Curling Is Cool Day
Remember that really weird Olympic sport that looked like it included bowling balls, ice hockey, and brooms?!?

Well today there is a worldwide effort to show that the Olympic sport of curling really is …um… cool.

photo credit: via flickr

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 22 : 02 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the ever-popular beaded necklaces, so ubiquitously associated with Mardi Gras today, didn’t come into play until the 1880s? That’s when one of the Krewes dressed up a member as Santa Claus and had him toss out glass beads. It was such a hit that by 1900, beaded necklaces had become the Mardi Gras throw.

Somewhere along the way, those lovely glass beads got replaced by cheap plastic and aluminum beads, which today earn the thrower a flash (of flesh). That particular “trading” tradition most likely dates back to the 1970s.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

Shrovetide
The three days of fun and festivities leading up to Ash Wednesday and Lent.

Individually known as Shrove Sunday, Shrove Monday, and Shrove Tuesday (Mardi Gras).

photo credit: via flickr

George Washington’s Birthday
The first President* of the United States of America. Washington is considered by many scholars and historians to be one of the country’s greatest Presidents.

 *Did you know that George Washington, according to some historical accounting, was actually the eighth president of the United States, and not the first president?

Washington was sworn in as President on April 30, 1789 at the age of 57. He was the first president elected after the passage of the U.S. Constitution in 1788. From 1781 to 1788, however, the United States had been governed by a document known as the “Articles of Confederation,” which set out that there should be one house of Congress without an executive branch.

During that eight-year time period, Congress elected its own president. The first Congressional president was John Hanson, who served a two-year term. Hanson was succeeded by six other Congressional presidents, causing some historians to argue that George Washington was in fact the eighth president of the United States.

 

    source: USA4kids – George Washington
photo credit: Wikipedia

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 21 : 03 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the tradition of Krewes tossing out handouts to parade onlookers — or “throws” in New Orleans parlance — dates back to Renaissance Europe? That’s where the festival custom started in which lords and ladies would hurl mead* and ale at revelers.

Some historians believe the tradition has even more ancient roots. Pagan peasants would toss grains at their fields in the springtime, as a show of gratitude to the deities for allowing them to survive the bitter winters.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.

*Mead is a beverage typically alcoholic, made from honey and water, by fermentation with yeast. Its alcoholic content may range from that of a mild ale to that of a strong wine. It may be still, carbonated, or sparkling. It may be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet… often referred to as “honey wine. (source: Wikipedia)

Single-Tasking Day
Down with multitasking — it’s overtaxing on your brain! Today, just work your way down the list, marking off tasks one thing at a time.

image credit: via flickr

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore About Mardi Gras
February 20 : 04 days till Mardi Gras

Did you know that the first Mardi Gras parade was staged in the United States 1837? It has been reported that there was just one float, which, despite its crudeness, brought great joy to the people of New Orleans. Today, the city begins its cascade of parades the Friday before Ash Wednesday. The parades feature hundreds of different floats from the city’s many parishes, each of which is sponsored by a different Krewes, or club.

While Mardi Gras is celebrated throughout the southern US, it is most often identified with New Orleans, where it is celebrated with masquerade balls, King Cakes, and parades.

We’ll be presenting a new “Did You Know?” fun fact each day as we countdown to February 24th! So stop by again tomorrow or for those with no patience you can visit our Mardi Gras celebration for our list of Did You Know? Mardi Gras facts.