I sure hope you are all safe and healthy during these times! 


This month, in honor of Halloween, I chose to read a book aloud called “The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything,” written by Linda Williams.

I like this book because the little old lady is a very strong, brave, independent person, and I love characters like that. Just like Liberty Lane (the best learning apps for kids) as a matter of fact! 


I love how the story builds, and when she does become a bit scared towards the end of the story, she turns her fear into an idea, a successful one at that. 
This is a fun book to read with your kids because they can make the sounds that are written about in the book as you read along. 


Happy Halloween everyone! Talk to you next month! 


Amber 

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!

Chicago to DublinSt. 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!

Liberty_part20012Every 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!

Womens History Month
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 Amelia Earhartairplane, 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 Truman Flyingambitious 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 Frida Kahlopain 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.

patriots day

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 PAUL REVEREwar. 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!High Five 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.mexico

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. Nancy Linari Mom

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 memorial day memermoment 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…

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 esther-howland-valentine-artist-253x300handmade 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 esther-howland-valentine-226x300with 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, Esther_Howland_1850literally. 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.

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Get your kids involved in the electoral process!

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Kids Voting USA has a wonderful family section with worksheets and discussion starters to help get your family involved. Check out their website now.kpp-winners-hillary-promo-1x1

Kids Voting USA

Nick.com has a special channel called Kids Pick the President. It’s a series of videos about the presidential election and has an online polling process too!

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PBS really went the distance. Not only can your kids cast a ballot for their chosen candidate but this site is complete with kid reporters, trading cards and fun candidate information sheets.

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If you want to learn more about how we got the right to vote, check out our voting blog.

Vote! Vote! Vote!

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Here at World of Liberty we are so proud to be Americans! One of the best parts of America is our right to vote. America is unique in that all citizens over the age of 18 are eligible to vote. It wasn’t always like that. Below are some of the major milestones in voters rights. Many, many generations have fought to expand your right to vote!

  • 1787-1870 – American citizens were given the right to vote however, many states had limiting requirements for citizens based on age, gender, race, income and property ownership.
  • 1870 – 15th Amendment is ratified. All men are given the right to vote regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
  • 1920 – 19th Amendment ratified. Women win the right to vote.
  • 1965 – The Voting Rights Act became effective. It enforced the 15th Amendment and outlawed discriminatory voting practices.
  • 1971 – 26th Amendment is passed. “Old enough to fight, old enough to Vote.” The legal voting age goes from 21 to 18.

vote.png

Depositphotos_34510217_s-2015We ease into the grateful mood withVeterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, which is always observed on the 11th day of the 11th month for a very cool reason. At 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I was officially declared “over.” That was the original intention behind Veterans Day, to honor the dedication and sacrifice of the living soldiers that fought for our freedom in WWI. But then as more wars were fought, legislation changed this legal holiday’s name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, so that ALL of the soldiers from ALL of the wars are celebrated for their service to our country. In efforts to bring more recognition to this very significant day, World of Liberty would like to help clear up the confusion people have with Veterans Day and Memorial Day. They are often thought of as the same type of day. However, Memorial Day is to remember those that lost their lives fighting for our country, while Veterans Day is to honor the living soldiers among us that have contributed in times of not only war, but also in times of peace. Here’s a great website that offers ideas to show your appreciation for Veterans on this special day of recognition. Our favorites include writing thank you cards to veterans and asking your teacher to honor them by having a veteran come to class for a visit. We don’t need to wait for November to honor our veterans though, World of Liberty encourages you to do it all year long!

One year ago today we started Liberty’s Letters! Liberty World and FriendsWe’re so excited to see how many people are enjoying the adventures of Liberty and her pals in our apps. We’re even more excited because very soon we’ll have more adventures to share! So stay tuned because lots of good things are coming in May.

