Alo PaoPao Samoa
Alo PaoPao Samoa 2014 begins Monday, Sept. 15. You might ask yourself what Alo PaoPao Samoa is. And, that’s a good question. Alo PaoPao is an annual boat race and festival in American Samoa. The boats used in the race are outriggers. Outriggers are traditional canoes that were initially used in the Pacific Rim where they played an important role in the Polynesian exploration of the Pacific. Using strong, stable outriggers, the Polynesians traveled to many of the islands in the Pacific, establishing communities on some of them. The outrigger continues to be an important part of Polynesian life. Traditional outriggers are made by craftsmen who want to preserve Polynesian heritage. The Alo PaoPao Festival is a week-long event which is centered on a series of competitive outrigger races around Samoa.
International Literacy Day
Reading is an important part of our lives. Reading helps us learn, but it also helps us imagine. Many people in the United States do not know how to read. So in September, we focus on literacy (the ability to read) on International Literacy Day, which is on Monday, Sept. 8. The day was first celebrated in 1965 and designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. So on Monday, Sept. 8, grab a friend, grab a book and read. You’ll be surprised how far it will take you.
Grandparents Day
The first Grandparents Day was celebrated in 1970 by Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia homemaker and also a mother of 15 children. To celebrate Grandparents Day, she solicited support of businesses, political leaders, churches and civic groups. In 1973, West Virginia Governor Arch Moore declared the first public celebration of Grandparents Day. Today, Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Monday following Labor Day. The purpose of the day is to unite Grandparents and their grandchildren for a day of sharing and learning about each other and their family. In many schools, Grandparents Day teas or breakfasts are held. If your school does not celebrate Grandparents Day, make sure you give your grandparents a phone call, or if you are lucky enough to live near them, stop in and visit and spend some time showing them how much you love them.
