The average American has a lot of things happening on Thanksgiving Day. With all of the football games going on around the country, chances are your favorite team is playing and not watching the game is not an option at all. Perhaps you have family coming in from all over the country – or even the world – and you are responsible for cooking up the feast that will make your family happy. Most people enjoy a good Thanksgiving party, and if you so desire, perhaps you are staging a Thanksgiving event that you friends and family will remember long after the holiday season of 2008 has passed. Of course, we should not lose sight of the real reason that we celebrate Thanksgiving: to recognize those things that we are most thankful for in our lives and the good fortunes we enjoy throughout each year. Reconciling all of these different priorities can become quite the hassle for even the most prepared person, and having some help with the Thanksgiving planning is often much appreciated. Here are some websites that will help you plan the perfect Thanksgiving feast or party.

What’s Cooking America offers a fantastic guide to planning a stress-free Thanksgiving. All Thanksgivings should be stress-free but the reality of the situation is that all the cooking and perhaps traveling can make the day much more difficult than it should be. Starting with the two weeks before Thanksgiving, the web site outlines exactly the things that you should be doing prior to sitting down for the feast. For example, writing out the menu and the shopping list two weeks in advance can save you the hassle of relying on an ingredient that you can no longer find or forgetting to include a crucial ingredient in your last-minute shopping list. You can also create a cooking schedule, make the dough for the pie crusts, freeze any cheesecakes ahead of time, anticipate any new kitchen equipment needs, and decide how you will prepare your turkey. The week before Thanksgiving can be spent cleaning out the refrigerator to make room for Thanksgiving supplies and such: the website spells out exactly the things you could be doing leading up to the day itself. The website also has plenty of recipes and a large section containing links to other useful Turkey Hints and Tips, including: Guidelines for Roasting a Whole Turkey, Handling Leftovers Safely, and Advice on Stuffing a Turkey Safely, among other useful reads. This website is the perfect place to go to alleviate your worries about what you could or should be doing in the days before Thanksgiving.

The economy is not doing so well this holiday season, but that is no reason for you to skimp on your Thanksgiving feast. Recipe 4 Living has compiled several budget-friendly recipes so that you can plan out a Thanksgiving feast that does not necessarily break the bank. These recipes, as the compiler puts it, are “basic but delicious”, meaning that you will get the most bang for your buck as far as taste is concerned. For your appetizer, you could enjoy some delicious herb-stuffed pumpkins, providing the perfect palate adjustment for an herb-roasted turkey. Planning a budgeted Thanksgiving dinner can be just as exciting and fulfilling as a normal Thanksgiving dinner, so do not let economic concerns stand in the way of you enjoying the holiday in the fullest.

Recipe 4 Living has also put together a guide that aims to help you create the perfect Thanksgiving get-together. While some families choose to celebrate Thanksgiving solely with each other, thus eliminating the need, in most cases, for many of the conventions of a get together, the latter version of Thanksgiving has also become popular. The guide helps you through the most basic questions, such as how big of a turkey to buy and what kind of turkey to purchase – buying a frozen turkey the day before Thanksgiving or a 9-pound turkey for twelve people is not very wise and would lead to people certainly remembering your get-together, but not for the reasons you would hope. Instead, Recipe 4 Living’s guide will help you make the right decisions and plan ahead when it comes to hosting a Thanksgiving get-together by outlining exactly what you might need to prepare the various dishes you plan to prepare, the different methods of cooking the turkey, and some easy recipes you may want to use to impress your guests. All in all, consult this website if you want to ease your worries about hosting a Thanksgiving get-together without becoming the laughingstock of your friends and family.

Party 411 is a great place to start if you want something a bit bigger than a get-together this Thanksgiving. Their Thanksgiving Planning Guide includes ideas, invitations, decorations, and favors that will make your party the talk of your friends for weeks to come. You can start with party “packages” of sorts. These are collections of various other tips and ideas scattered throughout the website in such a away to make a cohesive party out of them, such as the Crafts Party, for those who are arts and crafts minded, or The Turkey Bowl, if you party is going to have football as a main event. Party 411 is an excellent resource for invitation ideas, providing pictures and clear descriptions that will get your party off to a great start. There are also several ideas for party activities, such as your very own Turkey Bowl in which groups square off each other in a friendly game of football. Kids’ games will also keep the young ones occupied too, if such is a concern. All in all, Party 411 is a wonderful resource to get your Thanksgiving party planning underway, but the important part is that you use your imagination to create a personalized party.

Another great resource for the Thanksgiving party planners out there is the aptly-named Thanksgiving Party website. Everything from party supplies and party games to party tips and printable kids’ activities can be found here. A section on Thanksgiving Party Planning contains ideas, menus, checklists, etiquette reminders, and even the history of Thanksgiving should you choose to incorporate it into your party. The section on party supplies gives you ideas on what you should purchase, including decorations, prizes, loot bags, party favors, and other such essentials. Printable kids activities include coloring pages, word finds, word scrambles, and crafts ideas for the kids who may not find football and excessive conversation too interesting just yet. No party is complete without some party games, and Thanksgiving Party provides plenty of party ideas, from the obvious – apple bobbing, scavenger hunts – to the obscure but interesting – Thanksgiving bocce ball, coin pitching, and pumpkin pass, to name a few. An extensive list of party tips rounds out the large amount of information you can find on this website, including pieces of advice related to decoration, preparation, gifts, the process of giving thanks, and other useful information that you will be glad to know. Although there is plenty of information to be found all over the Internet about how to plan your party and your Thanksgiving, make sure to make the day your own by placing your unique stamp on it.

photo credit: pravin8

Thanksgiving, which is celebrated on the last Thursday of November, is a time for families to come together and enjoy the Thanksgiving feast. The first known celebration of Thanksgiving celebration was recorded by the Spanish on September 8, 1565, but the tradition that we model our version of the feast after is the 1621 Thanksgiving at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The pilgrims, who were struggling to survive, received help from the Wampanoeg Native Americans, specifically Squanto. Thanks to the help of Squanto and his people, the pilgrims were able to learn how to work the land enough to plant crops. To commemorate the first harvest, the pilgrims hosted a feast that would bring the pilgrims and the Native Americans together, and the spirit of togetherness and unity has persisted to modern times. There are plenty of traditions that have come to be associated with the holiday, especially concerning the types of food that are enjoyed as part of the meal

