Easter
Easter is a spring holiday event celebrated by most Christians as the resurrection of Jesus. Many of the customs and traditions associated with the day actually come from pagan religions, who were excited that the winter was over and spring had arrived. The …
Performing Baptisms
Most people get ordained in the Universal Life Church to officiate a wedding ceremony, but many go on to perform baptisms or serve as the minister at a funeral. A ULC minister can certainly perform a baptism, but understand that some religions o…
Women
March is Women’s History Month. Although the first celebration of International Women’s Day was held in 1911, the actual event didn’t really pick up steam until the late ’70s. Congress was making attempts to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, which wa…
Over 33 million Americans claim some form of Irish heritage, which is seven times more people than the entire population of Ireland itself. For many, St. Patrick’s Day is about leprechauns, parades, beer and shamrocks, but the March 17 holiday actually holds a fa…
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St. Patrick’s Day
John Joly discovered one of the most important factors for social media. It was the year 1894, and he had no idea how vital his discovery would be for future generations. He changed the way people saw pictures by successfully producing color pho…
Aphrodite
One of the most famous paintings by Botticelli depicts the adult goddess Venus arriving on the shore in a scallop shell. Most historians believe that the work was commissioned by the Medici family, but no actual documentation remains to prove that theory….
Purim
On the Jewish celebration of Purim, Jews are allowed to conduct business and perform manual labor. This is much different than the holy days of Yom Kippur or Rosh Hashanah. Purim is often thought of a national holiday, rather than a religious celebration. The…
Holi
Who doesn’t want to say good-bye to winter and the cold? Spring brings sun, flowers, and fresh asparagus. Many cultures have a spring festival in March to celebrate the spring equinox. The Middle East observes Nowruz, the Persian New Year. In Japan, it’s c…
Most people have heard of Ramadan, the month of fasting and prayer performed by Muslims around the world. The Jewish culture fasts on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Many Christians fast throughout the season of Lent, leading up to Easter. One faith that often ge…
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Bilingualism
In 1952, a group of students from three different universities in Bangladesh came together to demonstrate for the recognition of Bangla or Bengali, the language native to Bengal. Just a few years before, the government had declared Urdu as the national…