White House Easter Egg Roll – This has been going on for more than 130 years and this year is no exception. But don't plan on dropping by to participate, they have a lottery system in place to pick the people who will get to go.
Boston Marathon – This year will be the 118th Boston Marathon and the first one since the bombing at last years event. This is an amazing event with an incredible number of runners in one place along with all the volunteers to help keep them hydrated, medical people to help with any problems that come up like cramps, sprains, dehydration and exhaustion to name a few, and of course, plenty of friends and family to cheer on the runners.
Patriot's Day – Always celebrated on the third Monday of April, this day commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were the first battles of the Revolutionary War. Re-enactments are performed in Lexington and Concord on this day every year. In some states it is an official holiday with schools being closed, other states didn’t make it official, but they still encourage their citizens to celebrate.
National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day – I have yet to find out where to buy these chocolate and cashew lovers little pieces of heaven. Does anyone have any ideas?
Kindergarten Day – Today we celebrate the birthday of Friedrich Froebe who was born in 1782 and started the first kindergarten in 1837. It was a very popular concept but the government chose to stop it in 1851. A year later Friedrich died and so wasn't able to see that his idea was resurrected in Germany in 1860 and in 1873 the first public kindergarten was opened in St. Louis Missouri. They blossomed from there so that now there are multiple options for kindergartens for your children no matter where you are.
Dyngus Day – This is the Polish term for Easter Monday. Each country has a different way of celebrating. I was surprised to read that traditionally boys wake girls up by pouring water on their heads and hitting them on the legs with long, thin twigs or switches made from willow or birch tree branches. The website I reference here says the water is “sprinkled” and the legs are “tapped” but I think we all know what would really happen if you're talking about brothers and sisters. It says at the website below that ladies would retaliate by throwing dishes and crockery. That seems like a rather violent custom to me but I don’t judge. It also said that traditionally girls would then return the favor on Tuesday. I don’t think I would bother to wait that long. http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/whatisdyngusday.html
John Muir Day - Born on this day in Scotland in 1838, John Muir was a wilderness explorer and writer. He was also the first President of the Sierra Club. He came to the U.S. in 1849 and lived in California. He traveled extensively and made it his mission to encourage people to protect nature and beauty. He helped to establish Yosemite National Park in 1890. http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/about/muir-day.aspx
To celebrate today, allow the boys in your house to wake up the girls with water and twiggy love pats before you drop off the little kids at Kindergarten and head to Boston to run in the marathon, I hope you’ve been training in your spare time. This afternoon, have a snack of chocolate-covered cashews and head to Lexington or Concord to participate in the re-enactments that will be going on. Finally, read up about John Muir’s exciting life before you lay your exhausted head on your pillow.
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