DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

AROUND THE WORLD

Kiana Hall

Katy Rosenthal

Conor Kou

Pierce Mckenzie

Merick Dang

PRESIDENT’S DAY·      Like the dragon boat festival, President’s Day honors dead politicians.

·      Celebrated on the third Monday of February.

·      Will be on February 15th, 2010.

·      Originally called “Washington’s Day” and only honored George Washington.

·      Starting in the 1950s, people called it “President’s Day” to celebrate both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

·      In 1971, president Nixon changed the holiday so that it honored all of the USA’s past presidents.

·      None of the states are required to celebrate President’s Day, but most do.

·      Many schools and businesses have breaks for President’s Day.

·      Has become a material holiday; President’s Day weekend is known for its car sales.

BOTEV DAY•May 20.•Memorializes the death of poet Hristo Botev. In 1876.•He died in a battle against Ottoman soldiers.•Led a company that tried to rise up in Romania on the border of Bulgaria.•It failed.•Was a hero in the revolutionary movement against the Ottomans. •Observed with poetry festivals and concerts. 

TẾT ĐOAN NGỌ

•In Vietnam, this day the death anniversary of National Mother Âu Cơ.•It is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the lunar calendar at noon.•At this time, the universe brings the greatest amount of yang or maleness in the entire year.•Yang tests people’s fortitude•A sticky rice wine is traditionally drunk on this holiday.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S BIRTHDAY•Marks the birthday of the civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr.•Most vocal advocate for black rights in America.•Honors his role in American history up until he was shot and killed on March 29, 1968.•His most famous speech was his “I have a dream” speech delivered on August 28, 1963.

THAI BOAT RACING FESTIVAL•Long Boat-Racing Festival is arranged every year during Thai Buddhist Lent Period (about September or October) on days that river tide is highest.•The festival will be held by local people beside rivers from provinces which big rivers pass by such as Phisanulok province, Phichit province has Nan River and Ang-Thong province, Ayutthaya province, Pathum-Thani province has Chao-Phraya River. •Boats, which they use on the festival, will be chosen and made from auspicious trees of each area. They train and prepare rowing-crews to be most fit and ready for being their agent at the festival.•Long Boat-Racing Festival is one of Thai traditions which has been arranged continuously since Ayutthaya time (about 600 years ago) for generating morale, courage and strength to rowing-crews, as Thai men were power of the country, for a war which could began anytime.•Presently, Long Boat-Racing Festival is one Thai sport. There are awards, cups from members of royal family of the Chakri Dynasty.

BIBLIOGRAPHY http://familyinternet.about.com/od/

holidayfun/a/presidentsday.htm http://www.snopes.com/holidays/

presidents/presidentsday.asp http://mentalfloss.cachefly.net/wp-

content/uploads/2007/08/435_Mt%20Rushmore.jpg

http://www.shagtown.com/days/brunei.html

http://www.wikipedia.org