It’s almost springtime! We’ve made sure all our clocks are changed and we’re getting our green thumbs ready to go into the garden. Speaking of GREEN things, we can’t wait to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

St. Patrick’s Day is one of our favorite holidays! We love it so much that we went to Ireland in App 2, Chicago’s Green River Leads to the Emerald Isle. How did we get from Chicago to Ireland? Well, we had help from Truman for sure. Liberty and the gang traveled to Chicago, Illinois to see the great St. Patrick’s Day parade paying homage to some of the early immigrants to America. That made Liberty wonder what Ireland was like on St. Patrick’s Day. Check out this fun adventure in App 2, Chicago’s Green River Leads to the Emerald Isle to learn more fun Chicago-Ireland connections.

Did you know…

Over 35 million Americans list “Irish” as their heritage according to the US Census, while Ireland’s actual population is around 4.8 million. That means there’s more Irish people in America than there are in Ireland! You better believe we are going to celebrate the Emerald Isle in style!

Every year in Chicago the St. Patrick’s Day parade starts with dyeing of the river. This happens on a Saturday whether or not St. Patrick’s Day is actually on a Saturday. Chicago isn’t the only city to throw a big parade, most big cities across America have one. The top 5 big ones for your bucket list are New York (the biggest parade around), Chicago, Boston (the longest running parade), Savannah, and Kansas City in Missouri. Don’t forget to wear your green and celebrate on the 17th, the day where we’re ALL Irish!

March also happens to be Women’s History month. Did you know the President has to make a formal proclamation to Congress for a group to be celebrated for a whole month? That’s a great achievement for women to be recognized for their heroic, pioneering efforts and accomplishments in history.

One of our favorite women in history has to be the great adventurer, Amelia Earhart. She is highly regarded as a woman who broke down the walls of tradition and blazed a trail all her
own. Imagine a world where it was unheard of for a woman to be a passenger in an airplane, not to mention flying an airplane on her own. Amelia had a passion for aviation and went after her dreams, setting record after record. People took notice of her bravery and she became a sought after aviator, lecturer, and writer.

Amelia Earhart’s last flight was her most ambitious endeavor, a flight around the world. As the story goes, she never made it to the final destination and her disappearance remains a mystery. In her short time on Earth, Amelia broke down barriers for women in the work force as well as provided inspiration for all women that wish to fulfill their dreams, whatever they might be. We at World of Liberty believe she is truly a heroine to be remembered this month.
We also LOVE Frida Kahlo. Do you know who Frida Kahlo was? She was only one of the most talented artists from Mexico. She was most known for her self taught ability to depict her pain and culture in self portraits. After a bus accident, Frida suffered injuries that would plague her for the rest of her life, requiring 35 operations. In her time of solace, she honed her skills and became well known for her spirit of feminism. Always controversial, Frida never strayed from her passion or let anyone change her. Stay focused on being who you are, find the best way to show others what makes you unique and you will inspire the world.

That’s what Women’s History month is all about. Learning about the past to inspire a better future. Perhaps your school will be one of the lucky ones to enlist a woman performer to come tell the story of one of our many brilliant women of history.

March is one of our favorite months because you can feel the promise of Spring and the chance to play outside is within our reach. Some children aren’t as lucky as Liberty and her friends. Some children are stuck inside because they are sick. This month you can support Children’s Hospital by supporting local businesses who are participating in the Make March Matter drive. All month long you can help raise awareness for children’s health needs. Because every child should be able to enjoy the promise of Spring.

We just love all the fun activities we get to celebrate in Spring. But there’s nothing like a patriotic celebration! Patriotism is one of our favorite things and this month we celebrate a special time in our history called Patriot’s Day, which falls on April 17th this year. It is always observed on the 3rd Monday of April. If you live in Massachusetts or Maine, it’s actually a state holiday, that means a day off from work and school for most folks.  Patriot’s Day pays tribute to the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “The red coats are coming! The red coats are coming!” Well, that is the shout of Paul Revere on his infamous midnight ride to warn the patriots to prepare for war. It worked too. Thanks to Paul Revere, the townspeople were able to assemble in enough time to fight off the British attack the following day.

These early battles are important for American history because they were the first great steps towards Independence from the British Empire and creation of what would become the United States of America. You can find re-enactments of these events on Patriot’s Day especially in Boston. For schools that remain open, which is most schools, it’s a great opportunity to learn about the beginnings of our great nation and the bravery of the people that helped form our country. As history goes, the colonists prevailed and eventually claimed victory from British rule.

Woohoo! Our ancestors rocked!!! We want to help Keep America Beautiful to honor their memory. One way to do that is by signing up with KAB(Keep America Beautiful). KAB helps communities come together and beautify their local neighborhoods. Ask an adult to help you find a local chapter of KAB near you. It’s easy! Just click HERE and enter your email and zip code. The KAB website will connect you with your local chapter and you’ll be on your way to Keeping America Beautiful! Once you’ve signed up you can celebrate your awesomeness on April 20, Volunteer Recognition Day!