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 groupmexico 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! Diversity brings so much joy to our culture here in America.Nancy Linari Mom

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 Lan, and she is voiced by the marvelous Nancy Linari! Keep an eye out for a sneak peek this month.

 

If you’re looking for something whimsical to do this month Kite kiteDay is May 12. Maybe you could make a kite with your mom and go and fly it together! Flying a kite is so free and fun. There’s definitely something magical about watching a kite climb it’s way into the sky.

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 memorial day memermoment 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…

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.

Have a Marvelous May!

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.

patriots dayThere’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 PAUL REVEREwar. 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.

High Five DayWhere 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 Depositphotos_53302549_s-2015which 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!

Pinch me, its March! World of Liberty loves the month of March for 2 reasons. Everyone wears green in honor of Irish Heritage and it’s Women’s History month. You know what that means…lots of celebrating, parades, and learning about strong women. Some of our favorite things.

Happy St. Patricks dayTop o’ the month to you lass and lad. Just getting into the Irish spirit. Every year, on March 17th, we turn everything green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, or you’ll get pinched. But did you ever wonder why all the pinching? Legend has it that wearing green on this day made you invisible to leprechauns so they couldn’t pinch you because they couldn’t see you. The leprechauns are sneaky little guys from Irish folklore, full of mischief and always looking to rile things up. Although, centuries ago the only ones wearing green were Catholics. Most people took on wearing green in America to represent their love of the Irish and to honor Saint Patrick on the date marking his death, March 17th.st patrick

Saint Patrick is known for bringing Christianity to Ireland. It has been said that he used the shamrock to teach the Holy Trinity to the Irish, each leaf representing a different entity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So now you know why we wear green and the shamrock’s role in all of it. Pretty neat right?

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! So you better believe we are going to celebrate the Emerald Isle in style, and what better way to do so than with a parade. Let’s dye a river green while we’re at it.

Liberty_part20012Every year in Chicago the St. Patrick’s Day parade starts with the dyeing of the river. This happens on a Saturday whether or not St. Patrick’s Day is actually on a Saturday. This year it
will be on March 12th the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day. But 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. So don’t forget to wear your green and celebrate on the 17th, the day where we’re ALL Irish!

banner_womens_historyMarch 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, amazing 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 Ameliaown. 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.

Truman FlyingAmelia 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.

Another significant woman in history, was Frida Kahlo, a talented artist from Mexico. She was most known for her self taught ability to depict her pain and culture in self portraits.Frida 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. It’s a great lesson to be learned these days. Stay focused on being who you are, find the best way to show others what makes you unique and you will inspire the world.

Womens History MonthThat’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.

We hope you feel inspired to seek out other courageous women throughout history that left their mark. There’s always a chance you might follow in one of their bold footsteps. Enjoy your lucky March full of heritage and history.

It’s February already? boy leapYup, 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! girl leapEnjoy that extra day because it only happens every 4 years to keep us in check with the seasons. family leapIf 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 esther-howland-valentine-artist-253x300handmade 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 esther-howland-valentine-226x300with 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, Esther_Howland_1850literally. 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!Presidents Day 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?

WashingtonThe 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, LincolnAbraham 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! Valentines Day BannerSnap 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!

Bonne année! Shana Tova! Feliz año nuevo! Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno! Happy New Year!


World of Liberty is excited to say hello to 2017 and start January off with a bang! That expression comes from the way several countries ring in the new year. Literally with a bang. The bang of a pan. The bang of a pistol. The bang of a firecracker. Why such
Bangloud noises? Ancient cultures used gunfire and fire power to ward off bad spirits that might hinder their fresh start. It’s thought that the loud noise would scare off the demons or send them on a different route, allowing people to enter the new year free of evil. Gives a whole new meaning to banging pots and pans in the street right? And you just thought it was for fun. You can also try ringing a bell like they do in Italy, beating a drum like they do in Switzerland, or party horns like they do in North America. Whatever you can find to make a loud noise, use it to join in the tradition of centuries ago. Leave the bad behind, and let the goodness and wealth pour in!

Not only do we like to fill the air with noise to celebrate the new year but many countries also have food traditions to help them start the year off right. In Spain,  people eat 12 grapes, one for every stroke of the clock at midnight and for good luck in each month of the new year. Armenia has a special bread that has luck and good wishes kneaded into the dough before it’s baked. Talk about made with love. While in Ireland, they throw the bread at the wall to ward off evil spirits rather than eating it. The PrintSwiss also have a funny food tradition where they drop cream or ice cream on the floor to bring good luck in the new year. Other countries believe in eating round foods like doughnuts to signify coming “full circle” and bring good fortune in the new year. There’s so many ways to begin the new year. All in all, it’s about getting rid of any negativity of the previous year and putting your best foot forward. So make some noise and eat up. Try adopting some fun new traditions this year to spice things up in 2017. 

One day this month that will surely bring a smile to your face is Winnie the Pooh Day. January 18th is the birthday of A. A. Milne, Winnie The Poohthe creator of Winnie the Pooh and his friends, a day in which fans can celebrate their love of Pooh Bear. People all over the world can celebrate this most cuddly of days by putting together a teddy bear picnic and venturing out into a park or nearby woods. A menu of honey, nuts, and fruit would surely settle a rumbly in your tumbly as Pooh might say. Bring your favorite A. A. Milne storybook about the adventures in the 100 Acre Wood and read it with your favorite teddy bear and friends. You can talk about the traits of your favorite characters whether it’s Tigger’s ability to have fun, fun, fun, fun, fun or Eeyore’s constantly disappearing tail. It might even be fun to draw a picture of what your house would look like if you lived in the 100 Acre Wood. Whatever you decide to do remember…34527-Youre-Braver-Than-You-Believe

That Winnie the Pooh was a wise bear.

 

If Winnie the Pooh day didn’t meet your love quota for the month, fear not for Hug Day is here. Mark your calendar for January 21st to get your hug on. Rev. Kevin Zaborney Hug Dayfounded National Hug Day in 1986 in Michigan. He chose this day between Christmas and Valentine’s Day as a time when he felt people might need their spirits lifted. Number one rule on
Hug Day, ask before you hug, as not everyone is so inclined to be touchy feely. That’s exactly why this day was created though, Kevin Zaborney felt that Americans needed an opportunity to show their emotions and not keep it all inside as our society tends to do. Hugs have been scientifically known to reduce stress by increasing the hormone oxytocin in your blood. Hugs also lower the risk of depression as well as lower your blood pressure. There are so many benefits that come with such a simple hug. So embrace this day, pun intended. Go hug your parents, your friends, your teachers, your neighbor, if they are ok with the gesture, and spread that love. 

 

There’s no better way to kick off 2017 than with hugs and Winnie the Pooh. This year already sounds like it’s World of Liberty Logostarting off on the right foot. World of Liberty wishes you the best in achieving all of your goals. Let’s make this world a more loving place filled with happy people. 

 

 

Brrrrrrrrrr! It’s that time of year where it’s frosty outside and toasty inside. There’s cheer in the air and a spirit of sharing at World of Liberty. It seems as though the calendar saved the
best dates for last. We can’t think of a better way to end the year than on a giving note.

Before we get to the biggest holiday of the year, there is another special day that is celebrated across the world. You have all heard of St. Nicholas, right? Well, December 6th is St. Nicholas St NicholasDay, also known as Feast Day. St. Nicholas is a real person from 4th Century Greece known to help the needy by placing coins in their shoes. His name means “bearer of gifts” and there are several stories about him bestowing gifts to children that are well behaved. When the children knew he was coming they would leave carrots for his donkey in their shoes or boots, and St. Nicholas would leave sweets, fruit, nuts, and coins inside of their shoes in return.  Many parts of this worldly tradition are represented in our modern day Christmas celebrations. For instance, this is where the tradition of hanging your stockings originated. This day is meant to remember the kindness and giving nature of Saint Nicholas rather than focus on what you have received, be grateful for what you have been given.

