Cinco de Mayo, celebrated on May 5 each year, commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day but a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. While it holds historical significance in Mexico, it is also widely celebrated in the United States, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Here are some local celebrations:

Aerial Kitchen + Bar is hosting Cinco in the Sky, a festive three-day weekend celebration marking the seasonal reopening of the popular rooftop retreat high atop the 9th-level Sky Terrace at Epicurean Atlanta. There will be $5 cocktails, 2 for $5 taco specials, and live music. Admission is free.

ALMA COCINA (Buckhead + Downtown locations): The contemporary Mexican restaurant will be celebrating all weekend long! From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Alma will be serving a special festive menu – featuring items such as fried avocado tacos, short rib empanadas & fried chihuahua cheese, alongside strawberry margaritas, pineapple express shots, and Tecates. Choose your location + reserve

The Avondale Estates Farmers Market will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with multiple vendors at 10 a.m. on May 5.

Bad Daddy’s is celebrating Cinco de Mayo on May 4 and 5 by offering $2.50 LocoRitas at participating locations.

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Grille in Douglasville is celebrating Cinco de Mayo from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 5 with special menu items.

Del Taco (multiple locations) is offering a deal for Cinco de Mayo. Get any burrito free with a $10 purchase May 3-5. Also, $0 delivery fee on orders worth $15 and more. Restrictions may apply.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with $5.55 burritos or bowls at participating locations nationwide. Must be a Moe’s Rewards member. Restrictions apply. Also on Cinco de Mayo, the first 30 guests that visit Moe’s will receive a free t-shirt at participating locations.

Morrow Branch Library is celebrating Cinco de Mayo from 4 to 5 p.m. on May 2. There will be Spanish tunes, a fiesta flower-making tutorial, and other fun activities. MORE INFO

Ponce City Market is hosting a Cinco de Mayo party on the roof starting at 11 a.m. There will be specialty cocktails, jello shots, a Mexican-style concessions takeover, and more.

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Martin Luther King Day, often abbreviated as MLK Day, is a federal holiday in the United States that honors the civil rights leader and activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, close to Dr. King’s birthday on January 15th. The holiday serves as a time for reflection, community service, and the celebration of Dr. King’s contributions to the civil rights movement.

What is Martin Luther King Day 2024?

Martin Luther King Day 2024 is a day to remember and celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is an opportunity to reflect on the ongoing struggle for civil rights, equality, and justice.

When is Martin Luther King Day 2024?

Martin Luther King Day is observed on the third Monday of January. In 2024, it falls on January 15th.

How to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day 2024?

Celebrating Martin Luther King Day can be done in various meaningful ways that honor Dr. King’s legacy and promote his ideals. Here are some ways to celebrate:

Attend Commemorative Events: Many communities organize parades, lectures, and other events that celebrate Dr. King’s life and message.

Engage in Community Service: Participate in volunteer activities or service projects that benefit your community, aligning with Dr. King’s commitment to social justice.

Educational Activities: Learn more about the civil rights movement and Dr. King’s work through books, documentaries, or visits to relevant museums and historical sites.

Reflect on Social Justice: Take time to reflect on the progress made in the fight for civil rights and consider how you can contribute to a more just society.

Spread Awareness: Share Dr. King’s equality, love, and nonviolence messages on social media to inspire others.

History of Martin Luther King Day

Martin Luther King Day was established as a federal holiday in the United States in 1983, after years of advocacy and activism by supporters of Dr. King’s legacy. The holiday was first observed on January 20, 1986, and has since become a day to remember Dr. King’s leadership in the civil rights movement and his dedication to achieving racial equality through nonviolent means.

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Published by: almanac.com

Many New Year’s traditions that we take for granted date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two! From singing “Auld Lang Syne” to eating black-eyed peas for good luck, discover different ways to celebrate the start of 2024!

Make Some Noise

Making a lot of noise and light—from fireworks to gunshots to church bells—seems to be a favorite New Year’s pastime across the globe.

• In Thailand, it was once tradition to fire guns to frighten off demons.
• In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness.
• In Denmark, they throw plates and glasses against each other’s front doors to banish bad spirits.
• In Ecuador, it is tradition to burn the effigies of famous people to destroy bad “juju” from the past year and start fresh.
• In the early American colonies, the sound of pistol shots rang through the air.
• In the United States today, many watch the ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
• In other countries, many folks wait for the church bells or the chimes of clock towers to ring out.