You could also give yourself a high five! April 21st was declared National High Five Day in 2002 by college students at the University of Virginia. We can only imagine how many high fives were fived that day. Where did the high five come from…isn’t it funny to imagine a world without high fives? There’s actually a couple origin stories of the first documented high fives. Both stem back to the 1970’s and both are related to sports. The best time to high five is when you win whether it’s for a home run, a slam dunk, or a job well done. High Five Day is for everyone to high five as many people as they can and we guarantee you’ll be smiling all day. Certain organizations even try to hold high five contests to raise money for good. Check out events that might take place near you.

This month we are muy muy emocionado to be celebrating Cinco de Mayo! Do you know why we celebrate Cinco de Mayo here in America? Cinco de Mayo was actually started by a group of students attending California State University. These students wanted a way to bring awareness to their culture and celebrate their chicano history. That’s how Cinco de Mayo was born.

On May 5th we celebrate the courage of the Mexican people during La Batalla de Puebla. So while you’re eating nachos, playing with a piñata or enjoying a mariachi band raise your glass in honor of the Mexican people! You can learn a little more about Mexico in App 3, Paintings, Plains and Pioneers! Diversity brings so much joy to our culture here in America. 

We hope you have something special planned for Mother’s Day this year because we sure do. Our mom’s do so much hard work every day and on Mother’s Day it’s important to tell them just how special they are. You don’t have to take your mom to a fancy brunch or buy her expensive jewelry, all you have to do is let her know that her love and sacrifice means the world to you. We can’t wait for you to get to know Liberty’s mom in our next app. Her name is Jackie Lane, and she is voiced by the marvelous Nancy Linari! Keep an eye out for a sneak peek this month.

Memorial Day is almost here and that means that summer is on the horizon! So many great barbecues and get togethers happen on this three day weekend. We encourage you to take a moment while you’re together with your loved ones to remember the ultimate sacrifice paid by so many men and women who fought for our freedom.

On Memorial Day we honor the dead for the sacrifice they made in fighting for freedom in America. We honor their sacrifice by remembering them and continuing the crusade by, “rising up in their stead and continuing the fight for liberty and justice for all.” (USMemorialDay.org) If you can, find a local flag ceremony to attend. If not, here are some other great ways to celebrate Memorial Day…

• Wear a red poppy
  • Here’s a fun craft to make your own
• Listen to taps while remembering the sacrifice of the fallen
• Write a letter to a soldier
• Practice proper flag etiquette for the day
• Contact your local cemetery to see if they need volunteers to help decorate the graves of our soldiers
• Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3PM
• Contact your local USO chapter and volunteer

We at World of Liberty are grateful for the sacrifices made by our service men and women and we are honored to live in a country of heroes.

We hope you have fun Springing into Spring this month!

We’re talking about Valentine’s Day, of course, smack dab in the middle of the month. In America, it’s the day we celebrate all things love and friendship. People make cards and gifts to remind those that they love how much they care. Or to creatively tell someone that you admire them. Do you have any idea who receives the most Valentine’s cards every February 14th? Teachers! 2nd place goes to kids. Then onto wives and significant others and pets. Yes, animals even get in on the love these days. We highly recommend getting crafty and making your own handmade Valentines for all the special ones in your life. That’s how Esther Howland of Massachusetts got the nickname the “Mother of the American Valentine.”She made cards from scratch with materials such as paper lace. They became so popular she had to hire friends to help her with the orders. That’s how she became the first woman in America to mass produce valentine’s cards. Talk about woman power. Esther is an inspiration. Doing what she is passionate about while employing her friends to help her live the dream of running her own business… all in the name of love, literally. Brings new meaning to the passion, love, and friendship we celebrate on Valentine’s Day. Bet you will look at those aisles of mass produced cards you pick up at the grocery store in a whole new way now. We challenge you to celebrate your love of country this month. Send us your Valentine’s Day cards to America and we’ll post them on our Facebook page. If there’s one thing we always need more of, it’s Love. We look forward to seeing your cards! Tweet us or Facebook us your cards.

April is here and full of joy! Hopefully, you’ve adjusted to the spring forward time change and are ready for some high fiving, patriotic, story telling. This month has us pumped at World of Liberty to spread the feeling of delight that comes when the grass is green and flowers are blooming. It makes everything seem like a celebration.

There’s nothing like a patriotic celebration! Patriotism is one of our favorite things and this month we celebrate a special time in our history called Patriot’s Day, which falls on April 18th this year. It is always observed on the 3rd Monday of April. If you live in Massachusetts or Maine, it’s actually a state holiday, that means a day off from work and school for most folks.  Patriot’s Day pays tribute to the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775, which marked the beginning of the American Revolution.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “The red coats are coming! The red coats are coming!” Well, that is the shout of Paul Revere on his infamous midnight ride to warn the patriots to prepare for war. It worked too. Thanks to Paul Revere, the townspeople were able to assemble in enough time to fight off the British attack the following day.

These early battles are important for American history because they were the first great steps towards Independence from the British Empire and creation of what would become the United States of America. You can find re-enactments of these events on Patriot’s Day especially in Boston. For schools that remain open, which is most schools, it’s a great opportunity to learn about the beginnings of our great nation and the bravery of the people that helped form our country. As history goes, the colonists prevailed and eventually claimed victory from British rule.