We are very blessed in America, but December 7th reminds us of a day “that will live in infamy.” Can you name the President that spoke those famous words? That would be Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, in response to the surprise attacks from Japan Pearl Harbor Dayon the naval base at Pearl Harbor inHawaii. Over 350 Japanese fighter planes bombed Pearl Harbor early that morning, upon which America was forced to declare their entrance into World War II. Eight battleships were damaged, 4 sunk, in efforts to expand the Empire of Japan. The USS Arizona was the only battleship unable to be raised and is memorialized forever underwater off the shore of Oahu. You can visit the site of this historic attack and the museum in the USS Missouri. Even though the 7th is not an official federal holiday, we will always remember and honor the thousands of lives lost in the fight that day.

On a lighter note, let’s talk about the Festival of Lights known as Hanukkah. This 8 day long Jewish celebration can start as early as November depending on the Hebrew calendar for that given Webyear. Each day an additional candle is lit on the 9 branched menorah, representing the 8 days and nights the oil burned on what was supposed to be only a day’s worth of oil. This miracle took place after the successful Maccabean revolt and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Truly a miracle to celebrate!  Hanukkah is full of tradition such as reciting three blessings before lighting the candles each night. It is also customary to play a game of dreidel after the candles are lit. Playing dreidel represents the games the Jews would play to disguise the fact that they had gathered to read the Torah which has been outlawed back in 2nd century BC.  The soldiers would think they were gambling rather than learning. Can you imagine having to hide the fact that you were learning? Take the opportunity to find a dreidel of your own and play at home. You might also  want to enjoy foods made in oil such as latkes and doughnuts as they do traditionally. Sounds yummy right? It’s all done to remember the importance of oil all those centuries ago. If you aren’t Jewish yourself, perhaps you can join in the festivities with a friend and experience the wonder that is Hanukkah.

One of the newest holidays in the month of December, full of culture and community, is Kwanzaa. It was first celebrated in 1966 as a specifically African-American holiday that starts on PrintDecember 26th to January 1st. It was created by Maulana Karenga to honor African heritage. Each of the 7 days of the holiday represent a core principle. Unity, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith. Every day of Kwanzaa you can discuss what these principles mean in your everyday life and their importance. It’s great culmination of food and gift-giving. World of Liberty thinks Kwanzaa is fantastic addition to creating community and enjoying the abundance this season brings.

That brings us to the biggest holiday of the year, Christmas. December 25th is the day Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. They celebrate by attending church on Christmas Eve and enjoying the retelling of the Christmas Story through the display of a nativity. This was the original reason for Christmas over 2000 years ago. Over the years christmas treetraditions have been added to what we know today as Christmas, which brings us back to St. Nicholas. Remember him? Even though he is celebrated on December 6th in the rest of the world, in America we have celebrate the legend of St. Nick with Santa Clause on the 25th. He is indeed the gift giver as children well know. And just like St. Nicholas, Santa Clause only rewards kids that have been good all year. While St. Nicholas would leave a stick in the shoe of the bad children for their parents to punish them with, Santa Clause is known for leaving a lump of coal to those that are naughty. In the end, it’s all about being kind to one another and being on your best behavior. Instead of focusing on what you will receive this Christmas, try doing something for others. Make an ornament for your best friend. Create a Christmas card for your parents. Go caroling to spread cheer in your neighborhood. There’s so many wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas!

No matter what you believe in, this month is all about celebration with family and friends. So gather together and get festive. Put up a tree and decorate. Light up your home with candles with the help and supervision of an adult of course. December MemeMake your favorite food and cookies. And most importantly, share with those around you. There’s nothing quite like seeing your loved ones smile because of something you did for them. Enjoy the rest of 2015 and let there be peace and joy around you this season.

