holiday

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Latest Fall Trend: Porches Packed With Pumpkins

Americans are paying big for elaborate, professionally designed autumn displays

(Newser) - Forget the humble jack-o'-lantern—now, it's all about luxury pumpkin porches. A growing number of Americans are paying hundreds—sometimes even more than $1,000—for elaborate, professionally designed pumpkin displays on their doorsteps, reports the Washington Post . The trend has been fueled in part by consumers' willingness...

In Venezuela, It's Christmas in October

Nicolas Maduro moves up the holiday to Oct. 1, citing the need to boost his country's need for 'joy'

(Newser) - Nicolas Maduro is bringing good tidings to Venezuelans early this year, with Christmas festivities kicking off on Oct. 1—months ahead of the traditional December date. Maduro says the early kickoff is meant to inject some "joy" into a country facing mounting tensions with the United States, reports...

Kroger Faces Backlash as Juneteenth Cakes Go Viral

Social media users call out bakery for uninspired holiday treats

(Newser) - Kroger is under fire on social media after a TikTok video showing its Juneteenth cakes in an Atlanta store went viral. The video , posted by user @blaq.monalisa, shows multiple cakes with minimal decoration and generic messages like "Free @ last" and "June 19 free." The...

Amid the Rubble, Gaza Marks the Start of Eid

Gazans hold outdoor prayers, with food growing ever scarcer

(Newser) - Palestinians across the war-ravaged Gaza Strip marked the start of one of Islam's most important holidays with prayers outside destroyed mosques and homes early Friday, with little hope the war with Israel will end soon. With much of Gaza in rubble, men and children were forced to hold the...

Sudden Storm Capsizes 4 Boats on China River, Killing 9

84 swept into river as tourists caught in sudden storm

(Newser) - A sudden storm capsized four boats on the Wu River in southwestern China's Guizhou province Sunday, leaving nine dead and one person missing, according to state media. More than 80 people ended up in the water after strong winds and a fast-moving rain and hail storm struck the...

Trump Makes Columbus Day Columbus Day Again

Biden recognized Indigenous Peoples Day as activists shifted focus, but Trump will not

(Newser) - President Trump announced Sunday that he is "bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes" and that he will not recognize Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day in October, the AP reports. "The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians...

GOP Lawmaker Wants to Make Trump's Birthday a Holiday

New York's Claudia Tenney introduces bill for president's special day to be federally recognized

(Newser) - June 14 is Flag Day in the United States, and it also happens to be President Trump's birthday. Now, a Republican congresswoman wants to merge them into one big celebration that would even shut some government offices down, reports the Hill . "Just as George Washington's birthday is...

'Small Luxury' for Valentine's Day Doesn't Have Small Price Tag

Cost of cocoa hasn't been this high in 50 years, leading to 'unprecedented' chocolate prices

(Newser) - Valentine's chocolates always seek to show how deep your love is. This year, it may also show how deep your pockets are. With the price of cocoa beans setting unprecedented records on the commodities market, it will certainly turn the gift of love into a bigger financial commitment than...

In a US First, State Shuts Schools for Lunar New Year

Public schools across New York will close for Jan. 29 festivities kickoff

(Newser) - The Year of the Snake is fast approaching in Asian culture, and kids in one US state will now be able to celebrate it with their families, friends, and neighbors at home instead of while stuck in the classroom. NBC News reports that New York will become the first state...

Happy ... 'Christmas Adam'?
Happy ...
'Christmas Adam'?
Dec 23, 2024 9:43 AM CST

Happy ... 'Christmas Adam'?

Day before Christmas Eve has its basis in a dad joke; not everyone loves its patriarchal undertones

(Newser) - The term "Christmas Adam" appears in Urban Dictionary , but how many people actually know what it means? In short, it's a holiday of sorts celebrated on Dec. 23, although the New York Times notes that "the Vatican certainly does not recognize it, and many churchgoers have not...

