-
Advertorial
-
FOCUS
-
Guide
-
Lifestyle
-
Tech and Vogue
-
TechandScience
-
CHTF Special
-
Nanshan
-
Futian Today
-
Hit Bravo
-
Special Report
-
Junior Journalist Program
-
World Economy
-
Opinion
-
Diversions
-
Hotels
-
Movies
-
People
-
Person of the week
-
Weekend
-
Photo Highlights
-
Currency Focus
-
Kaleidoscope
-
Tech and Science
-
News Picks
-
Yes Teens
-
Budding Writers
-
Fun
-
Campus
-
Glamour
-
News
-
Digital Paper
-
Food drink
-
Majors_Forum
-
Speak Shenzhen
-
Shopping
-
Business_Markets
-
Restaurants
-
Travel
-
Investment
-
Hotels
-
Yearend Review
-
World
-
Sports
-
Entertainment
-
QINGDAO TODAY
-
In depth
-
Leisure Highlights
-
Markets
-
Business
-
Culture
-
China
-
Shenzhen
-
Important news
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Speak Shenzhen -> 
Odd March holidays
    2017-03-21  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    James Baquet

    Here’s a potpourri of unusual or interesting days in March.

    On March 11, Americans celebrate the folk hero known as “Johnny Appleseed.” John Chapman (1774-1845) was a real enough person, a nurseryman who promoted the cultivation of apple trees over a large area. But he has become a legend, portrayed as a vagabond who went around planting trees, rather than as a businessman.

    Another fun day, only a few decades old, is Pi Day, celebrated on March 14. Can you guess why? “March 14” is written “3/14” (American style), which reflects the first three numbers in pi, which is 3.14159 etc. There’s another holiday on July 22 called Pi Approximation Day, since 22/7 is the closest this irrational number can come to being expressed as a fraction.

    March 19 is Saint Joseph’s Day. It’s not such a big deal. There are lots of saints’ days. But because Joseph kindly accepted the role of being Jesus’ stepfather, it is celebrated as Father’s Day in Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia.

    A more interesting observance is the allegation that this is the day the swallows return to the old Catholic mission church in San Juan Capistrano, California. That the birds return around this time to begin nesting is a fact; but a whole industry has grown up around their supposed targeting of March 19. There’s a yearly weeklong fiesta with a parade and street market.

    And in 1940 a composer named Leon René wrote the chart-topping “When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano.”

    Finally for now, on March 25 the church celebrates the Feast of the Annunciation, the day when an angel supposedly appeared to a young girl named Mary to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus.

    The date is simply nine months before Christmas, which, as we have said, is the fabricated birthday of Jesus. This day is Mother’s Day in Slovenia. It’s called Lady Day in the Untied Kingdom, and is one of the Quarter Days — church holidays falling near the solstices and equinoxes.

    

    Vocabulary:

    Which word above means:

    1. Spanish for “festival” or party

    2. made up

    3. a number that cannot be expressed as a fraction

    4. person who grows plants for sale

    5. collection of unrelated objects

    6. raising of plants

    7. assertion made with little proof

    8. reaching the highest rank in sales (of music)

    9. person who wanders from place to place

    10. number expressed as a ratio, like 1/2 or 5/4

    

深圳报业集团版权所有, 未经授权禁止复制; Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.
Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn