Although much about the historical Saint Valentine is sketchy and obscure, it is traditionally believed that in the 3rd Century, Valentine, a Christian priest, was arrested by forces of the Roman Emperor. He was martyred for his faith and his defiance of Empire. Happy Saint Valentine’s Day.
Satchel Paige might be the greatest pitcher in the history of baseball. Sadly, when he was in his prime he did not get the chance to compete at the highest level, as the racism of the times kept black baseball players out of the majors. After Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s colour barrier in 1947, Satchel Paige finally got to play in the big leagues in 1948 at the age of 42. Even at that age Paige was a dominant All-Star pitcher, and he became the first Negro Leagues player to pitch in a World Series. He retired in 1953, although he came back in his 50’s for a brief 3 inning appearance in one game in 1965. As good as he was in his short major league career, we are left to wonder what could have been had Paige had been able to pitch in the big leagues during his prime.
Find out more:
Come down to the School Library to check out our book displays for Black History Month
Thanks to Surrey Libraries for sharing this video from the Mixd Project:
One of the icons of the US Civil Rights movement looked an unlikely hero but proved to be someone whose strength of character belied her appearance. Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1934. In the face of the overt racism of 1950’s America, Rosa famously refused to give up her seat on the bus, as black people were expected to do for white people. She was arrested, and the resulting Montgomery Bus Boycott proved to be one of foundational events of the Civil Rights Movement.
For more on Rosa Parks:
Come down to the School Library to check out our titles on Rosa Parks and other books for Black History Month:
February is Black History Month. Come down to see some of our resources related to Canadians of African descent:
February is Black History Month. Join us as we explore, acknowledge and celebrate Black History, with an emphasis on the experience of Canadians of African descent, African-Americans and other peoples in the world-wide African diaspora.
Find out more:
The Lunar New Year begins on Saturday. It is known by many names around the world, including the Spring Festival; Chinese New Year; Tet (Vietnam); Seollal (Korea); and many other New Year’s observances in Asia. People in Canada, especially people of Asian descent, will join with people around the world to celebrate the Year of the Rat.
In the United States, the 3rd Monday in January is a National Holiday in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. While it is not a holiday in Canada, Canadians and people all over the world will take some time today to acknowledge the tremendous legacy of Dr. King as a champion of freedom, equality and peace. 
Check out our book display in honour of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, including these titles:
Learn more online:
For many Canadians and for millions of people around the world, Christmas is a secular holiday. It is not a religious holy day, rather it is a cultural event based on things such as family, gift giving and charity. For many Christmas is focused on children and the central figure is Santa.
Yet for many millions of of other people in Canada and around the world, Christmas Eve is a deeply significant night of the year in spiritual terms. Christmas emerged as the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus. Whether in churches or other places of worship, or at home, or in other locations, Christians gather together celebrate the Nativity, the birth of Jesus.
Check out some of these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days.”
Do you have your Festivus Pole up yet?
With heart warming traditions such as the “Airing of Grievances” and “Feats of Strength,” Festivus is a holiday which owes its popularity to the sitcom “Seinfeld.”
What was once fictional has become a real holiday for many people, celebrated every year on December 23.
For more on this secular anti-celebration:
You can also find out more about Festivus in this book from your School Library:
From the Official Kwanzaa Website:
“Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.”
Find out more:
And check out these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days” :
Simbang Gabi is a Filipino Christmas celebration. Similar to the Mexican Las Posadas and other Navidad celebrations in the Spanish speaking world, Simbang Gabi is a Novena, or a nine-day festival. Dating back hundreds of years to the beginning of Spanish rule over the Philippines, Simbang Gabi emerged as a distinctly Filipino celebration of Christmas. One of the features that developed in response to the agricultural practices of Filipino farmers is that the services are carried out in the very early morning, sometimes as early as 3:00 AM.
Simbang Gabi begins on December 16 and concludes with the Misa de Gallo on December 24.
Many Canadians trace their roots to the Philippines, including many students here at Lord Tweedsmuir. Ask some of your fellow students about Simbang Gabi! You can also find out more here:
Check out your School Library’s current display of books: “Holidays and Holy Days.”
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 