When one thinks about Thanksgiving, he or she probably considers the Thanksgiving feast to be the most important and emblematic feature of the Thanksgiving holiday. Although the identity of the Thanksgiving dinner has evolved over time, the feast is supposed to resemble the meal that the settlers at Plymouth, Massachusetts enjoyed with the Native Americans in 1621. Traditionally, the centerpiece of any Thanksgiving dinner is the turkey; as such, Thanksgiving is often colloquially referred to as “Turkey Day”. Filling the turkey with stuffing, a dish mostly consisting of bread and seasoned with sage, and then roasting the turkey is the most popular way of preparing the bird for consumption, but there are also plenty of preparations that have become popular over the years. Deep-frying the turkey, for example, has become very popular in recent years despite the many horror stories of unfortunate turkey fryers starting fires in their yards and kitchens. Not every family enjoys turkey as the centerpiece of the meal: nontraditional substitutes for the turkey include goose, duck, and tofurkey, an alternative product made of tofu and imitation turkey flavor designed for vegetarians. The turkey is not the only dish enjoyed during the Thanksgiving feast, however. Cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, ham, corn, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, bread rolls, and a variety of regional favorites are all hearty traditional side dishes to complement the turkey. Not only an American tradition, pie has become closely associated with Thanksgiving, especially apple pie, pumpkin pie, mincemeat pie, sweet potato pie, and pecan pie. Thanksgiving dinners vary across the country, but traditional favorites like turkey and potato can be found all across the United States.

As the name of the holiday suggests, a traditional aspect of Thanksgiving is the process of giving thanks. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways: some families say grace before and after the meal, reflecting on what the family as a whole is thankful for, while other families reserve a time at the beginning or the end of the meal for each member of the family to offer a reason why he or she is especially thankful. Thanksgiving is also a popular time for religious and other spiritual organizations to gather together and give thanks to God or the community. A time-honored tradition involves the President of the United States offering their thanks in the form of a declaration on Thanksgiving Day. The tradition began with George Washington who, in 1789, gave thanks for useful knowledge and civil liberty, and ever since then, each President of the United States has upheld the tradition.

An American tradition that millions of Americans view each year is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which is held in New York City. The parade is one of the largest parades held throughout the year in the world and has become the event most closely associated to Thanksgiving. Starting in Upper West Side Manhattan, the enormous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade procession winds throughout the streets of New York City to Macy’s flagship store in Herald’s Square. The most famous parts of the parade are the lavish parade floats, each one embracing a specific theme and often drawing politicians and celebrities to ride atop the colorful vehicles. Huge floats depicting cartoon characters and the traditional Santa Claus float, which comes at the end of the procession to signal the start of the holiday season, are time-honored favorites. Enormous parades are also held in many other parts of the United States as well as part of the celebration of Thanksgiving.

Television and radio traditionally feature special programming on and around Thanksgiving Day that helps to lend some magic to the season. One favorite thing for viewers all across the world to watch are the lavish parades, such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades, that take place all across the country, allowing millions of people to experience them. Many movies have become intertwined with the holiday season and Thanksgiving in particular, such as Miracle on 34th Street, and as such, they can be seen around the clock on many television networks, as can popular specials like A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Several television and radio personalities have their own individual Thanksgiving traditions: Oprah Winfrey is known for unveiling Oprah’s Favorite Things in the middle of the Thanksgiving season and Rush Limbaugh offers his humorous, if not overtly political, take on the holiday in which the Plymouth settlers give thanks because of their discovery of a free enterprise economy versus a form of communism.

In addition to other forms of programming, Thanksgiving radio and television watching would not be complete without sports programming. While many sports host important events on and around Thanksgiving, the sport that draws the most attention on Thanksgiving Day is certainly football. The Thanksgiving Classic is a professional football tradition that involves a game played on Thanksgiving Day and for certain teams, the day has special significance. The Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys are both associated with the Thanksgiving Classic: the former team has hosted a game every year since 1934, with the exception of those years that coincided with World War II, and the Dallas Cowboys have hosted a game every year since 1966, with the exception of 1975 and 1977. Since 2006, three games occur on Thanksgiving Day, two hosted by Detroit and Dallas and the third hosted by a team that is not set in stone. For college football fans, Thanksgiving Day is often much more dramatic. Since the day marks the end of the regular season, many college teams find themselves facing off against a traditional rival school, providing a riveting game for players and fans alike. A popular example of this tradition is the Lone Star Showdown between the Texas Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies, two schools that are anything but friendly toward each other.

Although college football fans may beg to differ, Thanksgiving is a tradition time to put aside differences and to come together as a nation. As families reunite and share delicious dinners together, people take some time out from the rigors of the working world to acknowledge that which is going well in their lives. It may not seem that way, but each year brings plenty of good fortune and Thanksgiving is a time to weed through the negative to find the positive.

photo credit: ChrisGoldNY

What we now know has Halloween actually has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as the Samhain. Sometimes regarded as the Celtic New Year, the Samhain celebrated the end of the harvest season. During the time of the festival, Celtic people would take stock of all their supplies and slaughter the livestock in anticipation of the winter. October 31st was especially important during the Samhain because the Celtic people believed that it marked a time in which spirits could adversely affect the living world. For that reason, bonfires were created into which the bones of the slaughtered livestock were thrown and revelers would wear masks in order to ward evil spirits by copying or placating them. Other Celtic traditions included placing special lanterns on windowsills to represent the deceased, lanterns carved from turnips or rutabagas. Over time, these traditions were modified and new traditions were created as the holiday of Halloween evolved from its status as an ancient Celtic harvest festival to the light-hearted, spooky day it has become.

One of the most iconic traditions associated with Halloween is the practice of dressing up in costume. This tradition stems from the Celtic practice of donning masks in order to protect oneself from the evil spirits that roam the lands on Halloween. These evil spirits would not assault people in their homes if they placed bowls of food outside the front door, but if people had to leave their homes during the time when the spirits roamed, they would put on a mask as to have the ghosts confuse them as fellow spirits. Today, the concept of dressing up in costume does not have anything to do with protecting oneself from evil spirits. Rather, the tradition has become a lighthearted way to frighten and amuse one’s friends and family. Instead of just the traditional wearing of masks, many revelers on Halloween will create an elaborate costume based on a character from history or popular culture, or perhaps dress up as an archetype of a character, such as a witch or a wizard. While costumes can be homemade, many are purchased as part of costume kits that contain the clothing and accessories necessary to become the character.

