UN Holocaust Memorial Day
On January 27, 1945, the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz was liberated. This date was chosen by the United Nations as a date to remember those who died in the Holocaust.
On January 27, 1945, the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz was liberated. This date was chosen by the United Nations as a date to remember those who died in the Holocaust.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, or National African American History month, in recognition of the contributions of African American and people of African ancestry. The roots of Black History Month lie in the early 20th century. At the time, history courses in the United States focused largely on the contributions of Europeans and those of European descent. In 1915, Harvard-trained historian Carter Woodson helped found the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, with the mission of researching and promoting the achievements of African Americans and others of African descent. In 1926, the group began promoting a National Negro History week, choosing the second week in February to coincide with birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and the prominent former slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglas. The first president to recognize a national Black History Month was Gerald Ford, in 1976, and February has been recognized as Black History Month by every US president since. A month is designated for the recognition of the achievements of men and women of African ancestry by many other countries, including the United Kingdom and Canada.
National Freedom Day
February 1 is National Freedom Day. This day commemorates the 1st of February, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlaws involuntary servitude throughout the United States. In 1948, President Truman signed the first law declaring February 1st to be National Freedom Day, celebrating the freedom of all Americans.
Lunar / Chinese New Year
February 1 (2022) marks the traditional Chinese New Year. This holiday is based upon the old Chinese lunar calendar. From the early 20th century, however, China has followed the solar-based Gregorian calendar, and celebrated New Year’s Day on January 1. Now the traditional Chinese New Year is known as “Spring Festival”.
In the traditional Chinese calendar, each year is named after a different animal. We have just finished the year of the ox. February 1, 2022 begins the year of the tiger. According to Chinese New Year.net, the association of years with particular animals was probably originally linked to animal worship. Over time the animals came to be associated with specific traits, compatibilities and incompatibilities. Additionally, when the animal year of one’s birth rolls along (for instance, the last year of the tiger was in 2010, so one turns 12 in 2022, this is one’s animal year), it is seen not so much as a lucky year but instead as a year to beware of bad luck. China Highlights.com states that ways of avoiding bad luck can be to wear the color red, to wear jade accessories, and to be conscious of adjusting the locations of seats, desks, etc. so that one is facing away from Tai Sui, the “God of Age star”.