Eat Lucky Food

Many New Year’s traditions involve food. Here are a few:

• In Spain, people attempt to eat 12 grapes during these 12 strokes of midnight! Tradition says that if they succeed before the chimes stop, they will have good luck for all 12 months of the coming year.
• In the southern US, black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune.
• In Scotland—where Hogmanay is celebrated—Scots also hold bonfire ceremonies where people parade while swinging giant fireballs on poles!
• Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a doughnut) symbolizes “coming full circle” and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served.
• The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks.
• In India and Pakistan, rice promises prosperity.
• Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) tradition.
• In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors—and allowed to remain there!

Have a Drink

Although the pop of a champagne cork signals the arrival of the New Year around the world, some countries have their beverage-based traditions.

• Wassail, a punch-like drink named after the Gaelic term for “good health,” is served in some parts of England.
• Spiced “hot pint” is the Scottish version of Wassail. Traditionally, the Scots drank to each other’s prosperity and also offered this warm drink to neighbors along with a small gift.
• In Spain, Cava (a sparkling white wine) is often served to guests for making toasts.

Give a Gift

New Year’s Day was once the time to swap presents.

• Gifts of gilded nuts or coins marked the start of the new year in Rome.
• Eggs, the symbol of fertility, were exchanged by the Persians.
• Early Egyptians traded earthenware flasks.
• In Scotland, coal, shortbread, and silverware were traditionally exchanged for good luck.

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The year ends with an interesting number sequence: 12/31/23 or 123123. According to numerology, this is significant. Find out the number’s meaning as we end 2023 with a bang!

What does 12/31/23 mean?

According to a professional astrologer and author of “Moon Signs: Unlock Your Inner Luminary Power,” Narayana Montúfar, “Number 1 brings the very spark of initiation, 2 focuses on building, and 3 is related to the concept of creation. Together, the sequence of these three numbers speaks of the spark of initiation that seeks to build a new creation. Of course, since this sequence of numbers won’t happen again for a hundred years, on 12/31/2123, whatever is being created now is something BIG!”

Numerologist Christine DeLorey of Creative Numerology adds: “This number sequence contains two 1s, two 2s, and two 3s. It, therefore, contains three Master Numbers: 11, 22, and 33. Together, they give us 66, and because all Master Numbers are multiples of 11, this date contains ALL the Master Numbers from 11 to 99. This suggests New Year’s Eve 2023 is a major multi-directional turning point in the human journey, even though the Master Numbers are “hidden” on that date.”

If you add up 123123, you get 12. Twelve is considered a Master Number that can mean spiritual enlightenment. This day could deliver epiphanies and “aha” moments for individuals and the collective.

12 is also associated with The Hanged Man in Tarot, a card often interpreted as a new perspective. The end of the year may find us looking at the world with fresh eyes. Remember that the Hanged Man is in a challenging position, which means we might resist seeing other points of view. But if we let go of our beliefs, we can develop compassion and tolerance.

However, if you add in 20 (as in 2023), it reveals something else. DeLorey adds, “Adding the 20 to this already complex numeric sequence produces the karmic number 14/5, which reminds us that to move forward, we must stop repeating old mistakes, and be determined to learn as we go.”

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Published by: AARP

While people are ready to deck the halls and load up on presents, inflation is still a real issue. That means many shoppers are trying to make their dollar stretch further. And what better place to stretch your dollar than at dollar stores, which offer a wide variety of holiday essentials at affordable prices. Decorations? Yes. Gifts? For sure. Greeting cards? Those, too.

1. Festive wrapping paper and bows

You can sparkle your presents with festive and budget-friendly wrapping paper and more at dollar stores.

2. All you need to deck the halls

Decorating the front door and fireplace mantel is popular as people look to make their homes warm and welcoming for visiting family and friends.

Dollar stores have a wide selection of decorations, including glittery garland, wreaths, and tree ornaments. Metallic ornaments are still popular this year; glass balls provide a vintage look. Dollar stores offer a wide palette of colors — from traditional red and green to soft pink, white and aqua — in various sizes and finishes.

3. Themed baking supplies, and containers to go with the season

If you’re cooking for Christmas, disposable foil pans that cost as little as $1 will make cooking and cleanup easier. You’ll also find holiday-themed containers for storing leftovers in your refrigerator or to fill with take-home treats for guests.

4. Glamorous dishes to make your table sparkle

Dollar stores have plenty of other disposables, including colorful paper plates, napkins, plastic utensils, and even plastic wine glasses.

