Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore about
the Jewish Holiday of Passover
March 21 : 08 days till 1st night Passover

Did you know that making matzah must be strictly timed?

No more than 18 minutes may pass from the time that the flour and water are mixed together until the time that the matzah is completely baked. If the process takes longer than 18 minutes, the matzah is not deemed Kosher for Passover.

Spring has arrived and with it comes the eight-day Jewish holiday of freedom. It?s time to clean out your chametz, open up a box of matzah and set up for your seder. So join us for our Did You Know? countdown to Passover, which begins at sundown on Monday March 29, 2010.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures &
Folklore About Easter
March 21 : 14 days till Easter

Did you know that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon of the Vernal Equinox?

In Western churches, this can occur any Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th. In Orthodox Churches, Easter usually falls a bit later — between the beginning of April and the beginning of May. The difference in dates is due to varying calculations of when the Vernal Equinox* takes place.

In 2010, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday April 04; this year Orthodox Easter will be also be celebrated on April 04.

*FYI – The Vernal Equinox (arrival of Spring) occured yesterday afternoon (03/20).

Easter is the time of springtime festivals, a time to welcome back the Tulips, Crocuses and Daffodils. A time for Christians to celebrate the life, death and resurrection of Christ. And a time of chocolate bunnies, marshmallow chicks, and colored eggs! Join our Easter festivities as we present a new “Did You Know?” fact each day and countdown to Easter on April 04th!

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

The Sign of Aries

Aries is the first sign of the Zodiac and associated with fresh vigor and new beginnings. Individuals born under this sign are thought to have a confident, aggressive, energetic, active, adventurous, enthusiastic, fair, passionate, and pioneering character but one which is also prone to selfishness, boastfulness, intolerance, impulsiveness, and impatience. In terms of anatomy Aries is said to rule the cranium, jaw, facial bones, brain, upper teeth, carotid arteries, and nerve centers. Physically they are said to be tall in stature, and athletic in appearance.*

Aries, the Ram, is the astrological sign which runs from March 21 to April 19.

* source: wikipedia – Aries

Did You Know?
Facts, Figures & Folklore about
the Jewish Holiday of Passover
March 20 : 09 days till 1st night Passover

Did you know that Jews are prohibited from eating bread and other fermented grain products during Passover?

This prohibition is a reminder of the fact that the Jews left Egypt in such haste that they did not even have time to let their bread rise. Instead, they baked unleavened bread, or matzah, on their backs as the fled from the Egyptians.

Spring has arrived and with it comes the eight-day Jewish holiday of freedom. It?s time to clean out your chametz, open up a box of matzah and set up for your seder. So join us for our Did You Know? countdown to Passover, which begins at sundown on Monday March 29, 2010.

Signup for our Did You Know? Holiday Countdown emails or follow us on Twitter – twitter.com/holidaysnet (@holidaysnet)

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?

Won’t You Wear A Sweater?!?!

Sweater Day
Today we’re celebrating the birthday of one of our childhood icons – Mister Rogers!

And in honor of his birthday everyone is being asked to wear a sweater today. Cardigans are optional (but preferred!)

So let’s make the most of this beautiful day,
Since we’re together, we might as well say,
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Won’t you please, won’t you please,
Please won’t you be my neighbor?

Here is a video from Mr. McFeely talking about wearing a sweater in honor of Mister Rogers.

photo credit: via flickr