My Science School

Passover

Long ago, the Jewish people were slaves in Egypt. To help the Jews, God told a Jewish man named Moses that he was to lead his people to freedom. God then told Moses what must be done.

Each family was to mark its doorway with the blood of a lamb. The people were to stay in their houses. They were to gather their belongings together and be ready to leave Egypt.

During the night, the Angel of Death visited every Egyptian home. And in each home, the first-born child died. But the Jews were safe. The Angel of Death saw the blood on their doorways and went by, or passed over, their houses. This is how the Jewish feast called Passover got its name.

After this terrible night, the Egyptian king, or pharaoh, let the Jews go. Afraid that the pharaoh might change his mind, the Jews hurried out of Egypt. Leaving Egypt, they became free.

Today, Passover begins with the Seder, which is both a religious service and a feast. The family prays and eats traditional foods. One of these foods is matzah, unleavened bread. Traditionally, after the Seder service, everyone sings happy folk songs.

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Easter

Jesus Christ, the founder of Christianity, died on a cross on a Friday about 2,000 years ago. Christians believe that on the following Sunday, Christ arose from the dead and, in so doing, proved that He was the Son of God. The day Jesus died and was buried is known as Good Friday. The following Sunday is Easter.

Christians celebrate Easter by going to church. Some people attend special outdoor services at sunrise. The light of the rising sun reminds them of the light that comes back to the world with the newly risen Jesus.

Easter customs include wearing new clothes, which represent new life, and eating lamb, which represents Jesus, “the Lamb of God”. Eating and hunting coloured Easter eggs are also popular customs. Some children play a game with eggs. They roll the eggs down a hill. The egg that stays uncracked the longest wins.

Most Christians celebrate Easter on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Others celebrate it between April 3 and May 8. Whenever Easter comes, it’s the oldest, the most important, and the most joyful of all Christian holy days.

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Buddha's Birthday

Buddha is the title people have given to the founder of Buddhism, one of the world’s largest religions. The title Buddha means “Wise One” or “Enlightened One”.

In Japan, Buddhists celebrate his birthday on April 8. On that day in Buddhist temples, children line up to approach a tiny, open shrine covered with flowers. Inside the shrine is a statue of the baby Buddha. One by one, each child takes a small ladle and pours a little sweet tea over the statue. This is the way the children show their love for Buddha.

This day is also known as the Flower Festival, because it is the time of year when cherry trees begin to blossom.

Buddhists in many other parts of Asia also celebrate Buddha’s birthday. In India, people fast (by going without food) during the day and pray at home and in temples. In Korea, many people display paper lanterns in the evening. People in Thailand celebrate Buddha’s birthday in June.

There’s a bug on your shirt!

Did you look to see? If you did - April fool! The joke is on you.

Although the day, also called All Fools’ Day, has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, its exact origins remain a mystery.

Some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the New Year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes.

Many people play tricks and jokes on others on April 1. It’s April Fools’ Day. And on this day, people gleefully shout “April fool!” at those they have tricked.

In Scotland, a person who is fooled by being sent on some foolish errand is said to be “hunting the gowk”. Gowk means “fool”.

And in France, a person who is fooled on April Fools’ Day is called a Poisson d’Avril, which means “April fish”. Why a fish? Perhaps it is because in April fish are young and easily caught. In France, as a special treat, you can buy chocolate fish on April Fools’ Day.

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The Month of April

April is the fourth month of the year. The Romans called this month Aprilis. The name comes from a Latin word that means “to open”.

April was originally the second month of the year in early versions of the Roman calendar and consisted of 30 days. It became the fourth month consisting of only 29 days when January was designated the first month of the year around 450 BCE. The month became 30 days long again when Julius Caesar reformed the calendar.

April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and consists of 30 days. It is commonly associated with the season of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall (autumn) in the Southern hemisphere.

April starts on the same day of the week as July and ends on the same day of the week as December in common years. During leap years, April starts on the same day of the week as January.

In the northern part of the world, April usually brings more changes than any other month. The last ice and snow disappear. The grass turns green. The buds of trees, shrubs, and flowers begin to open. Birds are singing and building nests. In the southern part of the world, people enjoy mild autumn days.

April’s birth flower is the daisy and sweet pea.

The birthstone for April is the diamond which symbolizes innocence.

Greek Independence Day

On March 25, 1821, a group of Greek leaders met in a church. They took a vow -liberty or death! At the same time, another group issued a declaration of independence. Finally, in 1829, after eight long years of war, the Greeks won their freedom from Turkey and became an independent nation.

Today, people in Greece celebrate Independence Day on March 25. Many people fly the Greek flag on this day. In Athens, the capital of Greece, there is a big military parade to celebrate the day. Among the marchers are Greek soldiers called evzones. These soldiers wear a red cap with a black tassel, a coloured waistcoat over a white shirt, a white pleated skirt over white tights, and red shoes with a black pompon at the toe.

