National Peanut Month

     March is National Peanut Month in the United States.  Peanuts and peanut butter are healthy to eat. They are believed to have more protein than any other nut.

     Peanuts were first grown in South America. Spanish explorers introduced them to Europe, and traders later spread them to Asia and Africa.

     Peanuts were grown in the United States as early as 1800. Because they were difficult to grow and harvest, there were not very many peanut famers at this time.

     Peanuts were a common food given to soldiers during the Civil War. After the war peanuts were roasted and sold by street vendors, and at games and circuses. However, because they were still difficult to grow and harvest, peanuts were still seen as livestock food and food for the poor.

     Better equipment was invented by 1900, making growing and harvesting peanuts much easier. Peanuts became more widely grown and sold. It was around this time that peanut butter was invented. It was introduced to the US markets at the 1904 Universal Expedition (a kind of fair), held in St. Louis.

     Peanuts and peanut butter are popular in the United States today. According to the National Peanut Board (NPB) Americans eat over 600 million pounds of peanuts each year. But we seem to like peanut butter a little better; the NPB reports we eat over 700 pounds of peanut butter each year.

     Do you like peanuts or peanut butter? Do you believe peanuts are a healthy food?

Sources:

http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/classroom-history.php

http://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/classroom-funfacts.php

St. Patrick's Day

     St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17, the anniversary of the Saint’s death approximately 460 AD. St. Patrick’s day occurs during the Catholic tradition of Lent. Meat is traditionally not eaten during Lent, but on St. Patrick’s Day people were allowed to celebrate with a meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

     The holiday was brought to America with Irish immigration during the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Today we celebrate with parades, parties, and cabbage and corned beef.

     So who was St. Patrick? 

     St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. He was born in Britain, and taken prisoner by Irish raiders attacking his family home. During captivity he worked as a shepherd. It was during this time that he became a devout Christian, having turned to his religion for comfort.

     His religion was different from the Irish tradition, which practiced a pagan religion. He is said to have developed the dream of converting the Irish during this time.

     After six years St. Patrick escaped to Britain and eventually became a priest. He was sent back to Ireland as a missionary to minister to the Christians already in Ireland, and to convert those not yet Christians.

     St. Patrick was successful in his mission in Ireland. He was loved and respected by the Irish people, who have made him the patron saint of their country. The anniversary of his death has been honored in Ireland for over 1000 years. 

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Sources:

http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://www.history.com/topics/who-was-saint-patrick

Daylight Saving Time

     Time in the United States changed the morning of Sunday, March 10. At 2am, clocks were moved one hour ahead. This is called Daylight Saving Time. On Sunday morning, November 3 at 2am, we will move our clocks back again by one hour.

     Daylight Saving Time was first enforced in the US during WWI, with the 1918 Standard Time Act. The purpose was to “better utilize resources”. Time changed for seven months of the year, and was discontinued at the end of WWI, though a few states chose to continue the practice.

     Daylight Saving Time was again imposed during WWII. This time it was in effect across the country all year, but was repealed again after the war was over.

     In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which set Daylight Saving Time across the US the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October.  This time has been adjusted through the years, but it remains that we set our clocks ahead one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall.

     Today Arizona and Hawaii, as well as some American territories, choose to remain with Standard time because of the extreme heat in these areas. They do not feel the need of an extra hour of sunlight beating down on them. 

     What do you think about Daylight Saving Time? Should we change our time during the year to add an extra hour of sunlight?

Sources:

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/daylight-saving-time-instituted 

http://askville.amazon.com/states-observe-daylight-savings-time/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=16674373

http://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-daylight-saving-time

Mother Jones

Photo credit: http://www.biography.com/people/mother-jones-9357488 

     Mary Harris Jones, also known as Mother Jones, was born in Ireland in the 1830's. She was famous as one of America's early labor activists.

     Mary experienced tragedy in her young life. She traveled to Canada with her parents during the Irish potato famine. She became a teacher and a dress maker, and moved to the United States. She married and had 4 children, but her family died during a yellow fever epidemic. She then opened a dress shop in Chicago. She experienced tragedy again when her shop was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

Photo Credit: 
http://listeningreading.blogspot.com/2010/05/first-great-labor-leader-samuel-gompers.html

     After the fire Mary Harris Jones began her work as a labor activist. She became known as Mother Jones. She often gave speeches to inspire striking workers, from steel workers to miners, brewery employees to women in the garment factory. She was also an outspoken critic against child labor, which was common in America during her time. 

Photo Credit: Google Images

     In her work, Mother Jones was a founder of the Social Democratic Party and was one of the founders of the Industrial Workers of the World. She is credited for the quote "Pray for the dead, and fight like hell for the living."

     Because of her activities to help working families and the working poor, Mother Jones was arrested several times. In West Virginia, at the age of 82, she was sentenced to twenty years in jail. Thanks to an outcry by her supporters she was granted a pardon by the governor.

   Mary Harris "Mother" Jones died in 1930. She is said to have been 100 years old, and worked until the day she died. 


     Most countries have people in the past who have tried hard to bring reforms to their people. Can you think of anyone from your country? Please tell us about them in the comments below. I would love to hear about them!

Sources:

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2001/05/mother-jones-woman

http://www.biography.com/people/mother-jones-9357488