Hey, Camp Fans!

You know your education doesn’t always have to happen within the walls of a school building, right? In fact, throughout you entire life, you’ll probably do most of your learning outside of school. Just think of how much you learn every year at summer camp!

Today I’m talking about the history of the Mexican Independence Day. Contrary to common belief, Mexican Independence Day is celebrated today and not on the fifth of May as so many people think it to be. Cinco de Mayo is actually Mexico’s regaining of their freedom in 1862 from the short-lived French invasion. Their freedom from Spain is much more important to the people of Mexico.

September 16, 1810 is the day that one Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest, literally rounded people up from the markets and streets of Mexico to declare their independence from Spain. Hidalgo’s rallying is known as the Cry of Delores. Hidalgo gathered more than 600 men in a matter of minutes and by the end of his leadership had amassed an army of 80,000.

Spain had ruled Mexico for hundreds of years and, despite the revolt in 1810, the war for freedom lasted 11 years. In those eleven years guerilla warfare ensued in Mexico wherever Father Hidalgo led his growing, angry mob of rebels to take Mexico back from every Spaniard they could find.

Regarded as one of their most important holidays, September 16 is celebrated in Mexico with dances, parades, and festivals. And on the night of the 15th, there’s an annual reenactment put on by mayors and other local politicians of Father Hidalgo’s Cry of Delores speech in which they ring the very bell Father Hidalgo did over 200 years ago and give the same speech that rallied hundreds.

The crowd cheers and fireworks explode in the sky!

So the next time someone tries to tell you that Cinco De Mayo is the Mexican Independence Day, you’ll know better. Till next time, Readers.

 

- John

Hey, Sports Fans!

For today’s blog post I’m talking about football. Not about tips for throwing a great football party or going to your kid’s high school game. No, today I’m talking about the history of a league that we’re all pretty familiar with: the National Football League, or NFL.

The birth of this now super-famous organization has quite a long history to it; after all it got started nearly a hundred years ago! Back in 1920, representatives of four existing football teams got together to hold a meeting that resulted in forming the NFL, though it wouldn’t be called the NFL until two years later.

In 1933 things started looking a little more like the NFL we know so well today.  
It wasn’t until 1960 when the American Football League, or AFL, started to steal some popularity from the NFL. Six years later the two leagues began a merger that finally went into effect in 1970. In the four years it took to complete the merger, the leagues still held four “Super Bowls” as they came to be known after the first two.

As the Super Bowl continues to break viewing records for the last three years, over 111 million people watched the New York Giants defeat the New England Patriots last year in Super Bowl XLVI (46). Just to give you a little context of that viewing audience, 20.6 million viewers watched President Obama’s Second Inauguration.

So, enjoy America’s most popular sport, and join in the fandom that seems to grow a little more every year. Thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

 

- John

Hey, Summer Lovers!

Happy Labor Day from all of us at Everything Summer Camp, your one stop shop for all your camping gear and camping supplies.

Back in May, I told you about the history of Memorial Day, how (though it’s actually meant to remember and honor not just the soldiers who died in the Civil War, but all soldiers who have fallen during their time in the service of the United States Military) nowadays, it’s usually thought of as a marker for beginning of the summer season—as opposed to Labor Day which marks its end.

Now that you know about the history of Memorial Day, today I’ll fill you in on the history of Labor Day and tell you why it’s so much more to celebrate than just the end of summer.

See, life in America was pretty different back in the 1800’s when the holiday first came to be. Going to work wasn’t the same, typical nine to five with the weekends off that it is today. Instead, people worked twelve hour shifts, seven days a week without any real rest except to eat and sleep.

Why did they work so hard? This much work was necessary just to keep America running in the 1800’s. First celebrated on a Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York, it wasn’t until three years after the first celebration that it became a nationally celebrated holiday.

We still don’t know who should get credit for Labor Day. Some say it was a general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters named Peter J McGuire while others think it was a different man named Matthew Maguire, a machinist of the International Association of Machinists.

In either case, Labor Day is now celebrated on the first Monday of September to remember and appreciate the contributions of the American workforce from more than 100 years ago that have led to our country’s power, prosperity, and well-being that we still see today.

Happy Labor Day, Folks!

- John

Hey, Summer Camp Aficionados!

Today is the day of our country’s independence. Way back when in a time that we only know from history books, the people who lived in “The New World” (more modernly known as the United States of America) still felt the rule of Great Britain. Independence Day (or the Fourth of July as we commonly call it) is the day that we adopted our Declaration of Independence in 1776.

For 237 years, we have been celebrating our freedom from the rule of any other country but ourselves. That’s why we make it a pretty big deal once a year to enjoy our freedom on the Fourth of July.

As we’ve all seen the fun of Fourth of Julys past, we, as Americans, like to go all out to celebrate our Independence Day. We march in parades, we have carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games (America’s favorite pastime), we have get-togethers with our friends and families, political speeches are made with ceremonies and gatherings. And, of course, we end the whole day with a bang!

Fireworks!

They’re loud. They’re bright. They’re an essential part of our Fourth of July tradition. Fireworks have been around for over 1000 years. Originally, fireworks were made in India by filling bamboo cases or rolled-up paper tubes with explosives. The loud bang they make when they go off was initially thought to scare off evil spirits.

At Everything Summer Camp, we’re proud to be a part of top notch, high-quality products that we manufacture right here in the United States. There’s nothing we love more than making sure that your summer and summer camp experience is as fun as it can be.

That’s all for today, Camp Fans. Have a blast today, and remember to make your summer a blast! Thanks for reading!

 

- John

Hey there, Camp Boys and Girls!

Ever wonder how Memorial Day came about? I’m sure many of you know that it’s the federal holiday of the United States in which we remember and honor the many soldiers who have died serving their country. But this blog post is meant to inform you on the history of the day.

The story of Memorial Day begins after the American Civil War. After the war ended and our country was once again united, it was originally given the name Decoration Day, meant to remember both Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War.

Memorial Day occurs every year on the last Monday in May. Nowadays, it’s typically thought of as a marker for beginning of the summer season (as opposed to Labor Day which marks its end). The meaning behind the day has been stretched to honor not just the soldiers who died in the Civil War, but all soldiers who have fallen during their time in the service of the United States Military.

The holiday is often notable for visiting cemeteries and memorials. There are volunteers across the whole country that offer to go around in national cemeteries to place small, United States flags on each grave.

We remember those who have died in the service of the American Military because they died in order for us to appreciate the freedom upon which our country is founded. Because of them, we live in a world that offers an educational, school program, beautiful days that we can spend grilling out with friends and family, and—of course—going to summer camp!

So Summer Campers, I hope after reading this post that you have a better appreciation for today’s holiday with a better understanding of it. Until next time, Boys and Girls! Thanks for reading!

 

- John