National Day of Prayer

This is a day set aside to pray for USA. It is designated as the first Thursday of May, and is a nondenominational observance. Prayer breakfasts, youth rallies and church services or vigils are traditional. There is a nationally Broadcast Concert of Prayer on TV, radio and on the Internet. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Mother's Day

Adopted as a national holiday in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. It is traditional for women to wear a corsage — red carnation for a living mother, white for one that has passed — and to give your mother a small gift or flowers. Some people have a family dinner in appreciation for all their moms have done. The heart of this holiday is to recognize and honor mothers everywhere. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Armed Forces Day

Armed Forces Day is a unification of Army, Air Force and Navy Days. This day is celebrated on the third Saturday of May and is a time when we honor and pay tribute to the men and women who serve around the world, with dedication and diligence as protectors of peace and freedom. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Memorial Day

This is a federal holiday dedicated to the memory of all who have died in wars. Somber celebrations include speeches, parades and the decoration of veterans' graves with flags and wreaths. Post offices and government offices are closed. Businesses are closed. Stores may have limited hours.

Whitsunday (Pentecost)

This Christian observance commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles 50 days after the Resurrection. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Flag Day

This day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the national flag, June 14, 1777. It became a federal observance in 1949 and is a holiday in Pennsylvania. Businesses and stores are open normal hours

Father's Day

This holiday is on the third Sunday in June and is a day to show honor and esteem to our fathers. Small gifts and family dinners are traditional. Businesses and store are open normal hours.

Independence Day

This is often referred to as the Fourth of July and commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Celebrations include parades, picnics and evening fireworks. It is a day to celebrate patriotism. Post offices and government offices are closed. Stores may have limited hours.

Labor Day

This federal holiday is observed the first Monday of September and was first celebrated in 1882. It pays tribute to the American worker, who creates much of the nation's social and economic achievement. We celebrate with parades, picnics, speeches and festivals. Post offices and government offices are closed. Many businesses are closed. Stores may have limited hours.

Grandparents' Day

This is a day to honor our grandparents. Small gifts, cards and family dinners are traditional. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Rosh Hashanah

This day marks the Jewish New Year (5760) and opens the Ten Days of Penitence, which close with Yom Kippur. Businesses and stores are open normal hours. Yom Kippur is the Jewish Day of Atonement and ends the Ten Days of Penitence. It is described as a "Sabbath of rest." (Businesses and stores are open normal hours.)

Columbus Day

This federal holiday is observed the second Monday in October. It commemorates Christopher Columbus landing in the New World in 1492. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

National Boss Day

This is a day of thanks for our bosses and all their hard work. Small gifts, flowers, cards, or lunches are given in appreciation in the middle of October. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

Daylight-Saving Time Ends

Spring forward . . . fall back.

Daylight-saving time is when we turn the clocks forward one hour from standard time, in order to save energy. During the long days of spring and summer, we are awake during daylight and use less electricity. This idea of saving daylight has been around a long time, but here in the US was widely instituted in 1966. There are still areas where they do not observe Daylight Saving Time, specifically Hawaii, parts of Indiana, and most of Arizona. If your area uses DST, the clocks revert back to standard time in October. Your clocks should be set back one hour the last Sunday of October at 2 a.m.

Halloween

Halloween has its origins in pre-Christian and Christian rituals. The eve of the Celtic New Year is Oct. 31 and according to the Celts, the time when ghosts and spirits walked with the living. The next day, Nov. 1, is known as All Saints Day, or All Hallows' Day, and the day before All Hallows' Eve. The word Halloween comes from that. The Irish immigrants brought the celebration to America in the 1800s. Today, children and adults dress up as everything from the traditional witch or ghost to presidents or pieces of fruit. The kids may go door to door and receive candy at the phrase Trick or Treat, hence the tradition is called trick or treating. Occasionally, pranks are pulled, but most are harmless. Halloween motifs include witches, black cats, bats, ghosts, spiders and scary things and pumpkins carved as jack-o'-lanterns. Businesses and stores are open normal hours.

To be continued next week

Till then have a wonderful weekend