The phrase, “In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue,” written by Jean Marzollo, is a popular rhyme used as a mnemonic device to help students remember the year Christopher Columbus is said to have arrived in the Americas. . . .
Welcome to the month of September. There are a couple of very memorial and impressive national observances in September such as Labor Day on the 1st and Patriot Day on the 11th. And there are some rather silly days of celebration elsewhere throughout . . .
A horse walks into a bar. The bartender says, “Why the long face?”
And there you have it: the classic joke. An innocent setup that leads to a punch line — which in turn, sparks big laughs and lifelong admiration from both friends and family. You . . .
Representing the sound of a firecracker soaring and bursting, then the crowd’s reaction, “Sis-boom-ahh,” has been adopted across our country.
Fireworks are both a delight and a detriment for many. According to the American Pyrotechnics Association . . .
After graduating from the University of Notre Dame and then earning a master’s degree from Northwestern University, I was pretty cocky! But back in the mid-1960s after completing college, I was subject to the military draft, so I enlisted in the . . .
Growing up in Indiana I had always wanted to attend an Indianapolis 500-Mile Race. Even as a youngster I listened to the race on radio every Memorial Day weekend and then continued to follow the popular sporting event on television.
My wish came true . . .
Like me, you may have wondered how in the world the Easter story of Jesus’ death and resurrection ever evolved into also including a bunny delivering eggs on Easter Sunday morning.
Hailing as far back as the Anglo-Saxon period, the idea of the Easter . . .
March was the name of the first month in the original Roman calendar. Along with January, May and June, March is one of several months named after a god.
The Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, is traditionally credited with adding January and February . . .
The designated National Day is on the first Friday of the month, February 7. If you’re reading this after that date – you missed it! But, you can still participate at home any day.
Prepare yourself for an article that uncovers the cheeky origins and the fascinating history of this unique holiday. Get ready to strip away the layers of curiosity and dive into the exposed truth about this unconventional annual celebration.
Did you celebrate National “Do Nothing Day”on January 16? This day is an ode to all the couch potatoes out there, providing them with a guilt-free excuse to embrace their inner sloth and avoid any form of productivity by grabbing their favorite . . .
“O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, how lovely are thy branches…”
But when my wife and I hear those lyrics, while charming, we recall some harrowing memories. That’s because when we hear the carol about the fir tree’s evergreen quality of . . .
“Be of good cheer” … “it’s the hap-happiest season of all” …”and hearts will be glowing when loved ones are near,” continues the beloved 1963 holiday classic originally performed by Andy Williams. But the lyrics are not necessarily . . .
Lots of events going on in November from the end of Daylight-Saving Time on the 3rd, Election Day on the 5th, Veterans Day on the 11th and, of course, Thanksgiving Day on the 28th.
But there’s one special day I’ll be observing wholeheartedly and . . .
Vince is a regular contributor to the newspaper, showcasing local highlights, personal stories, and much more.
Vince LaBarbera is a Fort Wayne native. He attended Cathedral Grade School, Central Catholic High School and is a graduate of the University . . .
What’s It Like To Attend A Notre Dame Game?
As a graduate of the University of Notre Dame – I won’t tell you when but it was an all-male school then – I can answer the above question. It’s an incomparable experience!
A rich tapestry of traditions . . .
On Friday, Oct. 4, a contemporary music concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at St. Therese Church, 2304 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne. The concert is free and open to the public.
On Saturday, Oct. 5, Chris Godfrey, former NFL Guard for the New York . . .
How’s it go again, “Thirty days hath September, April, June and November…?” Did we have to memorize that rhyme in school or have we just heard it so much some of the words still stick?
In any event, there’s something for everyone in September . . .
It’s certainly not something celebrated annually but the month of August is remembered for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano at the Bay of Naples in southern Italy, on August 24, 79 A.D., destroying the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii, . . .
Remarkedly, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, the only two signatories of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as presidents of the United States, both died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration.
And . . .
Flag Day, June 14, is a celebration of the American flag occurring each year on the anniversary of the flag’s official adoption. It’s not a federal holiday, but its observance is traditionally proclaimed yearly by the president of the United States. . . .
If we delve into the past, the interjections: “Mayday!” and May Day have interesting origins as well as long and varied histories. The terms sound similar, but they are not spelled the same.
“Mayday!” is an internationally recognized radio word . . .
The month of April has a variety of titles, meanings, and sayings, and some are contradictory with each other. For example, April is a spring month in the northern half of the world and a fall month in the southern half.
The month of April goes way . . .
The idiom “time will tell” means that the truth or correctness of something will only be established at some time in the future. It’s used to express that the outcome of a situation is uncertain and can only be determined with time.
This idiom . . .
Washington Did Not Cut Down A Cherry Tree!
According to Author Sarah Pruitt, when it comes to mythic American figures, George Washington leads the pack. Commander in chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and the first president . . .
Our vacuum cleaner, literally, was not up to snuff and didn’t seem to be sucking up dust and dirt like it used to so we took it to Ye Old Sweeper Shoppe on Bluffton Road in Waynedale where we had bought it a few years ago.
Owner Ralph Skaggs agreed . . .
Usually when January comes around, we think about new beginnings rather than the past year. Some individuals love January because they welcome the lull that follows the hectic holiday season. Others dislike the effort it takes to begin again, whether . . .
If you still have a calendar stuck on your refrigerator or can hear radio and television ads you know we’ve been in the holiday season since Halloween. But if you’re from another planet – it’s possible – or don’t speak-the-language you . . .
Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). . . .
They are the major holidays occurring in the month of October that have some controversy and intrigue surrounding each of them, including the month itself. October is the tenth month of the year, named after the Latin word for eight (“octo”) because . . .
There are many words and phrases baby boomers and the generations before them used that rarely are in vogue today. That’s because language is constantly evolving. What may be the hip new phrase of today is often forgotten tomorrow. Many words and . . .