Greece had been part of the Ottoman Empire since 1453. The Greek revolt was precipitated on March 25, 1821, when Bishop Germanos of Patras raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese. The cry “Freedom or death” became the motto of the revolution. The Greeks experienced early successes on the battlefield, including the capture of Athens in June 1822, but infighting ensued. By 1827 Athens and most of the Greek isles had been recaptured by the Turks.

Just as the revolution appeared to be on the verge of failure, Great Britain, France, and Russia intervened in the conflict. The Greek struggle had elicited strong sympathy in Europe, and many leading intellectuals had promoted the Greek cause, including the English poet Lord Byron. At the naval Battle of Navarino, the combined British, French, and Russian forces destroyed an Ottoman-Egyptian fleet. The revolution ended in 1829 when the Treaty of Edirne established an independent Greek state.

Birthday of Benito Juarez

Benito Juarez was one of the greatest leaders in the history of Mexico. His concern for the poor was well known. His birthday, March 21, is celebrated as a national holiday.

Born on March 21st 1806, Benito Juárez is today remembered as a reformer dedicated to democracy, reducing the influence of the Catholic Church in Mexican politics, campaigning for equal rights for indigenous peoples and promoting the defence of national sovereignty.

Juárez had a very humble start to life. He was an indigenous Zapotec who became an orphan when he was only four years old, he worked as a shepherd, speaking Zapotec and unable to read or write. He moved to Oaxaca City when he was 13, where he learned to speak, read and write Spanish, studied law and got married.

He entered politics in 1834, serving as a city councilman in Oaxaca. Over the next two decades, he rose through the political system, until he was elected President.

He became the 26th President of Mexico, holding office from January 15th 1858 until July 18th 1872.

Benito Juárez lived during one of the most important and tumultuous periods of Mexican history, considered by many historians as the consolidation of the nation as a republic. Juárez marked a watershed in the nation's history, being a premier figure in this time.

Juarez was a Zapotec Indian who became a lawyer and politician. In 1861, he was elected president of Mexico.

The following year, the French invaded Mexico. When they captured Mexico City, Juarez fled for his life. Travelling about in his black carriage, he led his country’s fight for freedom from French control.

In 1866, the U.S.A. forced the French to leave Mexico. Juarez, still travelling in his black carriage, returned to his office in Mexico City.

St. Joseph’s Day

In Valencia, Spain, wild figures of colourful animals and people made of paper or wood decorate the streets and squares. There are fireworks, parades, and street dances. Then, around midnight, the city lights up with a fiery blaze as all these figures are burned. It’s March 19, St. Joseph’s Day in Spain!

Saint Joseph was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Roman Catholics honour Joseph as a saint. Most people in Spain are Roman Catholic, so the day is a big celebration in that country. Roman Catholics in other countries also celebrate St. Joseph’s Day.

St. Joseph’s day always falls in Lent, so meals on his day are always associated with meatless dishes. In Italy a tradition is to serve food that contains bread crumbs as these represent saw dust since St. Joseph was a carpenter.

Since Joseph is not mentioned in any accounts of Jesus' public life, his crucifixion, or resurrection, it is thought that Joseph died before Jesus started preaching.

St. Joseph is the patron saint of the Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Despite knowing so little about Joseph, he still has two feast days in the Western church. In his capacity as the patron saint of Workers, 1st May was established as the Feast of “St. Joseph the Worker” in 1955. This is seen as an attempt to counteract the social and non religious growth of Labour Day as a worldwide holiday.

Moomba

Moomba means “get together and have fun”. And that’s just what the people of Melbourne, Australia, do at the yearly Moomba Festival.

The Moomba Festival gets its name from the language of the Aborigines, the people who were the first to live in Australia. The festival runs for 11 days. And there is something for everyone.

Among the many events are water shows and boat races on the Yarra River, which flows through the city. At Melbourne Cricket Ground, children’s teams play all kinds of sports. There are games of cricket, which is a favourite sport in Australia, as well as soccer and rugby. Children’s plays are put on at an outdoor theatre.

The busy festival ends with a big parade on Australia’s Labour Day, the second Monday in March. Bagpipe bands play lively marches and there are colourful floats. The Moomba King and Queen lead the parade. Everywhere there are clowns and more clowns. Children may also dress up and take part in the parade.

Holi

Look out! That splash of red is coming straight towards you! It’s the festival of Holi in India. The streets are filled with people squirting coloured water or smearing brightly coloured powder on each other.

Holi is the spring festival that takes place in February and March. It combines singing, dancing, and traditional merrymaking with Hindu religious ceremonies. It also reminds Hindus of a story from their mythology.

In the story, a king was angry about his son worshiping Lord Vishnu, one of the two main gods of Hinduism. The boy’s evil aunt, Holi, tried to kill the boy by taking him into a huge fire. The boy escaped unhurt, but Holi was killed in the fire.

Today, Hindus light a large bonfire on Holi as a symbol of the burning of all evil things. The bonfire also marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring.

Hindus in many parts of the world celebrate Holi, including people in Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, and Suriname. Wherever is celebrated, people forget about their differences and have fun together.