One form of celebrating a victory is the high five. There’s even a day for it. April 21st was declared National High Five Day in 2002 by college students at the University of Virginia. We can only imagine how many high fives were fived that day.

Where did the high five come from…isn’t it funny to imagine a world without high fives? There’s actually a couple origin stories of the first documented high fives. Both stem back to the 1970’s and both are related to sports. The best time to high five is when you win whether it’s for a home run, a slam dunk, or a job well done. High Five Day is for everyone to high five as many people as they can and we guarantee you’ll be smiling all day. Certain organizations even try to hold high five contests to raise money for good. Check out events that might take place near you.

After all that high fiving, you might have some great stories to tell. Just in time for Tell a Story Day on April 27th. We here at World of Liberty love to tell stories or read someone else’s in a good book. Everyone has a story within them, so take the time to tell it on this day and enjoy the wonders of story telling. It can be fictional, folk lore, real life experience, mythical, fantastical, spooky, funny, you name it… we’d love to hear it.

Libraries hold a special story hour for Tell a Story Day. Ask your local librarian about April 27th to find out how to participate in the activities. You might find a new hobby. Telling stories usually leads to writing them down, so other people can enjoy your story too again and again. The wonders of a good story can transport you to a far off land or teach a lesson in a cool way. They can even be acted out. There’s no limits to the imagination which is why we love this day so much. Have fun creating your story. Share it with us here at World of Liberty. We’re all ears!

Better mark your calendar now for all the activities you need to check out in your local area, you high fiving patriot of stories!

It’s February already? Yup, the shortest month of the year is here. But with one more extra day than it had last year, since 2016 is a Leap Year! Enjoy that extra day because it only happens every 4 years to keep us in check with the seasons. If we didn’t have the extra day every 4 years, we might end up with winter in the summer. So we say love every extra minute, it is the month of love after all.

We’re talking about Valentine’s Day, of course, smack dab in the middle of the month. In America, it’s the day we celebrate all things love and friendship. People make cards and gifts to remind those that they love how much they care. Or to creatively tell someone that you admire them. Do you have any idea who receives the most Valentine’s cards every February 14th? Teachers! 2nd place goes to kids. Then onto wives and significant others and pets. Yes, animals even get in on the love these days. We highly recommend getting crafty and making your own handmade Valentines for all the special ones in your life. That’s how Esther Howland of Massachusetts got the nickname the “Mother of the American Valentine.” She made cards from scratch with materials such as paper lace. They became so popular she had to hire friends to help her with the orders. That’s how she became the first woman in America to mass produce valentine’s cards. Talk about woman power. Esther is an inspiration. Doing what she is passionate about while employing her friends to help her live the dream of running her own business… all in the name of love, literally. Brings new meaning to the passion, love, and friendship we celebrate on Valentine’s Day. Bet you will look at those aisles of mass produced cards you pick up at the grocery store in a whole new way now. Spread the love!

With Valentine’s Day falling on a Sunday this year, that means President’s Day is the next day because it’s the 3rd Monday of the February. Back to back holidays! Ever wonder why a lot of our holidays are celebrated on a Monday? Well, you aren’t the only one that enjoys a nice long 3 day weekend. In 1968, Congress signed a measure called the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Wherein, the celebration and observance of several federal holidays would be honored on predetermined Mondays throughout the year, rather than on the original day of the event, or birthday in this case. George Washington’s birthday to be exact, now remembered by our country on the 3rd Monday of February. The idea behind moving holidays to the same Monday every year is to reduce employee absenteeism for the nation’s federal workers. It also resulted in a rise in retail sales as well, which in turn boosted the economy. Who doesn’t love a good excuse for a 3 day sale?

The real birthday of the First President of the United States is February 22nd. In 1800, a year after his death, the first observance of his birthday took place, as he was highly regarded in his time as one of the most important figures in our history. However, it didn’t become an official federal holiday until 1879 when it was written into law joining the likes of the only other 4 federal holidays at the time and the first official holiday celebrating the life of an individual American. But how did it go from just George Washington’s birthday to President’s Day you ask? Well, it started when another very much admired President joined the ranks with a February birthday, Abraham Lincoln. Both made great contributions to our country and with birthdays just 10 days apart, it became a little much celebrating on Feb 12th and then again on the 22nd. So they combined the two onto one day. In some states it’s still called Washington’s birthday. In some it’s Lincoln’s birthday. Other it’s Washington-Lincoln birthday. But it all has the same meaning. To remember the first President of the United States and his great contributions and honor the efforts made by Lincoln towards keeping us the United States of America. While some people think sharing the day takes away from the greatness of each man, we think it only adds to the love we feel for the awesome forefathers that helped form our country.

To get in the spirit of February, might we suggest making your Valentine a red, white and blue masterpiece for a President’s Day crossover Valentine card. They are back to back holidays this year, falling on the 14th and 15th! Snap a picture of your patriotic valentines and send them to us. We’d love to share them. Now that’s what we call love here at World of Liberty!