This City Never Trick-or-Treats on Halloween. Until This Year

Des Moines, Iowa, has instead celebrated Beggars' Night on Oct. 30 since '38

(Newser) - The last time the kids of Des Moines officially went trick-or-treating on Halloween was nearly nine decades ago. This Oct. 31, the Iowa capital will join the rest of the nation in celebrating the holiday the traditional way, all because the weather isn't cooperating. NPR reports that since 1938,...

The City of Orlando's July 4 Message Didn't Land Well

It's now apologizing for message acknowledging some might not feel like celebrating the holiday

(Newser) - Orlando's Independence Day message was seemingly an attempt to commiserate with those unhappy and stressed over recent events in the news, but all it did was create a backlash that extended all the way to the Florida governor's office. The city newsletter that went out on Friday acknowledged...

It's Now the Year of the Tiger
It's Now the
Year of the Tiger
Feb 1, 2022 8:17 AM CST

It's Now the Year of the Tiger

Chinese celebrants ring in Lunar New Year despite pandemic restrictions

(Newser) - Chinese people rang in the Lunar New Year on Tuesday despite pandemic restrictions, as small crowds gathered at temples to offer traditional prayers for the Year of the Tiger. At the Lama Temple in Beijing, dozens of people bowed in prayer before the ornate west gate of the Tibetan Buddhist...

Columbus Day Sprang From Violence
History of Columbus Day
Is a Violent One
the rundown
Oct 11, 2021 9:45 AM CDT

History of Columbus Day Is a Violent One

President Harrison acted after a mob killed Italian immigrants in New Orleans

(Newser) - Monday is Columbus Day, though the term "politically fraught" is a common one used these days to describe the federal holiday. A look at its history, as well as views from supporters and critics:
  • Going away? Many states and municipalities have either ditched Columbus Day and replaced it with
...

Symbolic Orange Surfaces Across Canada

New national holiday pays homage to Indigenous culture

(Newser) - Specs of orange will be visible around Canada Thursday, and not just in the changing leaves. The day marks Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a statutory holiday to acknowledge the impacts of the government-funded residential school system on Indigenous peoples, which Canadians will mark by wearing...

Whew: Charlie Brown Specials Returning to TV

'Peanuts' skipped Halloween, will be back for Thanksgiving and Christmas

(Newser) - The Great Pumpkin never showed on broadcast television this year, but after a deal with PBS, the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and Christmas specials will return to the air, the AP reports. Last month, Apple TV+ became the new home to the beloved Peanuts holiday specials. That sparked an outcry from...

Twitter CEO Announces New Company Holiday 'Forevermore'

Jack Dorsey says Twitter will make Juneteenth an official company holiday for US workers

(Newser) - As company after company puts out ads and sends out emails expressing their support for black Americans in the wake of the killing of George Floyd , Forbes notes that some, especially in the tech world, have been slammed for being all talk, no action. Twitter is looking to separate itself...

In Berlin, New May Holiday Sends 'Unmistakable Message'

City makes May 8 a public holiday to commemorate end of WWII, Nazi rule

(Newser) - The US and Britain recognize May 8 as a special date—and now Berlin is joining them, even going so far as to make it a public holiday. Victory in Europe Day commemorates May 8, 1945, the day when German troops surrendered to the Soviets, effectively ending World War II....

Steve Bannon Declares New Holiday: 'MAGA Day'

From now on, Trump supporters will celebrate Nov. 8 as if it were Bastille Day, he says

(Newser) - Steve Bannon is a busy man these days, given the one-year anniversary of President Trump's election victory. Among the speeches and interviews he's given is a sit-down with the New York Times , in which he declares a new holiday of sorts. "We celebrated today in the Trump...

LA Scraps Columbus Day, Will Honor Someone Else

Indigenous Peoples Day will now occur on 2nd Monday of October

(Newser) - The Los Angeles City Council has voted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day as an official holiday. Council members voted 14-1 on Wednesday to make the second Monday in October a day to commemorate indigenous, aboriginal, and native people. It will be a paid holiday for city employees....

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