Fête du Canada on July 1 (A Celebration of Canada Day)

Canadians celebrate! The National Day of Canada is here!

Canada Day in Ottawa

Every July 1, the federal holiday in Canada is widely observed for its historical, cultural and nationalist importance. All over the country, celebrations of this festive summer holiday include spectacular fireworks displays, colorful parades, delicious barbeques, exciting carnivals and fairs, enjoyable family picnics and entertaining concerts.

British North American Act

Just like all major holidays, Canada Day or Fête du Canada traces its roots to a historically significant event.

John, Mary and Muhammad in Different Languages

If your parents named you John, don't be surprised that in France people will call you Jean. Or if you find yourself in Spain, an abuela (grandmother) may refer to you as Juan. Women with names like Mariska, Mariah and Mary owe their names to a Hebrew name. Muhammad, the most popular name in the world, has many different spellings in different languages. Fascinating, isn't it?

Most of the given names today originated from Latin, Greek, Hebrew or Arabic names. Throughout human history, given names have changed from one location to another. As people moved across lands and over seas due to migration, war or a multitude of other reasons, they brought with them their given names that came from their original mother tongues. The locals in their new communities must have spoken a dialect or language different from theirs. So when their names were adopted in these new settings, their original given names were changed in order to fit the local language or dialect better.

The Wonderful World of Dr. Seuss

"I like green eggs and ham! I like them Sam I Am!" Dr. Seuss wrote more than 40 children's books and won countless awards including two Emmy Awards, two Academy Awards), a Peabody and a Pulitzer. The man behind the penname Dr. Seuss, Theodore Geisel, was extremely talented, very witty, imaginative, artistic and politically and socially conscious. His writing style was entertaining to say the least. Because of his early reader books, reading and learning became more fun for new readers. Today, the same children who grew up enjoying his books and the many transformations of Dr. Seuss's stories are now introducing Dr. Seuss to a new generation.

Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss), seated at desk covered with his books

Often times, the words he uses in his children's books sound like a lot of mumbo-jumbo. There's a lot of rhyming going on in every page. Nonsense and made up words form part of his stories. The locations and characters are often invented, but many parallel the people, places and situations Geisel experienced or observed throughout his life. He may have written his books for children but most adults enjoy them, too. If you are willing to suspend reality and enter the world of imagination, you will surely be in for a treat when you open a Dr. Seuss book.

Welcome to the colorful world of Dr. Seuss!

Celebrating the National Day of Luxembourg

Luxembourgers are gearing up to celebrate one of the biggest festivities in their country this weekend. June 23 is celebrated in the country of Luxembourg as its National Day.

In many countries around the world, National Day is celebrated to commemorate the country’s independence from a colonial ruler. In Luxembourg, it is a day to honor their Grand Duke.

Luxembourg

Emblèmes of Luxembourg

Luxembourg is a delightful Western European country nestled between Belgium, France and Germany. Though this diminutive country is often overshadowed by its larger neighbors, Luxembourg is home to over half a million residents with strong political influence and a highly developed economy. In fact, the people of Luxembourg enjoy the highest GDP per capita in the world! Since 1815, the country has been headed by a grand duchy, when the King of the Netherlands recognized the territory as an independent kingdom.

Father's Day and How Fathers Affect Language Development in Children

Fathers often get the short end of the stick when compared to mothers. Part of the reason why this is so is because many fathers do not assume the same child-rearing responsibilities as mothers. Traditionally, in most cultures since time immemorial, mothers are left at home to care for their young. Fathers are the traditional providers. They go out of the homes to make a living in order to provide food, shelter, and clothing for the whole family. Mothers are on call 24/7 taking care of their children's physical and emotional needs. Female parents spend more time with their children than their counterparts thus having greater influence on the children.

A Father's Tenderness