Once in costume, children often participate in the tradition of trick-or-treating. This is a tradition that dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, specifically to the time in which souling was practiced. Souling was a ritual that took place on Hallowmas, November 1, in which poor people would go door to door and beg for food in return for prayers on All Souls’ Day, November 2. Although souling originated in Ireland and Britain, similar practices are recorded as far south as Italy. Despite the massive amount of European immigration into the United States during the 19th century, the practice of begging door-to-door on Hallowmas did not catch on until the 1920s. Still, it was not until the 1940s that trick-or-treating began to be strictly associated with children having fun, and by 1952, the idea was cemented in popular culture when Walt Disney created the cartoon Trick or Treat. Although teenagers often go trick-or-treating, the tradition is more closely associated with younger children. Disguised in costumes and armed with bags, children go door-to-door around their neighborhoods. When somebody answers the door, the children yell, “Trick or Treat!” which rewards them with a handful of candy. Growing safety concerns have curbed some enthusiasm on the part of parents letting their children go trick-or-treating, but the practice is still followed by the vast majority of children in the United States.

Another Halloween tradition is the hosting of Halloween parties. Whether the party is geared toward children or adults, it is generally a requirement to be dressed in costume. There are several games associated with Halloween parties: bobbing for apples, hanging up syrup-coated scones or treacle and forcing the player to eat the food without the use of arms, and games that involve divination, such as Ouija boards. Bobbing for apples involves placing several apples into a large basin or tub filled with water and having the participants try to remove an apple from the water. The game can also be played sitting on a chair and holding a fork between the teeth as a way to skewer the apples and remove them from the tub. Another popular element of Halloween parties involves watching horror movies or telling scary stories whose aim is to frighten the partygoers. Many movies have become especially popular to watch during Halloween time, such as the Halloween slasher movie series, while each year often brings about several new horror movies for moviegoers to enjoy.

Many thrill-seekers opt to visit haunted attractions as part of the Halloween festivities. These are special venues designed to scare those who visit, and most of them are only open around Halloween. Haunted houses, corn mazes, and hayrides are popular throughout the United States as ways for thrill-seekers to find the scares they are looking for, and as technology advances, the level of sophistication of these haunted attractions continues to rise. Approximately 400,000 customers visit these haunted attractions per year in the United States, bringing in anywhere from $300 to 500 million for the industry. The money then allows these haunted attractions to embellish the experience with highly technical special effects, on par with those used in Hollywood films, that help to alter reality for visitors to the haunted house and create the feeling of terror. Many communities often have an abandoned building that is said to be haunted or local legends of ghosts that draw an increased amount of curious visitors during Halloween time.

Halloween has a variety of foods that have come to be associated with the day for various reasons. One of these is apples, mostly because of the fact that Halloween has traditionally signaled the end of the harvest. Especially popular are candy apples, a delicacy prepared by rolling apples in sticky, sugary syrup. Because of a widespread rumor about malicious individuals placing razor blades into these candy apples and distributing them to children during the Halloween season, the practice of giving them out to younger people has waned, despite the lack of evidence to suggest that the phenomenon is widespread. Other foods associated with Halloween that have much less of a stigma attached are candy corn, apple cider, popcorn, roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pie and bread, individually-wrapped candies that are easily given out, chocolates, caramels, gum, and nuts.

Another recent tradition that does a lot of good during the Halloween season is the “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” program. The program started in 1950 in a Philadelphia suburb and has ballooned into a practice that can be seen all around North America. Schools and corporate sponsors hand out small boxes to children who can then collect small-change donations from houses that they visit. The proceeds then go to the United Nations Children Fund, UNICEF, where the money can then be used to help children across the world. Since the inception of the program, it is estimated that about $120 million has been raised by children trick-or-treating all over the world. Although the program has been discontinued in some parts of the world due to safety concerns, there are still plenty of children trick-or-treating for charity.

Every schoolchild knows that Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, and his historic journey is said to have paved the way for the New World to exist as we know it today. Many cultures through North and South America celebrate Columbus Day, and we in the United States celebrate the second Monday of each October as the day that Christopher Columbus made landfall on this side of the Western Hemisphere. As is customary in America for many holidays throughout the year, one way that we celebrate Columbus Day is to hold massive parades with all kinds of floats that wind their way through the city in a huge display of festivity and fun. Columbus Day is not celebrated to the same extent everywhere throughout the country because of different legislations on city and state levels and because of general culture, but it is always recognized in some way or another. Federal offices and many school districts close on Columbus Day, but businesses and the stock exchange remain open.

Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s journey across the Atlantic in 1492. The Spanish monarchy commissioned Columbus to find a new naval route to India so that their trade may be enhanced and facilitated. In the strict sense of the word, Columbus actually failed in his mission; instead of finding a new route to India, he instead discovered the American continent, which was unknown to explorers at the time. The exact bit of land that Columbus first spotted was located somewhere in the Bahamas, but the magnitude of his discovery was immense. From there, Columbus and his crew began to explore the rest of the Caribbean, stopping and different times at Cuba, Hispaniola, and other islands throughout the archipelagoes present there. Spanish interest in the New World was sudden, sparking the colonization efforts in the New World that, at the cost of the indigenous cultures of the New World, paved the way for American society as we know it to exist.

The first modern celebration of Columbus Day was held in New York in 1792, celebrating the 300th anniversary of Columbus’s landfall in the New World. One hundred years after the first celebration of Columbus Day, President Benjamin Harrison ordered the recognition of the 400th anniversary of the discovery of the New World. Many Italian-Americans have celebrated Columbus Day as a day dedicated to their heritage, the first of these celebrations being held in New York City on October 12, 1866. A lawyer who was the son of Genoese immigrants to the United States was responsible for popularizing Columbus Day throughout the United States. During the 1850s, Genoese immigrants settled and farmed much of the land around the Sierra Nevada foothills. Much of this was because of the Californian gold rush, attracting much attention to that part of the United States. The lawyer grew up in the midst of this culture, and when he moved to Colorado, he brought the holiday with him. From there, it spread through the country.

Denver, Colorado, is home to one of the oldest Columbus Day parades in the country. This year’s parade will be the 101st celebration of Columbus Day in the city, marking the beginning of the next century of parades in the Mile High City. It will be held on Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 AM, and its aim is to celebrate the American National Holiday that pays homage to those whose blood, sweat, and tears contributed to the formation of the New World as we know it today. People from across the country are invited, as are clubs and organizations throughout Colorado, the latter being encouraged to come out in full force in order to represent themselves. The parade winds through the city and ends at in front of the state capitol building. After the parade itself, there are plenty of other events to which people are invited. Many of these will be held at the Potenza Lounge, including a celebration of Italian cuisine and the Italian Store and Shop, which allows you a great chance to purchase Italian foods and novelties. There will also be plenty of activities for kids as well, so the whole family should come to Denver for the fantastic Columbus Day parade.

