in Canada. Schools and many businesses and organizations are closed and many people have a day off work. Post offices are closed and in some areas, particularly in the provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador, stores are closed or have restricted opening hours. Public transport services many run to their usual or restricted timetables. In rural areas, public transport may close down completely.</p> <p>In Quebec, Good Friday or Easter Monday are a statutory general holidays at the option of the employer. Schools and post offices are closed. Public transport services many run to their usual or restricted timetables. In rural areas, public transport may close down completely.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Good Friday is the day when Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This is an important event in Christianity, as it represents the sacrifices and suffering in Jesus’ life. The crucifixion was the culmination of a number of events in Holy Week, including: the triumphal return of Jesus to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday; the washing of the disciples’ feet by Jesus; and the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.</p> <p>On Good Friday in 1964 (March 27), a large earthquake occurred when a fault between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates ruptured. The epicenter of the earthquake was near Prince William Sound in Alaska, USA, but also caused a tsunami. This damaged or destroyed more than 400 homes in communities on the west coast of Vancouver Island, including Port Alberni and Zeballos.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The most important Good Friday symbol is the crucifix, or cross, which represents the way Jesus died. Some crosses bear a figure of Christ. Other symbols of Good Friday include black cloth used to cover the cross, paintings and statues in churches and some homes to signify mourning. In addition, some people deliberately create a bare appearance in their homes and churches by removing all flowers and shiny objects.</p>2025-03-142025-03-15YEARLY3enHolidays,Religious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/good-friday-canada/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Good-Friday-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8205@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZHoly Saturday<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after his death, according to the Christian bible. It is the day after <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=good-friday-canada">Good Friday</a> and the day before <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=easter-sunday&instance_id=925">Easter Sunday</a>. It is also known as Easter Eve, Easter Even, Black Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter.</span></h3> <div id="attachment_8206" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8206"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8206" class="wp-image-8206 size-thumbnail" title="Holy Saturday Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church-150x150.jpg" alt="Holy Saturday Church" width="150" height="150"/></a><p id="caption-attachment-8206" class="wp-caption-text">Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus (sculpture of him pictured above) lay in his tomb after he died. He was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the day after Holy Saturday, according to Christian belief.<br /> ©iStockphoto.com/Edward Lin</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Many Christians worldwide observe Holy Saturday by remembering it as the day when Jesus lay in the tomb. It is a day of both sadness and joy among Christians in many cultures. Many churches hold an Easter vigil (watch) service. Discussions about the meaning behind the rituals, prayer and symbols that are all part of the Easter vigil occur during these services. Some churches also hold large baptism services on this day.</p> <p>Holy Saturday is known as Judas Day in Mexico, where people burn effigies of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Street vendors sell the effigies, which range in height, and make Judas look as ugly as possible. Effigies designed for children are stuffed with candy and hung in patios at people’s homes. Other effigies are seen on the streets or hung on lamp posts. Firecrackers are attached to many of these effigies and are ignited as soon as the Mass of Glory is over. Children scramble for the candy inside the effigies after they explode.</p> <p>A Czech custom, known as White Saturday, is to rattle keys and burn out Judas by burning the last of the holy oil before the church door. Holy Saturday is observed by the blessing of food and Easter baskets in Poland. Children in many countries spend time decorating and coloring eggs on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Holy Saturday is a public holiday in many parts of Australia (where it is known as Easter Saturday), and in places such as (but not exclusive to):</p> <ul> <li>Belize.</li> <li>Chile.</li> <li>El Salvador.</li> <li>Hong Kong.</li> <li>Macau.</li> <li>Nicaragua.</li> <li>Panama.</li> <li>Papua New Guinea.</li> <li>Samoa.</li> <li>Seychelles.</li> <li>Solomon Islands.</li> <li>Zambia. </li> <li>Zimbabwe.</li> </ul> <p>Holy Saturday is not a national public holiday in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week and ends the season of Lent. It is also known as the Vigil of Easter. The day is traditionally a time of reflection and waiting. The vigil stems back to when Jesus’ followers spent this day waiting after his crucifixion on Good Friday. It is also known as the day when Roman governor Pontius Pilate instructed guards to be posted at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from removing the body to claim that he had risen from the dead.