Dollar stores also offer stoneware and holiday-themed ceramic dinnerware. You can find more unusual items, too, but they cost more than $1. Dollar General has a holiday-themed glass pitcher and ceramic butter dish. Dollar Tree sells a two-tiered metal tray, perfect for displaying sweets.

5. White faux fur comfort decor

One of the hottest home decor trends this holiday season is white faux fur. It’s warm, and cozy and goes with anything else in your home.

6. Tree skirts and collars in popular plaids, sparkly touches

A tree skirt will help put the finishing touch on your Christmas tree. Or try something new this year by replacing your tree skirt with a tree collar, which takes up less space so it’s good for smaller spaces.

7. Holiday towels, throws, and pillows for overlooked rooms

Houseguests probably will enter the bathroom at some point, so make a couple of simple changes to add some holiday cheer.

If any guests stay overnight, make your guest room extra cozy and joyful with a few additions to add holiday color and texture. Guests can snuggle up with plush throws in plaids and holiday colors from most dollar stores.

8. Candles that make your house smell like Christmas

Scented holiday candles are an easy way to achieve a warm, cozy atmosphere if you’re entertaining or hosting houseguests.

9. Crafts and more crafts to keep the little ones entertained

If you’re looking for activities to do with your grandchildren, you’ll find plenty of DIY supplies like ribbons, markers, and glue. Dollar General and Dollar Tree also offer several DIY kits to make your tree ornaments, tabletop decorations, gingerbread houses, or felt finger puppets, starting at $1.

10. Toys and treats to keep Fido and Fifi occupied, too

Pet owners like to shower their furry friends with extra attention during the holidays. More people over 50 (up to 87 million combined) typically buy pet gifts for Christmas, much more so than younger pet owners, according to a report by the American Pet Products Association.

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Why do we kiss under the mistletoe? Of all the plants used in Christmas decor, few have as long and as interesting a history as mistletoe.

What Is Mistletoe?

With evergreen leaves, yellow flowers, and white berries, large clumps of mistletoe are usually observed growing high in the canopies of fruit trees, maples, and sometimes oaks. Although it has a strong association with Christmastime kissing, the mistletoe plant is not very romantic: it is a parasite, attaching to its host tree of choice and siphoning off water and nutrients for itself.

Why Do People Kiss Under Mistletoe?

In an old Norse legend, Frigga, the goddess of love, had a son named Balder, the god of innocence and light. To protect him, Frigga demanded that all creatures—and even inanimate objects—swear an oath not to harm him, but she forgot to include mistletoe. Loki, the god of evil and destruction, learned of this and made an arrow from a sprig of mistletoe. He then tricked Hoth, Balder’s blind brother, into shooting the mistletoe arrow and guided it to kill Balder. The death of Balder meant the death of sunlight—explaining the long winter nights in the north.

Frigga’s tears fell onto the mistletoe and turned into white berries. She decreed that it should never cause harm again but should promote love and peace instead. From then on, anyone standing under mistletoe would get a kiss. Even mortal enemies meeting under the mistletoe by accident had to put their weapons aside and exchange a kiss of peace, declaring a truce for the day.

Known as “the healing plant,” the ancient Celts also used mistletoe which was a big part of their winter solstice celebrations. The plant contains progesterone, the female sex hormone, and perhaps this is another why it became associated with kissing.

By the 1700s, traditional “kissing balls” made of boxwood, holly, and mistletoe were hung in windows and doorways during the holiday season. A young lady caught under the mistletoe could not refuse to give a kiss. This was supposed to increase her chances of marriage since a girl who wasn’t kissed could still be single next Christmas. According to ancient custom, one berry is removed after each kiss until they are all gone.

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During National Hispanic Heritage Month, from September 15 – October 15, the U.S. government celebrates the countless contributions of more than 60 million Hispanic Americans, Latinos, Latinas, and Latinx-identifying people to our culture and society. Hispanic Americans are the largest minority group in the United States today, and generations of Hispanic Americans have consistently helped make our country strong and prosperous. They contribute to our Nation beyond description. Hispanic Americans embody the best of our American values, including commitment to faith, family, and country. The Hispanic-American community has left an indelible mark on our government, culture, and economy.

During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we recognize the contributions and the important presence of Hispanic and Latin Americans in the U.S. and within the Department of State. In partnership with the Hispanic Employee Council of Foreign Affairs Agencies (HECFAA), the Department highlights biographies of Hispanic employees who support diplomatic efforts around the world.