 

Tis the season to be thankful here at World of Liberty. As the days get shorter and the weather gets cooler, you can just feel a change of spirit among us. To prepare us for the biggest holiday of the year, November brings us a few days that remind us to be thankful. World of Liberty loves how Veterans Day and Thanksgiving seemingly go hand in hand. Thanks to the soldiers that protect our great country, we can gather with our family and friends to celebrate all of the wonderful things we are so blessed to have in our lives.

Depositphotos_34510217_s-2015We ease into the grateful mood with Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, which is always observed on the 11th day of the 11th month for a very cool reason. At 11 am on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, World War I was officially declared “over.” That was the original intention behind Veterans Day, to honor the dedication and sacrifice of the living soldiers that fought for our freedom in WWI. But then as more wars were fought, legislation changed this legal holiday’s name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day, so that ALL of the soldiers from ALL of the wars are celebrated for their service to our country. In efforts to bring more recognition to this very significant day, World of Liberty would like to help clear up the confusion people have with Veterans Day and Memorial Day. They are often thought of as the same type of day. However, Memorial Day is to remember those that lost their lives fighting for our country, while Veterans Day is to honor the living soldiers among us that have contributed in times of not only war, but also in times of peace. Here’s a great website that offers ideas to show your appreciation for Veterans on this special day of recognition. Our favorites include writing thank you cards to veterans and asking your teacher to honor them by having a veteran come to class for a visit. We don’t need to wait for November to honor our veterans though, World of Liberty encourages you to do it all year long!

Thanksgiving is another great time to show Turkeyyour gratitude. The “first” Thanksgiving took place in 1621 in celebration of a successful corn harvest. Planting corn was a new skill the Native Americans taught the settlers and the bountiful crop called for a harvest festival that took place over 3 days. Three days of Thanksgiving…that sounds like our kind of party! The menu back in these times wasn’t what we have at our Thanksgiving tables today. No mashed potatoes or green bean casseroles or even delicious pumpkin pie, it was only what they were able to harvest that year. So there was definitely lots of corn dishes and most likely lots of fish since they lived on the New England coast. Probably even some lobster. Yum! The menu wasn’t the only thing different from the traditional Girl IndianThanksgiving we know and love today. In fact, the 2nd Thanksgiving wasn’t even the following year due to a drought. Actually, Thanksgiving wasn’t just a once a year event, it could happen several times throughout the year depending on how many harvests they had. If they didn’t have a harvest at all they would have to fast, which is probably why when they did have a great harvest, they feasted for days. Remember, they didn’t have refrigerators back then to keep perishable items from rotting. So you had to eat up! Feast or famine as they say. Yet, another thing to be thankful for when you gather with your family and friends this year.

FoodAs you know, Thanksgiving is an American
holiday, but the idea of a harvest festival to give thanks for the crops and abundance of blessings is a worldwide notion. Tet Trung Thu, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, is an ancient festival in Vietnam that celebrates the children. The festival was a way for parents to make up for the time they lost with their children while they worked on the crops and produced the harvest. They would have parades for the children to dance and sing in and the kids would carry lanterns of all shapes and sizes such as fish, stars and butterflies. Moon cakes were the treat of choice to be given out during the festivities. You can find these festivals being held across America where the spirit of Vietnamese culture thrives. It might even be something you want to do in your own community. Perhaps this PilgrimThanksgiving when you are gathered with your friends and family you can make your own lanterns and parade about singing and dancing. There is so much to celebrate this time of year. Be grateful for this season of plenty and share the goodness with those who need it.

Changing leaves, crisp apples, and pumpkin everything is all around. It’s officially fall… or autumn depending on which you prefer. Fall is the only season with two names, or actually 3 liberty one hand raiseddepending on how far back you want to investigate. The original name for this season was “harvest” since the months of the fall season are when the farmers reap all of the crops grown over the summer. “Autumn” is a reference to the autumnal equinox, when the sun shines on the equator for an equal amount of time during the day and night. Then “fall” comes from the idea of the falling leaf which is a typical sign of the season depending on what climate you live in.