</p> <p>Holy Saturday was also known as Great or Grand Saturday, as well as the Angelic Night. It was the only Saturday on which fasting was permitted in the early days of the Christian church. According to some sources, fasting occurred during the entire day or lasted for 40 hours before the Easter Sunday sunrise during the first century CE. This day was a major day for baptisms in the early church. Many churches still hold large services for baptisms on Holy Saturday.</p> <p>Some people refer to Holy Saturday as Easter Saturday but this is a misnomer, as Holy Saturday is the last day of Lent and the eve of Easter. The Saturday after Easter Sunday is known as Easter Saturday, or Bright Saturday. It is important to note, however, that Holy Saturday is often referred to as Easter Saturday by some government sources in countries such as Australia.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>The Paschal candle, which is made of white wax, symbolizes leading people out of the darkness into the celebration of the Easter vigil. The candle is marked with a cross, an alpha and an omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). This symbolizes that Jesus Christ has, and always will be with humanity, and is with humanity now, according to Christian belief.</p>2025-03-152025-03-16YEARLY3enHolidays,Religious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/holy-saturday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church-150x150.jpg;150;150,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church-150x150.jpg;150;150,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church-150x150.jpg;150;150,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Holy-Saturday-Church-150x150.jpg;150;150ai1ec-8184@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZEaster Sunday<h4><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Easter Sunday in Canada celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection after his death, which is described in the Christian Bible. Some people observe Easter Sunday by attending church while others spend time with their families and friends or engage in Easter egg activities.</span></h4> <div id="attachment_8185" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8185"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8185" class="wp-image-8185 size-medium" title="Easter Sunday Canada Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Easter Sunday Canada Church" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8185" class="wp-caption-text">Easter eggs are part of the Easter tradition in Canada.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>Easter is a religious holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ after his death by crucifixion. For Christians, Easter is a day of religious services and family gatherings. Easter Day is a popular day for attending church, getting together for a big family meal, and staging an Easter egg hunt. It is also a good time for people to decorate Easter eggs, join in Easter craft contests and to indulge in holiday recipes, such as mustard-crusted lamb and the Easter basket cake.</p> <p>The <em>Bal en Blanc’s</em> main event is held every Easter Sunday, attracting thousands of partygoers every year in Montreal.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Many businesses, government offices, banks and liquor stores are closed on Easter Sunday.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>Many people organized spring festivals associated with the Pagan gods in ancient times. Many festivals celebrated nature’s rebirth, the return the land to fertility and the birth of many young animals.The idea of modern day Easter eggs derives from these festivals.</p> <p>Many ideas associated with spring were then linked with Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection as the Christianity spread throughout the world. The crucifixion is remembered on Good Friday and the resurrection on Easter Sunday. The idea of the resurrection became joined up with the ideas of re-birth in Pagan beliefs. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Easter candles are sometimes lit in churches on the eve of Easter Sunday. Some believe that these can be directly linked to the Pagan customs of lighting bonfires to welcome the rebirth or resurrection of the sun god.</p> <p>Eggs of all types are an important symbol of Easter. They represent the rebirth of nature in the spring and the promise of new life in the spring and summer months to come and are seen as a reflection of the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. Easter eggs, whether they are made of chocolate or candy or are decorated hens eggs, are common gifts all over the world during Easter. However, the biggest Easter egg in the world is a representation of a Ukrainian Easter egg, known as a Pysanka, located in Vegreville, Alberta.</p> <p>The Pysanka in Vegreville was constructed in 1974 to mark the centenary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and to celebrate Vegreville’s strong links with the Ukraine. It is made of more than 2000 aluminium triangles fixed together with nearly 7000 bolts and 177 internal struts. The egg is more than 25 feet (nearly eight meters) in diameter and is decorated with a gold, silver and bronze design. Its construction represented significant advances in computer modeling, mathematical theory, architectural design and engineering construction.</p>2025-03-162025-03-18YEARLY3enHolidays,Religious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/easter-sunday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Sunday-Canada-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200ai1ec-8211@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZEaster Monday<h3><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif;">Easter Monday is the day after <a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/?ai1ec_event=easter-sunday&instance_id=925">Easter Sunday</a>, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to the Christian Bible. Easter Monday is also a holiday for many Canadians. <br /> </span></h3> <div id="attachment_8212" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8212"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8212" class="wp-image-8212 size-medium" title="Easter Monday Church" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg" alt="Easter Monday Church" width="300" height="199" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-560x372.