The country’s oldest Italian heritage parade celebrated on Columbus Day will take place this year in San Francisco, with the parade’s Grand Marshal being Tommy Lasorda. More than 400,000 people are expected to visit this enormous display of cultural heritage, San Francisco’s 140th anniversary of the event. It will be held on Sunday, October 12, and it is the city’s oldest civic event. Starting at Fisherman’s Wharf, the parade winds its way through the San Francisco, eventually arriving at North Beach. Dozens of hand-crafted parade floats sponsored by area business are slated to participate in the parade, one that promises to be more enormous, bright, and colorful than ever. Community groups, Italian organizations, high school Italian clubs, and local marching bands will also be on hand to make the parade special. Other special appearances will include Christopher Columbus and Queen Isabella and her court. North Beach will be chock full of festive open-air dining, Italian wine and food specials, and a variety of performances by Italian musicians and performance artists. If you are within travelling distance to San Francisco, you most certainly should make your way out to the parade.

Of course, no holiday would be complete without a parade in New York City, and the city delivers, with an event that attracts over 500 of New York’s most distinguished people of Italian heritage. Parades in New York City are always larger than life, and the Columbus Day parade is no exception, drawing thousands of people and filling New York City’s diverse streets with colorful floats, marching bands, and the rest of the standard parade accoutrements. The New York Columbus Day parade, along with those in several other large cities, have drawn much controversy from special interest groups that do not think that the country should celebrate Columbus day at all, so if you do plan to attend a Columbus Day parade in a major metropolitan area, do not be surprised if you see several protestors trying to get Columbus Day parades wiped off the map in general. Otherwise, the New York City Columbus Day parade is one that you should try to see if you are near the Big Apple because no one else does parades like New York City.

Although Christopher Columbus did not find a new naval route to India, he did find the American continent, which paved the way for the New World to exist as it does today. Columbus Day is a time to celebrate his expedition across the Atlantic Ocean, but also to acknowledge the work that our forefathers put into preparing the land for our use. Columbus Day parades are a wonderful way to celebrate the holiday, filled with colorful floats, exciting events, marching bands, marchers, and plenty of other things to draw the whole family. Whether you are in Colorado, California, New York, or any of the other states in the United States, chances are you can find a Columbus Day parade to celebrate the holiday.

photo credit: Larsz

photo credit: jmd41280

Few things are more breathtaking than the vast array of colors that one can witness during fall when the leaves on the trees begin to change colors. Although many vacationers may find that they used all of their allotted vacation days during the summer, autumn is a wonderful time to see the outdoors, to breathe in crisp, fresh air, and to enjoy the beauty of the new season. Whether you decide to explore the landscapes on foot, on bicycle, or in a vehicle, there are plenty of places all around the country where you can go in order to see fall foliage in its most stunning form. There are also plenty of fantastic inns and hotels that await you at these locations, providing you with a touch of elegance and a place to rest after spending the day outdoors.

Before you decide which location to visit, there are a couple things you should be aware of when making reservations. People travel from all over the world to get a glimpse of fall foliage as it changes colors and it is very common for a prospective visitor to not be able to find any vacancies in any inns or hotels, even as much as a year in advance. For that reason, make travel reservations as early as possible and keep your schedule as flexible as you can. Another travel secret is to book your visit for the middle of the week, which will allow you to avoid weekend travelers. Many fall foliage aficionados painstakingly plan their visits to coincide with the peak of color vibrancy but do not let yourself get too caught up in such tedium. Depending on soil conditions, weather patterns, and other factors, last year’s peak may not be the same as this year’s.

Although it may be convenient to stay in resort areas and on the beaten path, some of the most stunning scenery can be found when you branch off on your own. That way, you will avoid the bigger crowds and your experience will be one that few people have already had. Finally, ask the locals for advice on getting the best views. While tourists may think they know it all, nobody knows the forests better than the people that have lived in the area for their entire life. An excellent resource to answer these kinds of questions is the county forest ranger. He or she watches the foliage for color updates and knows exactly where some of the best views can be found. Stopping in at the county headquarters can lead you to views that only the locals really know about.

Once you have the logistics out of the way, you will want to decide what part of the country you will visit. Keep in mind that the foliage season begins in early September in the Northeast United States and end in the Southeast and Midwest United States in late October or early November. Therefore, if you want to see the best fall foliage, make sure to plan your visit to a location that has the kind of foliage that you want to see: a visit to Georgia at the beginning of September, for example, might not be wise for foliage lovers.

Massachusetts offers an excellent fall foliage experience from the middle of September to the end of October. Make sure to be on the lookout for the foliage reports issued by the Massachusetts state foresters three times a week, allowing you to stay on top of where to find the best views. The state tourist department also offers the previously-mentioned tips: try to visit midweek and stay on the back roads in order to not get swarmed by tourists and be able to enjoy the season leisurely. Hiking, biking, and canoeing are all very popular throughout Massachusetts as ways to enjoy the outdoors. Cape Cod, the Berkshires, and especially Mohawk Trail are all very popular places in which to drive around in order to get a fantastic view. Try the Harbour House Inn Bed & Breakfast or The Inn at Stockbridge if you plan to head to the Berkshires, or the Sturbridge Country Inn in Central Massachusetts.

Another wonderful New England destination is New Hampshire, a state in which the fall season varies a bit. Generally, though, it takes place from mid-September to mid-October, making anywhere within that time frame the ideal time to visit New Hampshire. Fourteen designated scenic drives covering a total of 900 miles wind throughout the state, giving you plenty of options when it comes to what you want to see and when. Head to the Connecticut River Valley if you enjoy canoeing, the Sugar River Recreational Trail if you enjoy biking, and towns along the Appalachian Trail if you want to drive. Another excellent way to take in the views is to ride on one of the gondolas at any of New Hampshire’s ski resorts, allowing you to soar high above the forests and see everything at once. If you plan to visit the White Mountains region of New Hampshire, stay at the Sugar Hill Inn, the Inn at Ellis River, the Darby Field Inn, or the Sunset Hill House, all spectacular lodgings for the fall foliage enthusiast.

Heading away from New England, Wisconsin shares a remarkably similar fall season to New Hampshire: mid-September to mid-October is the best time to visit the state. A variety of activities wait in Wisconsin that will provide plenty of enjoyable moments when one is not taking in the stunning views. Driving down the Lake Michigan shoreline, for example, or through the Kettle Moraine State Forest both get you beautiful glimpses of Wisconsin’s foliage. There are also plenty of resort communities, such as those in Door County, Cedarburg, and Bayfield, that make for the perfect autumn getaway for families and lovers alike. Corn mazes, haunted houses, and other charming autumn staples can be found in Wisconsin, and you can also find charming festivals such as the Autumn Harvest Fest in the Wisconsin Dells. An excellent place to stay in Central Wisconsin is the Stewart Inn, an elegant bed & breakfast located in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin featuring upscale accommodations and a gourmet breakfast to start off the day.