St. Patrick’s Day

In Dublin, Ireland, people wear shamrocks. In Chicago, U.S.A., the river is dyed green. It’s St. Patrick’s Day, a time to wear a bit of green and enjoy Irish traditions.

The colour green is a reminder of the beautiful green countryside of Ireland. It is also the colour of the shamrock, the clover-like plant that is the national symbol of Ireland.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is a holy day. People attend religious services. Saint Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint brought Christianity to Ireland. In many U.S. and Canadian cities, people celebrate with parades and enjoy Irish music and foods. In New York City, more than a hundred bands and a hundred thousand marchers join in the St. Patrick’s Day parade along Fifth Avenue. The parade lasts for hours.

Religious symbols include snakes and serpents, as well as the Celtic cross. Some say that Saint Patrick added the Sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross. Other Irish-related symbols seen on St Patrick’s Day include the harp, which was used in Ireland for centuries, as well as a mythological creature known as the leprechaun and a pot of gold that the leprechaun keeps hidden.

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Doll Festivals

Does your family have special dolls that decorate the shelves or mantel? In Japan, people display special sets of dolls every year on March 3 and May 5. These are doll festival days. The one on March 3 is the Girls’ Festival, and the one on May 5 is the Boys’ Festival.

During these celebrations, families display dolls that have been handed down for generations. Through the dolls, the children learn about their country’s culture, history, and outstanding men and women.

This festival had its origin about 1,000 years ago in the Heian Period (794-1192). It is a traditional custom to display ceremonial dolls on tiers of shelves covered with scarlet carpet. These dolls are dressed in the fashion of the people of the ancient court. The Emperor and Empress are placed on the upper-most tier, followed by the ladies in waiting and ministers.

Starting weeks before the festival, families display the dolls on a tiered stand called a hinadan that is covered with red cloth.

The stand may have 5 or 7 tiers, with the the top tier reserved for the Emperor and Empress, followed by guardians, musicians, and servants.

The display also includes small meal dishes, small furniture pieces like chests and stands, and fresh peach blossoms.

There is a superstition about hina dolls. If a girl does not put away the dolls quickly after the Hina Festival, then she will not get married for a long time.

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The Month of March

March is the third month of the year. On the Roman calendar, the year began with March. Romans named the month after Mars, their god of war, because they prepared to go off to war in springtime.

March has not always been the third month in a year. In early versions of the ancient Roman calendar, the year began with March or Martius. Because the month coincides with the time of the March equinox and the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, where the calendar originated, March was considered to be a month of new beginnings.

The months of January and February did not feature in earlier versions of the Roman calendar. They were added to the end of the year around 700 BCE and became the first months of the year around 450 BCE, pushing March to its currently held third position.

In the northern half of the world, people often say that “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. This means that the weather in early March is often stormy, but by the end, it is mild. In the southern part of the world, March is the beginning of autumn.

Lent

Crowds of people leave the church. A cross of black ashes marks each person’s forehead. It’s Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.

Lent is a Christian religious season. It begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls sometime in February or March. Lent ends about 40 days later on Easter Sunday. The 40 days of Lent remind people of the 40 days Jesus fasted in the wilderness.

Today, many Christians fast by giving up such luxuries as sweets during Lent. They also think about the things they have done wrong in their lives.

In many countries, special foods are eaten during Lent. In Ireland, people have a Lenten dish called champ. It is made of hot mashed potatoes with green onions and served with a lump of butter in the middle.

Ash Wednesday is observed in Roman Catholic churches and in some Protestant churches. In Catholic churches, ashes from burned palm leaves are blessed and used to mark a cross on each person’s forehead. The ashes remind people that they came from dust and will one day return to dust.

Early Christians felt the importance of Easter called for special preparations. The first mention of a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for Easter is found in the Canons of Nicaea (AD 325). It is thought that the tradition may have grown from the early church practice of baptismal candidates undergoing a 40-day period of fasting in preparation for their baptism at Easter. Eventually, the season evolved into a period of spiritual devotion for the whole church. During the initial centuries, the Lenten fast was very strict but relaxed over time.

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Carnival

The world’s turned topsy-turvy! It’s snowing bits of paper. Clowns are dancing with witches. It’s the Mardi Gras (from the French “fat Tuesday”) carnival! And people in places as far apart as Venice in Italy and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil are dressing in costumes and masks and dancing and parading in the streets.

Mardi Gras marks the last day of festivities before Lent - 40 days of fasting and prayer for Christians. Lent starts in February or March.

People also celebrate the days before Lent in other ways. In Britain, people celebrate Pancake Day on the Tuesday before Lent by eating pancakes. The custom began long ago, when people could not eat meat, butter, eggs, and other rich foods during Lent. So, they made pancakes to use up their eggs and butter. In Olney, England, some women have a pancake race. They line up in the market square carrying a pancake in a frying pan. They must flip the pancake three times as they race to the other end of the square.

In Bulgaria, children celebrate Cheese Week before Lent. During the week, the children play a special game. With their hands behind their backs, they try to eat pieces of cheese, eggs, or sweets hanging by a string from the ceiling.

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