World

May

2023

M M M M MONDAY

Many European countries celebrate today the end of World War II in Europe. The day has many names – Day of Liberation in Norway, Victory in Europe Day in Czechia and just End of World War II in Germany, France and many other countries. The day is celebrated on May 9 in the countries of the former Soviet Union. It was the deadliest conflict in human history with an estimated 75 million – 80 million fatalities, most of them in the Soviet Union and China.

Members of the French Republican Guard ride horses up the Champs-Elysees avenue, with the Arc de Triomphe in background, during ceremonies marking the 78th anniversary of the victory against the Nazis and the end of the World War II in Europe, in Paris, Monday, May 8, 2023. Emmanuel Macron presides over ceremonies in Paris and Lyon celebrating victory over the Nazis and commemorating victims of the Holocaust and French resistance fighters in World War II.

THE CORONATION!!

It’s time once again for the amazing Eurovision Song Contest with its amazing over the top entries from every European nation (and a couple of others). Here’s one of the favorites. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWfbEFH9NvQ

Apr

2023

MONDAY after Easter

Today is Juan Santamaria Day in Costa Rica. The holiday commemorates the Battle of Rivas, made famous by the heroic actions of the National Hero, Juan Santamaria, the “Little Drummer Boy”. The Battle of Rivas took placeon Aril 11, 1856 in Rivas, Nicaragua between the army lead by William Walker and Costa Rica’s army led by President Juan Rafael Mora Porras, General José Joaquín Mora Porras, and General Jose Maria Cañas. Walker was an American who had assumed control of Nicaragua and was amassing troops and consolidating his power in the region. The battle was a stalemate until Juan Santamaría, a Costa Rican drummer boy from Alajuela, volunteered to burn down the “El Mesón de Guerra”, a building, in which Walker’s troops where gathered.

Santamaria threw a torch onto the thatched roof of Walker’s stronghold, causing it to catch fire and his troops to flee. While he was successful in his mission and his actions enabled the Costa Ricans to win the battle, Santamaria was then killed by sniper fire.

His heroics were the defining factor in the Costa Rican victory at Rivas. For his sacrifice, he became recognised as a National Hero of Costa Rica.

Born to Clean

We celebrate Jesus brutally dying on the cross by getting a giant bunny rabbit to hide chocolate eggs. I can’t help but feel there is a massive gap in information somewhere.

Why is Easter an Alzheimer’s patient’s favorite holiday? They get to hide their own eggs.

I feel sorry for Jesus. He spent most of his life trying to do good deeds, yet more people celebrate his death than Hitler’s.

I’m combining Easter and April Fool’s Day this year…I’m sending the kids out to look for eggs I haven’t hidden.

I love Jesus. He’s born, I get presents. He dies, I get chocolate.

Today is the birthday, in 1947 of Jamaican singer songwriter and percussionist Bunny Wailer, who was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he is considered one of the long-time standard-bearers of reggae music. He died on 2 March 2021 age 73. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf8GjhXvOjU

Mar

2023

a fine WEDNESDAY

Today is Martyr’s Day in Madagascar. Also known as Commemoration Day or Insurrection Day, this holiday commemorates those who died in the 1947 uprising against French rule. While estimates of the number of Malagasy casualties vary wildly from 11,000 to 100,000, the indisputable violent repression of the uprising had a major impact on the country.

Today is the birthday, in 1940 of Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto Her version of ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ won a Grammy for Record of the Year in 1965. Here’s another of her songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9srw5FRm5eA

Mar

2023

FRIDAY – St. Patrick’s Day!

Today is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Birthday, a public holiday in Bangladesh. This holiday may also be known as ‘Father of the Nation’s birth anniversary’ and it commemorates the birthday in 1920 of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who is regarded as the father of the nation of Bangladesh and is popularly known as Bangabandhu (“Friend of Bengal”).

Haha…

“Don’t forget that Saint Patrick is not the only saint whose feast day is March 17. It is also the feast day of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats and the people who love them.”

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jgd07Ica5s

Apr

2022

Noooooo…it’s MONDAY

Today is the Hung Kings Temple Festival, a public holiday in Vietnam. The Hùng Kings’ Temple Festival (Vietnamese: Giỗ Tổ Hùng Vương or lễ hội đền Hùng) is held each year in honor of the Hùng Kings and their role in shaping the nation. the Hung Kings were the founders of the nation and ruled Vietnam from 2879 BC until 258 BC.