Compared to New Hampshire and Wisconsin, Vermont enjoys a long fall season, one that usually begins in early September and ends in late October. If you plan to visit Vermont early, head to a higher elevation because the color changes start earlier the higher you go. Some of the most scenic golf courses in New England are located in Vermont, so if you are a golf aficionado and a foliage enthusiast at the same time, you have it made. Guided horseback rides, fishing in local lakes and streams, and, of course, shopping for some of Vermont’s famous maple products make a visit to Vermont in the fall an appealing prospect. You may also opt to visit one of many fall festivals that take place in Vermont as part of your foliage experience, such as the Plymouth Cheese & Wine Festival in September. The Richmond Victorian Inn in Lake Champlain Valley, the Deerfield Valley Inn in Southern Vermont, and Inn Victoria in Southern Windsor County are all charming lodgings.

Given the nature of Labor Day, there is still some doubt about who actually decided to create a holiday dedicated to the contributions of America’s workforce. One school of thought in the matter insists that Peter J. McGuire was the one who had the biggest and in creating the holiday. As general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and the cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, he would have had a vested interest in creating the holiday. Others challenge the story, claiming that Matthew Maguire was, in fact, responsible for the idea that led to Labor Day’s creation. Records point to the possibility of Maguire proposing the holiday in 1882 as a secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. However, the disputed facts end here, as the Central Labor Union then adopted Labor Day and commissioned a demonstration and a picnic to be held in honor of the new holiday. In its infancy, Labor Day was only celebrated by the Central Labor Union in New York. For the first two years of celebrations, 1882 and 1883, September 5th was the day for the celebrations, but the following year saw the first Monday in September become the day on which Labor Day was to be celebrated.

Due to urging from the Central Labor Union, other similar organizations throughout the country began to celebrate Labor Day. In 1885 and 1886, municipal ordinances were passed to recognize the holiday, becoming the first sign of government recognition of the holiday. By then, the movement to have Labor Day become an official holiday had begun, with Oregon being the first state to pass a law to make it official. By 1894, over two dozen states had passed the law to make Labor Day a holiday recognized by the government, and on June 28 of that same year, Congress passed the act that would make the first Monday in September be officially recognized as Labor Day. Like all other federal holidays, governmental offices would close and people would most likely have the day as a day off, creating a three-day weekend. Also important were the extent to which the holiday would be celebrated.

Modern Labor Day celebrations date back to the very first proposal for the holiday, which outlined some of what would be appropriate as part of the day celebrating the contributions that American workers make to the country. The first of these events was a parade, one that would encourage people to see the impact that workers have on the country, as well as demonstrating the strength and vitality of the labor and trade industries. A festival to be enjoyed by the workers and their families would also be established, one filled with games and rides. Because of these two stipulations in the first proposal, the pattern for future Labor Day celebrations was set, creating a tradition that continues to play out in many communities across the country to this day. Other Labor Day celebrations that came about later in the holiday’s history include speeches by important men and women in the community, as well as Labor Sunday, which would precede the actual Labor Day and encourage a spiritual and educational examination of workers and their place in society. This was established by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor in 1909.

As society continues to advance and industrialize, traditional methods of celebration become impractical. Creating mass displays in honor of Labor Day can be difficult to coordinate in huge urban centers because anything that holds up traffic or requires tax money is generally combated. Similarly, organizing street parades is hassle because of the fact that navigating the municipal bureaucracy is difficult enough in and of itself. Another way to view this, though, is that people are beginning to express their appreciation for Labor Day in a different way. When prominent figures in public office and in other realms of public life give their Labor Day speeches, they are covered throughout newspapers, radios, and television, as well as on the Internet, placing more of a focus on what these individuals have to say. Likewise, celebration on a smaller scale, like a family trip to the lake or a neighborhood barbecue, allow people to enjoy the time they have off from work while reflecting on the importance that laborers have on the country today.

Many fascinating and important traditions have come to be associated with Labor Day. Not the least of these is the Jerry Lewis telethon, a massive event running since 1966 that raises millions of dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association by relying on the goodwill of television viewers. The NASCAR Southern 500 Race has recently become intertwined with Labor Day, as 2004 saw the race’s definitive date be moved to Labor Day weekend. Polish cultural heritage is celebrated on a massive scale during Chicago’s Taste of Polonia, the largest Polish-themed festival in the city which has attracted guests like President George H. W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney. Knoxville, Tennessee is home to Boomsday, one of the biggest fireworks displays in the Southeastern United States. Seattle hosts the Bumbershoot arts and music festival on the three-day weekend. Labor Day is also the last day when white clothing is traditionally acceptable: wearing white after Labor Day is taboo, although the custom is fading as the act of wearing white after Labor Day is seen as renegade and innovative.

All in all, Labor Day is a holiday that is celebrated on many levels throughout the country. In one sense, those who have the Monday off celebrate the extra day of rest and relaxation, perhaps using the time to spend it with family or to sleep in. School children also appreciate the time off without a doubt, using it to hang out with friends or beg parents to go to the beach. Politicians often make grand appearances during Labor Day celebrations, hoping to get their eloquent sound bites heard. The overarching thing that everyone should not forget is the fact that the holiday exists as a living contribution to the laborers that make this country what it is today, allowing us to have an exceptionally high standard of living that far outstrips many countries in the world. Like many other federal holidays, it is a time to appreciate what we have and to reflect upon that which we do not get time to think about in the hustle and bustle of daily life.

photo credit: tvol

Part of the mystique of the venerable culinary method of barbecue involves closely-guarded secrets passed down through generations, long hours of trial and error to make just the right marinade, and other such practices that evoke images of a place where porches are actually used and lemonade cools the throat on a hot summer day. The fact of the matter, though, is that some people who have a keen interest in the art of barbecue do not have access to closely-guarded secrets and have no clue what makes a marinade good. For better or worse, they were not born into a family where learning the art of barbecue is just as important as learning to read and write. Fortunately for these people, there are plenty of barbecue schools across the country that are perfectly willing to take a budding barbecue neophyte under their wing and teach them the ropes of how to work a grill.