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-160x106.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8212" class="wp-caption-text">A basket of Easter eggs.<br /> ©iStockphoto.com/Shannon Long</p></div> <h2>Celebrate Easter Monday</h2> <p>A proportion of Canadians have a day off work on Easter Monday and for some it is the end of a four-day weekend. People who have been on a short vacation or who have visited family or friends often travel home on Easter Monday. For others, it is a chance to eat their easter eggs, relax and, depending on the weather and when Easter falls, enjoy some time outdoors.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>The Canadian federal government lists Easter Monday as a statutory holiday but this isn’t the case with some provincial and territorial governments. Some state that the holiday is taken at the employer’s option. Rules about this holiday change and vary across businesses and provinces/territories from time to time.</p> <p>Schools, businesses and organizations are closed in places where Easter Monday is a day off. Public transport services may run to reduced timetables. In rural areas, there may be no public transport services.</p> <h2>About Easter Monday</h2> <p>Easter Monday is a holiday in many English speaking countries, including England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Australia, and European counties. The tradition of having a holiday on the day after Easter Sunday was brought to Canada by European immigrants. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Eggs of all types are an important symbol of Easter. They represent the rebirth of nature in the spring and the promise of new life in the spring and summer months to come and are seen as a reflection of the resurrection of Christ after his crucifixion. Easter eggs, whether they are made of chocolate or candy or are decorated hens eggs, are common gifts all over the world during Easter. However, the biggest Easter egg in the world is a representation of a Ukranian Easter egg, known as a Pysanka, located in Vegreville, Alberta.</p> <p>The Pysanka in Vegreville was constructed in 1974 to mark the centenary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and to celebrate Vegreville’s strong links with the Ukraine. It is made of more than 2000 aluminium triangles fixed together with nearly 7000 bolts and 177 internal struts. The egg is more than 25 feet (nearly eight meters) in diameter and is decorated with a gold, silver and bronze design. Its construction represented significant advances in computer modeling, mathematical theory, architectural design and engineering construction.</p>2025-03-172025-03-18YEARLY3enHolidays,Religious0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/easter-monday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Easter-Monday-Church-300x199.jpg;300;199ai1ec-7957@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZSoup’s On<p>St Stephen’s Memorial Hall</p> <p><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage.jpg" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-8094 noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-8094 size-medium" title="hospitality-soups on-heritage" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg" alt="hospitality-soups on-heritage" width="300" height="167" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-260x144.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-160x89.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>America/Vancouver2019-03-22T12:00:00America/Vancouver2019-03-22T13:00:00WEEKLYFRSUAmerica/Vancouver2016-06-10T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-06-17T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-06-24T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-07-01T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-08-05T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-08-12T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-08-19T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-08-26T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-09-02T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-07-08T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-07-15T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-07-22T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-07-29T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-12-16T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-12-23T12:00:00America/Vancouver2016-12-30T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-06-02T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-06-09T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-06-16T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-06-23T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-06-30T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-07-07T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-07-14T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-07-21T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-07-28T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-08-04T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-08-11T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-08-18T12:00:00America/Vancouver2017-08-25T12:00:00enSt Stephen's Memorial Hall0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/soups-on/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg;300;167,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg;300;167,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg;300;167,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/hospitality-soups-on-heritage-300x167.jpg;300;167ai1ec-8400@ststephensanglican.net2022-03-22T02:01:39ZOrthodox Good Friday<p>Millions of Orthodox Christians commemorate Good Friday, also known as “Great Friday” to remember the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The Orthodox Easter dates usually differ from the dates used by western churches because most Orthodox churches retained some version of the Julian calendar, which is older than the Gregorian calendar, commonly used today.