Pesach Sameach!
Happy Passover!

Spring has arrived and with it comes the eight-day Jewish holiday of freedom. It’s time to clean out your chametz, open up a box of matzah and set up for your seder.

Join our Passover festivities at Holidays on the Net to learn all about this pinnacle holiday in the Jewish calendar. Study the significance of the seder plate and its symbolic foods; explore the Haggadah and its parable of the Four Sons; help your kids get ready to recite the Four Questions; and even discover some new traditions for this ages old holiday.

Of course, at Holidays on the Net, we know that getting ready for Passover means a lot of cleaning and cooking. If you’re in charge of baking dessert or bringing charoset to your seder, we’ve got you covered. And be sure to check out our article on cooking meat-free and low-fat (we’ve even got a recipe for mock chicken soup and vegan matzah balls!). Visit our Passover recipe pages for these and more tasty holiday dishes.

While you’re “slaving” away in the kitchen (so you can be “free” on seder night), your kids can keep busy with our fun Passover crafts. Or just crank up some Passover music and let your little ones get into the holiday spirit. And there’s still time to send Passover greetings with our selection of free holiday ecards.

The first night of Passover 2008 is celebrated with a seder on this Saturday, April 19. The second seder is Sunday, April 20.

We look forward to seeing you at our Passover celebrations!

Hag Kasher v’Samech (A Happy and Kosher Passover),

Holidays on the Net

Its February, the 2nd and shortest month of the year.  Its still winter and cold up here in the Northern Hemisphere. But we’ll know more tomorrow, Groundhogs Day, whether its another 6 weeks of Winter or hopefully an early Spring.

This month we’re celebrating Black History Month, the aim of which is …

… to expose the harms of racial prejudice and to cultivate black self-esteem following centuries of socio-economic oppression. It is also an opportunity to recognize significant contributions to society made by people with African heritage.*

There are lots of other celebrations to observe this month. First up we’ll be celebrating Mardi Gras which arrives early this year. So get out your “beads, doubloons, cups, and trinkets” as we celebrate Fat Tuesday on Feb. 05th. And once the fog, and the hangovers, clears the next morning it on to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the Lenten season.

And February’s also the time for cherry pies and “no telling lies” as we celebrate President’s Day. And while it seems to be mostly a weekend of sales, sales, sales we will be celebrating all the Presidents of the United States.

And lets not forget the big celebration this month; Valentine’s Day. A day set aside to intimidate men into spending too much on not much. (I kid! I kid!)  So there is still time to start putting together a great Valentine’s Day for your love. We’ve go lots to help you get prepared; whether its craft/gift ideas, a sensuous dessert recipe to help get things in the mood, or even free holiday eCards to send your valentine - we’ve got it all here. So join us as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

And closing out the month - it’s a special day and special year ahead of us as we celebrate Leap Day and the beginning of a Leap Year. And a very Happy Birthday to those born on February 29th and we hope you enjoy your once in every four years birthday celebrations!

Here’s some fun facts about February…**

Month of year: 2nd
Days: 28 / 29 Leap Year
Birthstone: Amethyst
Flower: Violet
Season: Winter
Horoscope: Aquarius, Pisces
History: February, named for the Roman purification ritual Februa, was one of the last months added to the Roman calendar.
Important Observances:
Black History Month, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Valentine’s Day, Leap Day, Leap Year**

And remember - someone, somewhere is celebrating something.  And we are too! So  join us as we celebrate the holidays of the year. One day at a time.

 Happy February!!

*Source: wikipedia - Black History Month
**Source: Daily Holidays on the Net

links: Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the Net
Valentine’s Day : Amore on the Net
Mardi Gras : Mardi Gras on the Net
Independence Day on the Net : President’s Day
Holidaypedia : Leap Day, Leap Year

Cookie Cutter Week
Celebrating the arrival of the holiday baking season, as well as those that collect cookie cutters.

photo credit: shopnbake via flickr

Pumpkin Pie Day
Is there anything better than some homemade Pumpkin-y goodness on Thanksgiving?  And with a dab (or 3) of whipped cream. Yummy!

Well  what better way to prepare for the big day tomorrow than by taking time today to bake your own of pumpkin pie?

While I enjoy the basic Pumpkin Pie, I invite you to check out the tasty selection of Thanksgiving Desserts at Holiday Eats, our holiday recipe site. ‘Cause aside from the basic Pumpkin Pie, you can chose from easy and tasty recipes including Ice Cream Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin and Praline Pie, and Pumpkin Cake Roll.

Happy Baking!

Visit our new Holiday Recipe site - Holiday Eats - for fun and tasty Thanksgiving recipes to help celebrate the holiday…