Barbecue, referring to the method of cooking, has been around for several centuries. The process of creating a grill for cooking meat is said to originate in the Taino culture, a tribe of people native to the Caribbean. In their language, this process of cooking meat was called barabicu, also spelled barbicoa or barabicoa. It involved digging a pit into the ground where the fire meat would be cooked in a pot to make a hearty broth. The pot and the hole are then covered with coal and maguey leaves and then set alight, and the whole cooking process would take several hours. Through Spanish interaction with the native people of the Caribbean, specifically the Taino, the native word went through the Spanish lexicon, then the French, and finally the English, where it ended up as the term we know today. Nowadays, the word is predominantly spelled “barbecue”, but other forms of spelling the word are popular, such as “bar-b-q”, “bbq”, or “bar-b-que”. Whichever spelling of the term one may identify with, the idea is the same: meat is slow cooked on a grill, usually marinated with some kind of glaze, and then enjoyed as part of a rich tradition.

Barbecue methods are remarkably regional in nature, with two adjacent states sometimes having extremely different tastes in marinades, cooking styles, and meat types. For example, the Carolinas tend to have tangy, vinegar-based sauces, while Georgia prefers pork served with a sweet tomato sauce. People usually gravitate toward whichever style of barbecue is most familiar to them, either because of where they grew up or which type of barbecue they experienced first, so there is no style that is better than the other. It all comes down to the marinade, the type of sauce it is served with, if any, and the type of meat that is most often served. That is why professional lessons in barbecue differ throughout the country: there is no “standard” method to cook barbecue because of the highly traditional nature of the cooking method. After spreading through the country, barbecue forced people to have their own take on it, adding sauces and marinades that they preferred themselves. It boils down to keeping in mind that when choosing to take professional barbecue lessons, keep in mind that you may be cooking up a meal for people who are totally not used to your style.

photo credit: SanFranAnnie

When one thinks of a “school”, he or she probably imagines a brick building where those who seek education go to learn whatever trade they may desire. Interestingly enough, one of the more prominent barbecue schools is actually a traveling lesson taught a barbecue expert Paul Kirk. Winning seven world championships in barbecue alone, Chef Paul Kirk has won over 400 cooking awards. Whether the student is a backyard barbecue aficionado who wants to become truly skilled in his culinary hobby or if he or she is a budding barbecue entrepreneur looking to open up a quality barbecue restaurant, traveling lessons by the Barbeque School of Pitmasters, featuring Chef Paul Kirk, will certainly do the job. Some of the things that are taught in Chef Kirk’s lessons include the basics of cooking brisket, pork, ribs, chicken, and sausage. He also teaches important lessons concerning fire management, fuels, barbecue rubs and spices, and much more.

In our day and age, featuring the ultimate in interconnectedness via the internet, you can learn how to do almost anything with a simple web search. Barbecue is nothing different, with a dedicated online program housed at bbqcookingschool.com. As they proclaim on the front page, CISC is not a household name, but as an accredited barbecue educational outlet by the American Culinary Federation, they can almost guarantee a successful home study. They are certified to provide 48 hours worth of education credits for ACF chefs, and are rigorously reviewed each year by the ACF in order to ensure that they provide a quality educational experience for aspiring backyard barbecue lovers and hopeful Certified Master Chefs alike. Part of the CISC educational experience is teaching your trusted loved ones how to grade your barbecue creations using the Kansas City BBQ Society’s method of judging by their certified judges. The price for the home-study program is $299, but according to the website’s own credentials combined with glowing testimonials, the money is well worth the amount of enjoyment one can cull from practicing his or her skills for family and friends, or even to become an entrepreneur and use the in-demand culinary talent to turn a profit.

photo credit: Point-Shoot-Edit

For a slightly more traditional take on the schooling systems, the BBQ Fantasy Camp, which you can check out at bbqinstitute.com, offers two-day classes in the Seattle Area for those who are willing to travel out there. People travel from all over the world to take barbecuing classes offered by two members of a world champion BBQ team, experts who have won over 70 awards in their craft. Classes are geared towards backyard barbecue chefs who are looking to hone their skills in order to better entertain their guests with delicious food, but the BBQ Fantasy Camp is quick to point out the amount of former backyard chefs that won competitions almost immediately after taking the course. They are also geared towards cookers from all different equipment backgrounds, from high-tech gadget wizards who use stainless-steel grills to those who use charcoal kettles. Classes are limited to only twenty five people per session in order to ensure that everyone gets a hands-on experience and interaction with the instructors. The course is set up to take people from learning how to make a tasty meat rub to cooking quality meats that is delicious every time. Unless you have a party of people from twelve to twenty five people, you will have to head out to Seattle, but otherwise, the experience is well worth it.

Maybe you did not grow up in a barbecue family where every kid can handle a grill as well as a tricycle, but there are plenty of options all over the country that can help you out. Whether you school comes to you, you travel to the school, or you do it online, there are lots of opportunities to enroll in a barbecue school that will make you the most revered backyard chef in the neighborhood.

photo credit: cheukiecfu

The United States of America has existed for well over two centuries as a country that values freedom as its highest ideal. When our forefathers, fed up with Great Britain’s oppressive rule and taxation without representation, created and adopted the Declaration of Independence, the United States of America was born. To commemorate the anniversary of the historic day of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, people all across the country hold celebrations that revolve around the idea of freedom and liberty. Fireworks, barbecues, parades, picnics, carnivals, concerts, and baseball games are all very common ways for Americans to celebrate the 4th of July. Since the day is essentially the birthday of our country, the festivities generally tend to involve entire communities, with certain national celebrations drawing people from all over the country to come and have fun. All in all, though, the 4th of July is a time to celebrate the history, government, and traditions of the United States of America.

The Declaration of Independence came about after a year of war between the Thirteen Colonies and the kingdom of Great Britain. At the time, relations between the colonies and the mother country had deteriorated to the point where a large proportion of colonists felt a growing urge to rebel and create their own form of government. Especially annoying to the colonists was the fact that the Seven Years’ War, a war taking place in Europe in which the British were heavily involved, drained the coffers of the British kingdom to the point where Parliament levied an excessive amount of taxes on the colonists without giving them a significant say in the matter. Although the colonists certainly disagreed, Parliament and the British public believed that the Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Act of 1767, both of which introduced bizarre taxes and rules for the colonists, were justified. When the colonists tried to defend themselves from having to pay the exorbitant taxes, though, the British government argued that Parliament was the supreme form of legislation and that none of the taxes would be repealed. This led some prominent American thinkers to argue that Parliament actually had no authority over the colonies at all, making the taxes unjust.

As British rule of the colonies intensified and Parliament moved to punish Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party, the colonists began to organize a response. The first Continental Congress was the first step of this response, urging a boycott of British goods and petitioning the king to repeal these acts. However, the British government did not listen, eventually leading to armed conflict breaking out in 1775 at Lexington and Concord. Although many colonists hoped to reconcile with Great Britain and put an end to the bloodshed, the Second Continental Congress’s attempts to reach an agreement with the British did not end well. Instead, King George III issued a Proclamation of Rebellion which decreed that the colonists were rebelling and opted to have foreign powers help to squash the rebellion before it could get off the ground. This development helped to create a revolutionary air in the Thirteen Colonies, and the political vehicle began to move toward creating the document that would eventually sever all ties between the colonies and Great Britain. After many months and several drafts, delegates from nine colonies voted for independence, and on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved and sent for publication.