</p> <div id="attachment_8398" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church.jpg"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-8398" class="size-medium wp-image-8398" src="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg" alt="Good Friday Orthodox Church Good Friday is a time for many Orthodox Christians to remember Jesus' death on the cross. ©iStockphoto.com/Richard Goerg" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg 300w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-560x373.jpg 560w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-260x173.jpg 260w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-160x107.jpg 160w, http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-8398" class="wp-caption-text">Good Friday is a time for many Orthodox Christians to remember Jesus’ death on the cross.</p></div> <h2>What Do People Do?</h2> <p>On Good Friday, many Orthodox Christian churches hold special liturgies with readings from the Gospels of the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In countries such as the United States, some Orthodox churches hold evening liturgies throughout Holy Week, with some special afternoon liturgies for children on Good Friday. Church activities may include: a family retreat with children’s activities; discussion groups; the wrapping of the red eggs to be distributed on Easter Sunday; and a Lenten lunch. Many adult Orthodox Christians observe Good Friday with fasting, prayer, cleanliness, self-examination, confession and good works.</p> <p>The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America celebrates the Passion of Christ, or the last moments of his life according to the New Testament in the Bible, on Good Friday. This liturgy is long, but its content is dramatic. The liturgy also includes participation in prayers and the historical sequence of the events, as related in the Gospels and hymns.</p> <p>In Greece, Good Friday is a day of mourning so many people may avoid household chores. A ritual lament called the “Procession of the Epitáphios of Christ” mourns the death of Christ on the cross with a symbolic decorated coffin carried through the streets by the faithful. Families attend their church to decorate the Epitaph (Bier of Christ) with flowers. In the morning of Good Friday, Christ’s burial is reenacted in many churches and in the evening the Epitaph procession takes place.</p> <h2>Public Life</h2> <p>Good Friday is officially observed in countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon and the Republic of Macedonia. Some embassies are closed in these countries on Good Friday but travelers and expats will need to check first with their own embassies. Many public offices, schools and banks will also be closed.</p> <p>There are no federal Orthodox Easter public holidays in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, it is a time for families and friends of the Orthodox Christian faith to gather together and to celebrate the Orthodox Easter period.</p> <h2>Background</h2> <p>In the early Church Good Friday was called “Pascha of the Cross” because it marked the beginning of that Passover. It is part of the Easter period which is observed by both Orthodox and western churches alike, although the Easter dates may differ.</p> <p>The Council of Nicaea established the Easter date for churches around the world in 325CE but not all Christian churches observed Easter according the Gregorian calendar after it was first introduced in 1582. Many Orthodox churches still observe Easter in accordance with the Julian calendar. Therefore the Orthodox Easter period occurs later than the Easter period that falls around the time of the March equinox.</p> <p>In the Orthodox circles, tensions exist between New Calendarists – those who use the revised Julian calendar for calculating the feasts of the ecclesiastical year – and Old Calendarists – those who continue to use the traditional Julian calendar. There have been a number of proposed Easter date reforms. In 1997 the World Council of Churches proposed a reform to solve the Easter date difference between churches that observe the Gregorian calendar and those that observe the Julian calendar. So far, this reform has not been implemented.</p> <h2>Symbols</h2> <p>Good Friday commemorates the moments leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as told in the New Testament of the Bible. The most common symbols in observing Good Friday are the cross and crucifix and traditions include the venerations of the cross and the preaching or singing of the Passion of Christ.</p> <p>In Greece, many flags at homes and government buildings are set at half mast to mark the mournful day. The icon of Christ is taken off the cross in churches and is then wrapped in linen and placed in a great casket covered in flowers symbolizing the tomb of Christ. The bier is then taken through the town or village, with people lamenting the death of Christ.</p>America/Vancouver2019-04-01T01:17:00America/Vancouver2019-04-01T02:17:00YEARLY4en0http://ststephensanglican.net/event/orthodox-good-friday/freethumbnail;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,medium;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,large;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200,full;http://ststephensanglican.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Good-Friday-Orthodox-Church-300x200.jpg;300;200