|
|
||
|
|
January 2 In Cape Town one day isn’t enough time to celebrate the New Year. So residents celebrate Tweede Nuwa Jaar, “Second New Year.” On this day thousands line up along the streets to watch, or participate in, one of the most fascinating New Year’s celebrations in the world. The world-famous Coon Carnival. Regarding the name, says one participant: “The Americans come and they don’t want us to use the word Coon because it’s derogatory for the …Read more October 12 On this day in 1492 two worlds collided. Mexican philosopher Jose Vasconcelos coined the term La Raza Cósmica, the Cosmic Race (for lack of a better word), to describe the people of Latin America, and what he considered the future of the human race. Vasconcelos theorized that: “the different races of the world tend to mix ever more, until forming a new human type, composed of the selection of each of the existent peoples…” …and that the …Read more 
Summer Bank Holiday Weekend August 28-29, 2011 The word “carnival” comes from the Latin carne vale meaning “farewell to the flesh”. It originally referred to festivals that fell just before Lent, when eating meat was forbidden. Famous pre-lenten carnivals include Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, Nice, and Trinidad. Inspired by the world-famous Trinidad Carnival, Notting Hill takes place in August, because you’d have to be nuts to wear a thong in England in February. The ‘Mother of Notting …Read more 
August 9
South Africa’s Women’s Day recalls the 20,000 woman-strong march in Pretoria on this day in 1956. The marchers protested amendments to the Urban Areas Act, which, among other things, reserved urban living spaces for white South Africans, and required black men in cities and towns to carry special passes with them at all times or be subject to arrest. Originally enacted in 1923, the Pass Laws were expanded in the 1950s to require …Read more 
June 16
With the coming of summer, many students are struck with a debilitating illness known as cantgotoschoolitis. Symptoms may include inability to pay attention in class, wandering eyes, and an overactive imagination. With students yearning so badly to get out of class, it’s hard to believe that on this day in 1976, many young students gave their lives fighting just to receive a fair and equal education. In 1953, the white Apartheid government of …Read more |
|
|
Copyright © 2012 every day's a holiday! - All Rights Reserved 44 queries. 1.710 seconds. |
||
English