Celebration of the 4th of July has evolved drastically throughout history. In 1777, one year after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, thirteen guns were fired in the morning and the evening in Bristol, Rhode Island, and an official dinner, complete with speeches, prayers, music, parades, and fireworks, was held for the Continental Congress. By 1781, the Massachusetts state legislature became the first to recognize the 4th of July as a state celebration. The term “Independence Day” was first recorded in 1791 and in 1870, Independence Day became an unpaid holiday for all federal workers thanks to Congress. In 1931, Congress changed the 4th of July to become a paid federal holiday, setting the standard for how the 4th of July is viewed today.

Because of the fact that the 4th of July is a national holiday to celebrate the birth of a nation, much of the day involves patriotic displays in a variety of forms. Amicable weather in many parts of the country, thanks to Independence Day falling during the summer, makes outdoors celebrations especially popular. A popular way for families to celebrate the 4th of July is to hold a picnic or a barbecue, while many communities also hold similar events in a public location, such as a town park. Decorations in and around gathering places are generally colored red, white, and blue, as homage to the American flag, and patriotic music can often be heard. A very popular tradition in many communities is the hosting of a parade that winds through the center of the town. These most often occur in the morning to take advantage of the cooler weather and to give enough time for fireworks displays at night.

Fireworks displays have become the most iconic aspect of 4th of July. Major metropolitan areas such as New York City often hold extremely lavish and impressive fireworks displays that light up the sky for miles, while smaller communities come together to put on an impressive fireworks show. Patriotic songs, such as the national anthem, “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever” often accompany these fireworks displays. Because of the fact, though, that fireworks can be dangerous, especially in the hands of children and overzealous revelers, many states have gone so far as to ban them within state limits or to limit the sizes and types allowed. The importance of the fireworks display to the 4th of July experience usually means that if Independence Day falls in the middle of the week, the fireworks shows will be postponed until the weekend so that everyone has an opportunity to see them.

There are also many high-profile events that take place all over the country on the 4th of July. One of the largest is the America’s Freedom Festival in Provo, Utah, which features an enormous parade and a concert called the Stadium of Fire that featured performances from Miley Cyrus and the Blue Man Group in 2008. The largest fireworks display in the Midwest, which is called the Red, White, & Boom, takes place on the last weekday before Independence Day in Columbus, Ohio. Anywhere from 500,000 to 750,000 people flock to the city to enjoy the impressive display, while several more thousand people are able to enjoy the show in HD on the local NBC channel. The town of Bristol, Rhode Island is known for having the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States, an event with several traditions dating back more than a century. Sports events are also very popular during the 4th of July weekend, especially major league and minor league baseball and stock car racing – NASCAR has hosted the Coke Zero 400 on July 4 or the Saturday of Independence Day weekend since 1959. Whether you celebrate at a small family picnic or a huge national event, 4th of July is a time to recognize our nation for the great triumph it is.

If you are getting married, today you can find all the information you need to plan your wedding just by surfing on the internet. It used to be that wedding planners were the only ones privy to all the needed wedding information. However, the playing field has evened out in recent years and all you need is an internet connection to have all the wedding planning information you could ever want or need.

Planning a wedding is no small undertaking. With the prices of weddings soaring in recent years, it’s getting more and more important to weigh all your options when choosing wedding vendors. By taking your time and compare prices and services, you can get a good idea of how much the wedding will cost. If you have a limit on how much you are willing to spend, it’s even more important to plan everything out.

Luckily, there are many websites on the internet that will help you plan your wedding. These websites will help you in each step of the way – from picking your reception location to finding musicians in your area.

In addition to helping you plan your wedding, some of these websites also connect you to other people who are planning their weddings. By talking with others who are going through the same things you are going through, you can get ideas, save time and find the best deals available.

Here are the top wedding planning websites on the internet:

Wedding Channel

The Wedding Channel website is packed full of wedding planning tools. On the website, you can use their budget calculator to figure out exactly how much your wedding is going to cost. Even if you are early in the process, the budget calculator is a great way to get a good estimation of the price you will end up paying.

This website also offers a guest list manager. With the guest list manager you can figure out how many people you should invite, who you should invite and you can keep those people’s information in a safe place. Once you have your complete list, you can export the list to an application of your choice.

A lot of people love the wedding checklist tool that the Wedding Channel offers. With so many things to think about and plan, the wedding checklist tool is invaluable. It assures that you won’t forget anything and you won’t skip a step. If you try to plan a wedding off the top of your head without a checklist to go by, you are just asking for trouble. This tool makes sure you do everything in the right order and in a timely fashion.

credit: Phil Romans

The Knot

The Knot website is one of the most popular wedding websites on the internet. And once you start using their wedding planning tools, it’s easy to see why it’s so popular. Not only do they offer functional tools, The Knot also is a great place to get wedding ideas.

The website has a list of wedding styles, reception choices, cake ideas, music and dancing ideas, rehearsal ideas and much more. They also have a collection of articles that offer wedding tips and tell you about the latest wedding trends.

The Knot is perhaps the best place to go to get ideas regarding destination weddings. A destination wedding is a combination between a vacation and a wedding. An example of a destination wedding is a wedding that takes place on the beaches of Hawaii. All the wedding guests would fly to Hawaii to take part in the wedding. If you are interested in planning a destination wedding, you can find tons of information on The Knot.

credit: American Candy Stand Cupcakes (Aust.)

One Wed

One Wed is a website that helps you find virtually everything you need to plan the picture perfect wedding. For example, One Wed helps you find wedding photographers, wedding DJs, wedding dresses, wedding cakes and anything else you need to find regarding weddings.

If you are having trouble finding wedding vendors in your area, give One Wed a chance. The website has a huge database of vendors that serve cities across the United States. You can also compare prices and read customer reviews to find the perfect wedding vendor for your wedding.

If you sign up for an account with One Wed, another nice aspect is they will send you wedding reminders. These reminders will alert you on key dates along the way when you are planning your wedding.

Brides.com

Brides.com is one of the ultimate wedding planning websites. It has an impressive array of wedding planning tools including a budget calculator and guest list manager. These tools are very powerful and can handle weddings of any size.

This website also has guides that will hold your hand through difficult phases of planning a wedding. For example, if you need to find transportation related vendors, Brides.com has a guide that will show you step by step how to find the vendors, pick the right vendor and ensure everything will go smoothly with the vendor during your wedding.

