I don't have much to say about this holiday since this holiday isn't one that holds BIG importance in America. In fact, some people tend to forget about it entirely. Corporate America, of course, has taken the chance to use it as a way to boost sales and marketing. They hold specials, make special "mother's day" and "father's day" items. Restaurants are packed with people who all want to say "I love you" to their parents for just this one day out of the year, as if it would make up for all the times they didn't throughout the year.

Kids--whether you're 62, 32, or 12--tell your parents that you love them right now. Send them an email, a letter, call them up, or run into the next room and give them both a hug. If they're dead, I apologize, but celebrate those in your life that act as your parents, wether they be grandparents, aunts and uncles, or even just big brothers or sisters (and sometimes younger siblings). Whatever you do, don't let Mother's Day and Father's Day be the only day of the year when you celebrate those who brought you into this world, who love you and cherish you.

We've all heard the secular Easter story. It includes such nonsense as egg-laying rabbits hiding their eggs in grass for all the good boys and girls to find. Sometimes these eggs are plastic with little toys or money inside them. Sometimes their just hard-boiled painted eggs. What on earth would make someone decide to take such an amazing sacrifice and add a large bunny into the mix???

Are you guys ready to hear the real story of Easter?

All right, now for those of you with a Christian background, you all have heard this story before, I'm sure. For those of you that haven't heard, we're going to begin with the Sunday before Easter. This day is called Palm Sunday. It seems like an odd name for a day, doesn't it? Well, the meaning behind this day is intense. On this day, Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a young donkey. The people laid palm branches and their coats before the donkey's feet. Guess the name makes a bit more sense now, doesn't it?

Now, let's go on to Good Friday, the Friday before Easter. This, too, is an odd name for such a day, but once again, it has a POWERFUL meaning. At Passover, Jesus announced to his disciples that he was going to die. They ate together--this event is now called "the last supper"--then Jesus revealed who would betray him: Judas. Even knowing what he did, and knowing that Jesus knew what he was going to do, Judas still took the Roman soldiers to Jesus and turned him in as a heretic. It is on this day that Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross and died for our sins. Wow... talk about a powerful day. Want to know why it's called "good" instead of "bad"? Because it was a good thing Jesus died for us. If he hadn't, we'd still all be damned for hell.

Finally, but not at all less importantly, Easter. Easter is the day when Jesus rose from the grave three days after his death. The three days were important because in Jewish tradition, it was believed if a person was dead for longer than that... Eh, well, I don't know the specifics because I'm not Jewish, but let's just say it wasn't a good thing to be dead longer than that. So, that in short is the tale of Easter. If you want to know more, pick up a Bible and read Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. They all have an account of the Easter story.

Oh, and if you ever do see a rabbit around your home laying colorful eggs, shoot it. Or sell it to Ripley's Believe it or Not.

Up Next: Mother's Day and Father's Day--Celebrating Those Who Brought Us Into This World

Now, we all know what exactly Saint Patrick's Day is all about. Why, it's a chance to wear green so that people won't pinch you! You drink lots of beer, you get drunk, you sleep with random strangers... Doesn't this sound like such a wonderful holiday? Why don't we get the day off for this holiday then? After all, if we're going to be getting drunk all night, who would want to show in to work? But alas, we must all go to work (or school) with our throbbing headaches, wishing we'd drunk less green-tinted beer and just stayed at home.

What is the point of this holiday? Why do we, as Americans, celebrate such a random day? What purpose does this day serve in our culture? This is an Irish holiday, celebrating an Irish saint, and yet we use it as an excuse to drink excessive amounts of beer and pinch people for not wearing a specific color. Yes, Ireland is one of many nations that helped colonize this land, but why, for goodness sake, do we celebrate this day? WHAT PURPOSE DOES THIS DAY SERVE?????

I can understand the purpose of such a day in, say, IRELAND, but in America? This is yet another one of those holidays that big consumer stores use to make more money off of us. Who wouldn't miss the chance to buy tons of beer and alcohol?

Next entry: Easter--The True Story (with no big bunny giving out eggs)  

Most people would think it strange to be writing twice on the same day. After all, a blog is to become famous on the web (see my link to the wiki article How to Write a Famous Blog), and writing twice on the same day looks like you're trying too hard. However, I am writing to announce this week's discussion for my blog (and also to begin that discussion): holidays.

America has many holidays, as I'm sure we are all aware of. Flip through a calendar, and you can find several dozen. Some, we all get off from work or school. Others are random holidays no one really pays attention to that we don't get off from school. For example, we're going to be starting off this discussion with Valentine's Day. As all love birds know, this is the day to shower your significant other with gifts that say "I love you."

Large stuffed animals, flowers, cards, and candies all fly off the shelves as people everywhere in the US buy gifts for their loved ones. However, there are the sad few that don't have someone to hold, hug, and kiss on this sacred day of the year, a day filled with so much pink, red, and white it makes you want to puke. Instead, there are a select few of these people that have  begun to call Valentine's Day "Single's Awareness Day" because, obviously, it makes you very aware of your singleness.

Signs everywhere read, "Buy such-and-such for your sweetheart today!" and all these sad, lonely single people see is, "I am a loser because I have no Valentine." Why can't Valentine's Day be shared? It doesn't have to be a boyfriend or girlfriend, fiancee, or husband or wife. It could be a good friend that you want to get a gift for! Get something for someone that matters to you just to say, "I care." You don't have to say, "I love you."

Keep an eye out for the next entry: Saint Patrick's Day--How Green Can Make You Ill