Holidays: History of Federal Holidays

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Close-up of father's hands holding handmade card and present from children on father's day

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Father’s Day 2024

Mother’s Day: Inspiration for Father’s Day The “Mother’s Day” we celebrate today has its origins in the peace‑and‑reconciliation campaigns of the post‑Civil War era. During the 1860s, at the urging of activist Ann Reeves Jarvis, one divided West Virginia town celebrated “Mother’s Work Days” that brought together the mothers of Confederate and Union soldiers. Did […]

Eid al‑Adha

When Is Eid al‑Adha 2024? In the United States, Eid al‑Adha 2024 is predicted to begin on the evening of Sunday 16 June (depending on sightings of the moon) and will end with the culmination of the Hajj a few days later. The Story of Eid al‑Adha In the Quran, Ibrahim has a dream in which Allah […]

Earth Day Timeline

Earth Day was established in 1970 and has become a worldwide holiday celebrated by over 1 billion people. Here are key highlights in the movement.

Mother’s Day 2024

Celebrations of mothers can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

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Memorial Day

Take a look at the holiday marking the unofficial beginning of summer and America’s most solemn occasion.

Flashback: Easter 1941

1941’s Easter celebrations would be the last before the United States officially entered WWII. It was a time to celebrate peace, even under the specter of global war. This episode of Flashback takes a look at how the U.S. celebrated Easter during a time of conflict.

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Ramadan

Ramadan is the most holy Islamic holiday.

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Veterans Day

Father Emil Kapaun gave his life during the Korean War, but his selfless faith saved and inspired his fellow soldiers. President Obama recognized the Army chaplain with the Medal of Honor in 2013.

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