Speaking of falling, this month World of Liberty celebrates Columbus Day which honors the discoveries made by the great explorer Christopher Columbus. Columbus DayHis brave quest in 1492, upon 3 ships proved that we should not fear falling off the edge of the earth because the world is actually round, not flat. Can you imagine thinking that you would fall off the face of the earth if you sailed too far out into the ocean? Seems silly to us now, but back in 1492 things were a lot different. The whole point of the voyage was to discover the New World. Columbus did find a New World, but it was not India as he originally thought. It was America! Native Americans were the actual founders of America and inhabited the land prior to Christopher’s search. We commemorate October 11th as Columbus Day, also referred to as Discoverer’s Day, in celebration of the discovery and voyage to find the New World and proving the world is round.

UN KidsUnited Nations Day also celebrates the world and it’s people on October 24th. Do you feel a theme happening in October? World of Liberty is a big fan of the organization known as the United Nations and their efforts towards world peace and the betterment of humanity ranging from world hunger to the environment and health issues.  This year United Nations Day, which is always on the 24th and Make a Difference Day, which is the 4th Saturday of the month, will be one in the same.  Make a Difference Day was started back in 1990, and created to encourage people to volunteer in their communities by helping others. So whether it’s helping a neighbor with household chores, volunteering at a soup kitchen, or donating old clothes to the goodwill, get out there and make a difference in your very own community. You can even make it a monthly activity with friends.

Now to reward yourself for making a difference, grab your friends and a pumpkin for Carve a Pumpkin Day which also falls on Halloween, October 31st. The most popular day for Georgie Pumpkinspumpkins all over the world. Under the supervision of an adult, carve out a Jack O’ Lantern face of your own design, or trace a pattern onto your orange gourd for a more intricate look, or just go silly with glitter, glue, and markers for the most outlandish porch buddy you can imagine.

In the spirit of traditional Halloween festivities, walk your neighborhood to check out all the other pumpkins while participating in the long time custom of trick or treating. Have you thought of your costume yet? Dressing up is one of the best parts of Halloween. The whole act of wearing a costume stems back thousands of years  when the Celtic people believed ghosts roamed the earth on this one night a year. So the townspeople would wear masks and dress up as ghosts and ghouls to fool the spirits. Over time different traditions developed, such as bonfires and parades in which people would beg for treats like pastries and money. Sounds very similar to what we now know as trick or treating right? Well, trick or treating came into existence when Halloween came to America and the immigrants from Europe started their own version of Halloween festivities. As years went by, Halloween lost it’s religious and superstitious overtones and became more about the community and fun. Get your creative juices flowing and craft up a fun costume.

While you’re in the pumpkin spirit don’t forget to check out our 1st app, It’s Raining Pumpkins in Delaware!

1896849_622205277867128_1367792726_nFall into adventure this October!

Love,

Liberty Lane

Flag Day, June 14th

This June 14th America will be celebrating it’s 101st Flag Day! President Woodrow Wilson scheduled the first Flag Day in 1916. Flag Day never became a national holiday but just the same Americans love to celebrate our flag. Here are some fun facts we found about Old Glory. Check out Kids Konnect to learn even more!

14th of June - American Flag Day greeting card
14th of June – American Flag Day greeting card
  • The American flag’s nickname is “stars and stripes” also referred to as “Old Glory”
  • The flag’s design has changed 27 times over it’s history and was last changed in 1960 to include our 50th state, Hawaii
  • The 13 stripes on the flag represent the 13 colonies
  • There is a star for each of the 50 states, go ahead and count them!
  • The design of our current 50 star flag was designed by a high school student for a class project and he only got a B- as his final grade (mentalfloss.com)