Celebrate Constitution Week
On September 17, the United States celebrates an important anniversary. On that date in 1787, 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention added their signature to a document that would become the “supreme law of the land”—the U.S. Constitution. James Wilson, a delegate from Philadelphia, proudly stated that “it is the best form of government which has ever […]
History of Juneteenth
President Abraham Lincoln declared an end to slavery in the United States with the Emancipation Proclamation in September 1862. Following the Union army’s success at the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln proclaimed “That on the 1st day of January . . . 1863, all persons held as slaves within any state or designated part of a […]
Lunar New Year Begins
Happy New Year! Lunar New Year–also known as the Spring Festival–began on January 22, 2023. The Lunar New Year represents renewal, as well as the transition from winter to spring, and is important in many Asian cultures and communities. Here, btw takes a closer look at the origins, significance, and traditions surrounding this holiday, as […]
Stuff YOU Should Know
Celebrating Bastille Day As you surely know, Independence Day (July 4th) is a holiday that celebrates the United States officially declaring its independence from England. Did you know that France celebrates a similar occasion just ten days later? Named for the prison that was stormed by the French people, Bastille Day commemorates the beginning of […]
Happy Maewyn Succat Day!
Each March 17th, people of all cultures all over the world come together to celebrate Irish culture. We wear green, go to parades, attend church services, and eat corned beef & cabbage (and sometimes slurp down a “shamrock” shake, if you like green-colored milk). But how much do you really know about origins of the […]