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Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, Memorial Day is a day to remember those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers, by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers.

During that first national commemoration, former Union Gen. and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield made a speech at Arlington National Cemetery, after which 5,000 participants helped decorate the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there.

This national event galvanized efforts to honor and remember fallen soldiers that began with local observances at burial grounds in several towns throughout the United States following the end of the Civil War, such as the May 1, 1865 gathering in Charleston, South Carolina organized by freed slaves to pay tribute and give proper burial to Union troops.

In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday.

After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars. It was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States.

In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.

Memorial Day is commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony in which a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally, the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

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Independence Day on the Fourth of July is an all-important American holiday. Take a moment to refresh your memory about the true history of this nation. How did the founders envision this holiday and what’s special about America’s celebration of freedom?

A Brief History of Independence Day

We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence, America’s revolutionary Charter of Freedom, and the document upon which the nation’s founding principles were established. But July 4 wasn’t the day that independence was declared. Nor the day that the Declaration was officially signed.

So what did happen on July 4, 1776?

What this holiday commemorates is the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by delegates from the 13 colonies. On the 4th, the Continental Congress approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. This is the day we celebrate the birth of the United States of America.

Refresh Your Memory: The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in the history of the United States. It was an official act taken by all 13 American colonies in declaring independence from British rule.

Thomas Jefferson originally wrote the document, but Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, along with Jefferson then worked together to make changes. The final draft of the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, but the actual signing of the final document took place on August 2, 1776.

Celebrating the Fourth of July

In the United States, Independence Day is a federal holiday traditionally observed with parades, concerts, outdoor food, and fireworks. Here are five ways to prep for the Fourth of July!

Raise the Flag: If you don’t have a flagpole, consider a front-entry flag! Before you hang Old Glory, browse the American Flag Guidelines so that you can proudly and correctly display your flag.

Stay Casual: Remember, this isn’t a “fancy” dinner. Look for some Fourth of July recipes for a delicious picnic or barbecue—and a list of patriotic desserts!

Play Games: We don’t care if you’re young or just young at heart. Get out the cornhole and horseshoe games, the croquet, or just the backgammon set if you’re hanging out on the porch! If you’re going to a 4th of July party, bring your own games, as it can be a few hours until the fireworks start.

Fireworks: Whether it’s simply poppers, snaps, and snakes, OR a bigger fireworks display, keep up the tradition. Kids LOVE sparklers. Hand them out one by one to enjoy the magic. Of course, always have adults nearby for safety, as well as a fire extinguisher.

Beat the Heat and the Bugs: Don’t forget to have sunscreen, sunshades, lots of drinking water, and bug spray on hand if you’ll be outside.

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It seems perfect — the Fourth of July falls on a Tuesday this year, allowing for a nice long weekend to get away. But it might be a little too perfect: Record-setting numbers of people are predicted to travel in the coming days.

AAA, the auto association, is projecting record-breaking travel volumes for the holiday weekend. The numbers are eye-popping: More than 50 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home this weekend.

Most folks will be driving, with 43.2 million people projected to hit the road. Another 4.17 million will likely fly. And more than 3.3 million are predicted to travel by bus, cruise or train.

Many of the routes that AAA predicts to be most congested are between cities and nearby beaches: New York City to the Jersey Shore; Boston to Hyannis, Mass.; Washington, D.C., to Rehoboth Beach, Del.; Houston to Galveston, Texas; Portland to Cannon Beach, Oregon.

One factor encouraging drivers is that gas prices have come down considerably from this time last year, when the national average was $4.85 a gallon.

Why so busy? Pent-up demand

People have been flying with a vengeance as the COVID-19 pandemic moves into the rearview. The 4.17 million Americans projected to fly over the holiday weekend is an 11.2% increase over the same weekend last summer — and 6.6% higher than in 2019, before the pandemic began.

In May, industry group Airlines for America predicted that U.S. airlines would carry an all-time record 257 million passengers this summer, from June through August.

Travel went rather smoothly over the recent Memorial Day weekend. But there are reasons to worry that airports could get snarled in the days ahead.

Air travel could get messy

There has been a raft of canceled flights in recent days, particularly on United Airlines. The airline canceled thousands of flights over the past week as bad weather caused problems at New York-area airports. United’s CEO blamed air traffic control staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration; the flight attendants’ union pointed to the airline’s internal problems scheduling crews.

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