Brides.com also has special sections of the website aimed at the beauty and fashion of the brides. If you are the bride, this is a great resource especially for you because it caters directly to all your needs, wants, worries and solutions heading up to the wedding. Do you want to know what type of hair style you should use for an outside wedding? Brides.com has your answers. Do you want to know what shoes will match your dress? Again, Brides.com can help you.

credit: 96dpi

About.com Weddings

The wedding section of the About.com network of guide sites is a very good resource for those who are planning a wedding. It literally has everything you could need to plan a wedding and it is placed in an easy to navigate website. Whether you need to come up with wedding vows or look for wedding dresses, this guide site will be able to help you. While there aren’t many tools on this website, the vast amount of information and knowledge is definitely worth the read.

Wedding favors can cost a lot of money if you buy them at a local store. However, there are a number of internet shops that sell wedding favors for amazingly low prices. Before you purchase wedding favors anywhere else, you should check online. A lot of people find that buying wedding favors online can save up to 75% when compared to purchasing from other vendors.

If you are shopping for wedding favors, look at websites such as MyWeddingFavors.com, Beau-Coup.com, AmericanBridal.com and TrulyWeddingFavors.com. Each of these websites has an impressive array of wedding favors for very reasonable prices.

While you can completely plan your wedding online by yourself, you should still consider hiring a wedding planner. Once the date of the wedding draws closer, the pressure and stress starts mounting on the bride and groom and it can be difficult to handle. A wedding planner can take some of that pressure and allow the bride and groom to enjoy their engagement and wedding day – instead of worrying about each aspect going perfectly right.

No matter how you decide to plan your wedding, make sure that you remember that your wedding is all about you!

photo credit: BL1961

Although world peace would certainly be wonderful, war is a sad reality of the way things work. Every country has armed forces compromised of brave men and women that are ready to lay down their lives to protect their country’s people and beliefs. The United States Military has long been a force committed to upholding justice and the ideal of freedom, but unfortunately, many members of the armed forces have made the ultimate sacrifice to help keep the U.S. safe and secure. For this reason, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is a time to commemorate and respect the memory of those soldiers that have fallen in combat in any military actions since the Civil War, and as such, it is a day for solemn contemplation on the depth of these soldiers’ sacrifice and on the importance of having such a brave and dedicated force protecting us. Although individual communities throughout the country host Memorial Day observances, there are several observances that take place on a national level, making the Memorial Day weekend a great time for travel.

The history of Memorial Day is not fully understood, as dozens of cities across the country claim to have hosted the first Memorial Day services back during the time of the Civil War. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday came about as a custom of decorating the graves of fallen Union and Confederate soldiers swept the country. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York to be the official birthplace of Memorial Day, but such a declaration is still contested in many parts of the country. Despite these claims, Memorial Day is still seen as a time to come together and honor the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces from all over the country. General John Logan is credited with having proclaimed the first Memorial Day on May 5, 1868 and it was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday, making it official in 1873, and by 1890, all of the states in the North had recognized it. After World War I, the South began to officially recognize Memorial Day when the purpose of the holiday changed from honoring those killed during the Civil War to honoring any soldier killed in any military action.

The traditional way to observe Memorial Day is to visit cemeteries and memorials in order to pay due respect to the deceased soldiers. At 3:00 PM, US Eastern Time, a national moment of remembrance takes place. The flag is also flown at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. National Cemeteries, which are any of 139 nationally important, usually military, cemeteries in the United States, are especially significant, as volunteers from all over the country come to visit and leave an American flag upon each grave site. Memorial Day is a common time for family picnics, barbeques, and other lighthearted get-togethers, mostly due to the fact that a three-day weekend is created by the holiday, giving families time to get together. Sporting events are often held during Memorial Day weekend, the most notable of which being the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction Memorial Day weekend every year since 1911. It is also common on Memorial Day for families to remember other family members that have passed away, whether they passed away during military action or not. Otherwise, though, the holiday is exclusively a time for remembering fallen soldiers – giving a member of the Armed Forces a gift on Memorial Day, for example, would be taboo.

In addition to national observances that take place on Memorial Day and throughout Memorial Day weekend, many individual communities host Memorial Day observations. During these observations, fallen soldiers who were members of the community are remembered in a service that is usually held at a church or a town memorial park. Fire and police departments also commonly use Memorial Day as a time to remember fallen colleagues that gave their lives in the line of duty. Many towns and communities hold Memorial Day parades in which community organizations, members of local emergency service teams, Rotary Clubs, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, bands from local high schools, and members of the American Legion are often a part. Another such community event is a picnic or a barbeque held in a town meeting place that allows the members of the community to get together and pay due respect to fallen soldiers.

One of the most popular Memorial Day events is the National Memorial Day Parade, which takes place in Washington D.C. and is hosted by the American Veterans Center. The parade began in 2005 thanks to the American Veterans Center due to the fact that Washington D.C. had not had a Memorial Day parade for nearly 70 years. Although the parade takes place in Washington D.C., the entire country is invited to attend the parade, an event wholly devoted to the spirit of Memorial Day and the honoring of fallen soldiers. Despite the parade’s relative youth, it managed to draw over 250,000 spectators in its second year, with Americans of all ages coming together to pay due respects to the men and women that have fallen in defense of our country. Over 200 different entities take part in the parade, including marching bands, active duty and retired military units, youth groups, parade floats, community members, and hundreds of veterans from military actions dating back to World War II. The parade is a very moving event that honors the deaths of soldiers from conflicts dating back to the American Revolution all the way up to Operation Iraqi Freedom, making it the perfect opportunity for communities, friends, and families to come together and share a beautiful experience. This year’s parade will take place on May 25, 2009, and the number of spectators is expected to increase well above 250,000.

Unfortunately, many efforts have been made by veterans groups to increase awareness of the true significance of Memorial Day, as many of these groups have expressed concerns that the meaning of the holiday is shifting away from honoring fallen troops and toward having a three-day weekend near the end of May. Because we certainly benefit from the sacrifices that our nation’s armed forces make every day to keep us safe, we owe it to these brave men and women who have given everything to pay respect on Memorial Day. The three-day weekend is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends through picnics and barbeques, but it is also a great time to participate in a community Memorial Day activity, to visit a National Cemetery to pay respect to fallen soldiers, and to take a moment to reflect upon the fact that there are people whose job it is to keep us safe. This year, Memorial Day will take place on May 25, 2009, and if you do not have any plans otherwise, why not take some time out of the three-day weekend to honor our troops in whatever way you see fit?