DECK THE HOLIDAY'S

    The Festival du Voyageur ( Festival of the Traveller), is an annual 10 day winter festival which takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada during February.  " Voyageur" refers to those who worked for a fur trading company and usually travelled by canoe.     This event is held in Winnipeg's French Quarter, Saint-Boniface, and is Western Canada's largest winter festival.  The event celebrates Canada's fur trading past and her unique French heritage and culture through entertainment, arts and crafts, music, exhibits and displays. History    The idea for the festival was first proposed in 1967, in celebration of Canada's centennial.  However, due to a lack of sufficient funding from the city council, the proposal was not acted upon.  In the summer of 1969, the mayor, Ed Turner , and the city council of Saint-Boniface granted their support under the condition that the Festival became an incorporated organization....

   The U.S. National Tobaggan Championships is the only organized wooden toboggan race in the country and possibly the world.  The toboggan chute is located in Camden, Main at the Camden Snow Bowl, a community owned year round recreation area which has developed thousand of deicated skiers since 1936.  All race revenue goes to off setting the Snow Bowl budget.    History    The original chute was first built in 1936 by a dedicated group of volunteers who also built a ski lodge and ski hill, one of the earliest in America.  The chute was again rebuilt in 1954 by local Coast Guardsmen and lasted until 1964 when it was brought to an end because of rot and neglect.    In 1990 it was resurrected once again out of pressure treated wood by another enthusiastic group of volunteers and material donors and was to become known as the Jack Williams Toboggan Chute .  The week before the race, many hours are spent during the ...

   While most in the United States gets ready for Thanksgiving in November and Christmas in December, there are many different holidays associated with the Buddhist religion, which are especially observed in Southeast, Central and East Asian countries.  Each year, throughout the world, various celebrations and festivals are held, often using the lunar calendar for exact dates.  It is not uncommon to find differing dates and traditions in regards to different countries.    Most of the holidays pertaining to the Buddhist culture often pay homage to the life of the Buddha, as well as various Bodhisattvas .  For those of you who don't know, a Bodhisattva is a future Buddha, who has put off their attainment of nirvana (no more suffering) on hold so that they may assist others in freeing themselves from a life full of distress.  It is the goal of those following Mahayana Buddhism to become a bodhisattva, in Sanskrit, the term stands for "one w...

   Beat your feet around the globe and all year long to enjoy fanciful, colorful kites filling the near horizon while partaking of the other festivities these celebrations have to offer.  Many that are typical and others that are unique to the theme or locale, at whatever time of year kite enthusiasts gather to fly. January    Getting off to flying start we have the International Kite Festival held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.  This kite extravaganza, held on the 14th of the month, is timed to coincide with the change of seasons celebration, Uttarayan or Makar Sakranti , that marks the end of Winter and initiates with joy and jubilation, the return of Spring.    It is a time of thanksgiving, the slumbering gods are awake and the portals of heaven are opened.  This is a time to celebrate and make merry with a multitude of bright sky-sprites lifted to the heavens from the millions of revelers crowding the rooftops.   ...

   February's not just about Super Bowl Sunday, Valentines Day and Mardi Gras.  Nope, this month has some pretty interesting days to celebrate to say the least. Serpent Day, February 1st- Go out and pet a snake or if you don't like them. Pet some snake skinned cowboy boots. Purification Day, February 2nd -Go out and wash real well today! Cordova Ice Worm Day, February 3rd -This day is for worms found in icebergs.  Alaska actually has an annual Ice Worm Festival that takes place on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Create a Vacuum Day, February 4th -Go out and clean all of that pet hair and dirt out of your carpets. Disaster Day, February 5th -Might be a good day to stay inside and play scrabble. Lame Duck Day, February 6th- Charles Dickens Day Day, February 7th -One of the best early authors of his time, he wrote "A Christmas Carol", and has had many of his books turned into movies. Man Day, February 7th- Fly a Kite Day, February 8th -...

   This may be a time for chocolates and romantic steak dinners, bu this month is also filled with several national food holidays.  Check out all of the great food holidays to be enjoyed during the month of February, plus great suggestions on how to celebrate them. National Baked Alaska Day, February 1st - Who doesn't love cake and ice cream?  But, you can make it even better by adding a thick layer of meringue and popping the whole thing in the oven.  Be creative and choose gourmet flavors of ice cream and cake. Heavenly Hash Day, February 2nd -Heavenly hash is a wonderful combination of chocolate ice cream and almonds.  Be creative and make some heavenly hash ice cream sandwiches using double chocolate cookies. National Carrot Cake Day, February 3rd -Take a break from cooking and baking and just grab some carrot cake cupcakes made at a local bakery. National Stuffed Mushroom Day, February 4th -A great way to celebrate this national food holiday is ...

     Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundations Day and ANA Day) is the official national day of Australia.  Celebrated annually on January 26th, the day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788.  The hoisting of the British flag there, and the proclamations of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.     Australia Day is an official public holiday in every state and territory of Australia, and is marked by the Order of Australia and Australian of the Year awards, along with an address from the Prim Minister.    Although it was not known as Australia Day until over a century later, records of celebrations on January 26th date back to 1808, with Governor Lachland Macquarie having held the first official celebration of the formation of New South Wales in 1818.  In 2004, an estimated 7.5 million people attended Australia Day celebrations and functions across...