Author Archives: jeffbensch

Image Source: Image by Rebecca D from Pixabay

Each question has a story that can be explored for a lifetime. The quick answer for the date is that Easter is centered around the Jewish holiday Passover. Passover is celebrated based on a lunar calendar (the Hebrew calendar). From this, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). The other questions have longer stories for their answers, but if you ponder long enough, you may find that these spring holidays tie into the rebirth of the seasons, the eternity of life, and the meaning our existence.

Every year on Washington’s Birthday (February 22nd), a United States Senator will read President Washington’s farewell address to the Senate. Washington warned the 1796 congress of a few things and one of them was the two-party political system, which he thought would divide a nation. Abraham Lincoln had to overcome similar divisiveness. These great presidents recognized what Thomas Paine phrased so well, “in unity our great strength lies”. I wonder what our senators will be thinking this year as they listen to Washington’s farewell address.

Some may consider this to be a Hallmark Holiday, designed to sell greeting cards, chocolate, and flowers. This is not the case because LOVE dates back to the beginning of time, and Valentine’s Day can be tracked back to 500 CE (common era) when the Pope Gelasius I established the Feast of St. Valentine. Valentine’s Day cards originated as love notes in 1415 from Charles, Duke of Orleans while a prisoner in the Tower of London. Even a prisoner can give the perfect Valentine’s Day gift because nothing beats a handwritten love note from that special someone.

Image Source: National Park Service, http://www.nps.gov/malu

Dr. King was an interesting man.  From child genius with advanced collegiate degrees to a person who suffered depression. From going to prison 29 times to giving speeches to 100s of thousands of people, his quotes are as relevant today and they were 60 years ago.  We need to keep celebrating Dr. King for his teachings as well as his accomplishments.   

Without losing sight of his remarkable contributions to America, have you ever wondered why you have not seen or heard more of his full speeches rather than just the quotes?  It seems like the speeches would play well in movies and on TV.  The answer is Copyright Laws. 

People have been celebrating the New Year for over 4,000 years, and we have been looking backward and forward on New Year’s Day for over 2,000 years when Julius Caesar updated the calendar to begin on January 1st – January named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings.  Janus has two faces that allowed himContinue reading “New Year’s”

I find it interesting how Christmas can unite people of different faiths while it is a sacred Christian holiday.  In America it is the unifying spirit of giving that allows all religious faiths to celebrate together.  Christmas evolved into an American phenomena through the light of Jesus during the darkest time of the year and through the joy of giving across economic and social differences.  Not to discount Christianity, but it is interesting to consider how a religious holiday transcends religious differences in America.  Everyone is allowed to follow their own spiritual beliefs, while at the same time, everyone is allowed to respect the thoughts and beliefs of others.  
 
Happy Holidays!  Merry Christmas!

It may have started with the Pilgrims and Native Americans, but we owe our current traditions to Ms. Sarah Josepha Hale who worked relentlessly to establish the Thanksgiving holiday that President Lincoln declared a national holiday in 1863. Do you ever wonder why we watch football or how we feed 300 million people in AmericaContinue reading “Thanksgiving”

Veterans Day is not on a Monday and does not create a three-day weekend because it celebrates the end of World War I. The war to end all wars officially ended on 11/11/1919. What lessons did WW I teach us and what lessons have we learned since 1919?

Do you ever wonder why neighborhood block parties are a common part of our Halloween celebrations? The answer lies in the origins of Halloween over 2,000 years ago in Ireland, England, and northern France. While Halloween seems to be as American as apple pie, it is one of the first holidays that owes its growthContinue reading “Halloween”