Tag Archives: category-holidays
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What’s So “Good” About “Good Friday”?
Good Friday is part of Holy Week, the week before Easter Sunday. It falls between Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday. Good Friday is the most important day of this week, as it commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Given the day’s significance, it seems odd that we would use the word good to refer to this day. However, there is a, well, good reason …
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Is It Called Presidents’ Day Or Washington’s Birthday?
If you live in the United States and you’re anything like us, you might view Presidents’ Day as just another three-day weekend in February. But the story behind this important commemorative holiday is more interesting than you might think—especially considering Presidents’ Day isn’t the official name of the holiday at all. Presidents’ Day was first established in 1885 to honor the February 22 birthday of …
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Fall In Love With 14 Captivating Valentine’s Day Words
Love is a many splendored thing. That must be why there are so many ways to talk about it. Thanks to love songs, poetry, music, movies, and art, the language of love seems to be constantly expanding, and what better time to brush up on the myriad ways to express your love and affection than on Valentine’s Day? You might be working on a few …
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What Do Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, And Lent Mean?
As anyone who is familiar with Christian holidays knows, winter is jam-packed with important observances. Christmas is well known, but there are many occasions with great religious significance leading up to spring that are less familiar to many: Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, and Lent. In the simplest sense, all of these days are lead-ins to the central Christian festival of Easter. Some are …
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Happy Lunar New Year! Learn All About This Celebration
For millions of Asian Americans and Asian peoples around the world, the Lunar New Year is a time to gather with family, start the year off right, and eat a lot of delicious food. Like, a lot. One of the biggest holidays in East Asia, the Lunar New Year will fall on February 10 in 2024. Because it’s based on the Chinese lunisolar calendar, it’s …
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MLK’s “I Have A Dream” Speech: An Example Of Anaphora
Politicians and political figures often use anaphora in speeches to emphasize their points. One of the most famous anaphora examples comes from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. King uses the anaphoral phrase, “I have a dream,” to start eight consecutive sentences: I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi … will be transformed into an oasis …
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Words For The Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions
Another new year, another round of the not-so-new tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. As a dictionary, we’re not here to give advice on self-improvement goals, which are often personal and private. Instead, we can provide some exceptional words you can use to describe the resolutions you may have planned ahead for 2024. As a bonus, these words are perfect inspiration if your resolution is …
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Christmas Greetings Around The World
During the holiday season, we hear Merry Christmas countless times. How did we settle on this Christmas greeting? It’s not clear, but in the United States, the word merry is almost exclusively used in the Christmas season. Merry in this phrase means “festive or characterized by rejoicing.” One of the earliest known uses of Merry Christmas is in a December 22, 1534, record of a …
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The Meaning Of Kwanzaa And Its Celebrations
The holiday season is a time to give thanks, connect with loved ones, and think ahead to the future. For those who celebrate Kwanzaa, this festive season ends and the new year begins with a celebration of pan-African culture and history. Observers light candles, commemorate key principles and ideals, and spend time with friends and family from December 26 until January 1. Look no further …
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Cozy, Hometown, and 15 More Words In Every Hallmark Holiday Movie
It’s that time of year again. No, we aren’t just talking about the holidays. We mean that it’s officially Hallmark holiday movie season. Each year, there’s a new lineup of cozy, festive holiday romance movies to watch while you’re sipping hot cocoa or wrapping gifts. If you’re a fan of these movies, chances are you’ve noticed that they stick to several common romance tropes, like …