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César Chavez Day

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Last Monday in March Actual birthday: March 31

“Money is not going to organize the disadvantaged, the powerless, or the poor. We need other weapons. That’s why the War on Poverty is such a miserable failure. You put out a big pot of money and all you do is fight over it. Then you run out of money and you run out of troops.” – César Chavez

On March 31 (or the last Monday in …Read more

Boganda Day – Central African Republic

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March 29

Flag of the Central African Republic, originally designed by Barthélemy Boganda for the United States of Latin Africa

On March 29 the Central African Republic remembers the amazing life and mysterious death of Barthélemy Boganda.

Though France had abolished slavery in the 19th century, the conditions under which Boganda’s family lived at the time of his birth in 1910 in French Oubangui-Chari were not much better.

His mother was beaten to death by officials …Read more

Benito Juarez

March 21

March 21, the birth of spring, is also the birth of Mexico’s greatest leader, Benito Juarez.

On this day in 1806 Benito was born to poor Amerindian peasants in the mountains of Oaxaca. His parents died when he was three and Benito spent his youth working the corn fields and shepherding local flocks.

At age 12 he left the mountain village for the city of Oaxaca to live with a sister and work …Read more

Pi Day & Albert Einstein

“I am ashamed to tell you to how many places of figures I carried these computations, having no other business at the time”.

– Isaac Newton, original ‘computer’ nerd, getting high on ∏

Pi Pie at Delft University

I have to admit I’m a Pi holiday snob. I don’t celebrate Pi Day on March 14; I prefer its more accurate European equivalent, Pi Approximation Day, celebrated on July 22 (22/7).

It’s been said the only real Pi …Read more

Baron Bliss Day – Belize

March 9

Baron Bliss.

Sounds like the name of a Batman character, and its eccentric, British, paralyzed bearer could have easily been one.

Little is known of Henry Edward Ernest …Read more

George Washington’s Birthday?

George Washington, 1772, by C. Wilson Peale

Actual birthday: February 22? Observed: 3rd Monday in February

George Washington’s birthday is observed on the third Monday in February. Since the third Monday falls between Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthdays, many people celebrate it as Presidents’ Day. But the federal holiday’s name was never officially changed. It is still ‘Washington’s Birthday Observed’ even if it is commonly referred to as ‘Presidents Day’ by state legislatures and mattress stores alike.

(Flags George served) (1700s Union Jack; early …Read more

George Washington: unanimous my animous

Observed: Third Monday in February Actual Birthday: February 22

Was George Washington elected unanimously?

The tallies of the first presidential election in 1789, submitted by electors of 10 of the 13 United States of America, were as follows:

George Washington: 69 votes John Adams: 34 votes John Jay: 9 votes Robert Harrison: 6 votes John Rutledge: 6 votes John Hancock:4 votes< George Clinton: 3 votes Samuel Huntington: 2 votes John Milton: 2 votes James Armstrong: …Read more

Kim Jong Il’s Birthday (no longer observed)

Sadly, this holiday is no longer celebrated.

Mr. Jong Il passed away on December 17, 2011, aged 70 (or 69).

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February 16 used to be celebrated by North Korea as the birthday of its Dear Leader, Kim Jong Il. He was a Water Tiger Aquarius.

The late Kim Jong Il

According to http://www.usbridalguide.com/special/chinesehoroscopes/Tiger.htm

“Tigers are also incorrigibly competitive – they simply cannot pass up a challenge, especially when honor is at stake, or they are protecting those they love. …Read more