MAY 2012 ALMANAC This almanac, a compilation of 33 calendars Chase’s Calendar of Events for updating isby Susan Curnow Breedlove c)2012 This is the month of the Budding Moon or Flower Moon, WabigoniGisiss in Ojibwe, Wuyue in Chinese, (皐月), Gogatsu(早苗) in Japanese Mai in French, Mayo in Spanish, Lab TsibHlisNtuj in Hmong The flowers of the month are the Lilly of the Valley and Hawthorne. The birthstone of the month is Emerald (Happiness) MAY IS AMERICAN INDIAN MONTH, ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN MONTH, RESPECT OUR ELDERS MONTH & NATIONAL FAMILY MONTH QUOTES OF THE MONTH: まかぬはえぬMakanutanewahaenu (Seeds that aren’t sown can’t grow.) Japanese proverb “What you think, you become.” Gautama Buddha, Founder of Buddhism “It does not require many words to speak the truth.” Chief Seattle, a prominent leader of the Suquamish Native American tribes in the 1800’s in what is now Washington state Tuesday, May 1.MAY DAY activities will be carried out throughout the world as this INTERNATIONAL WORKER'S DAY (LABOR DAY). BELTANE, one of the "Greater Sabbats" in the Wiccan year, observed, celebrating the fertility of spring and the greening of earth as it is each May 1st. The U.S. also observes LAW DAY with the theme this year “NO Courts, NO Justice, NO Freedom.” Today is LEI DAY in Hawaii, and SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S DAY. HAITIAN HERITAGE MONTH honors General TouissaintLouverture ("The Black Napoleon") and the Haitian consensus reached in 1803 to fight Napoleon's forces for independence. The NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL continues through May 6th. 1762-African American physician James Durham, born. 1830-Mary Harris Jones, "Mother Jones," Irish born, American labor leader who promoted child labor laws, born. 1867-Howard University is established in Washington, D.C. 1884-The building of the first skyscraper, a ten-story insurance building, was begun in Chicago. 1855-Internationally known feminist Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell marry and disavow the inequality of married women under U.S. law in their marriage contract, also omitting the phrase "obey" from their vows. She later shocked the world by taking back her maiden name. 1896-180,000 I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World) strike in Chicago for 8 hour work day. 1901-Poet literary critic,and editor Sterling Brown is born. 1909-Kate Smith, popular singer with no formal lessons, in 1938 introduced new song on her radio broadcast written especially for her by Irving Berlin, "God Bless America," born. 1915-Archie Williams, member of U.S. team in 1936 Berlin Olympics who debunked Hitler's theory of superiority of Aryan athletes by winning gold medal, mechanical engineer, airplane pilot & trainer of Tuskegee Institute pilots of W.W.II, born. 1930-Blues musician, harmonica wizard, Little Walter, born. 1950-Gwendolyn Brooks becomes the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize, for her book of poetry Annie Allen. 1961-Students joined James Farmer to conduct "freedom rides" on public transportation from Washington, DC to New Orleans. 1967-Country singer Tim McGraw, born. 1971-Amtrak, the national rail service, combining 18 passenger railroads, went into service. 2006-Community rally for immigrant’s rights begins at Powderhorn Park, Minneapolis. Listen for the trill of the American Toad. Wednesday, May 2Those of the Baha‟I faith observe the Twelfth Day of RIDVAN. 1519-Italian artist, scientist and inventor, painter of the famed Last Supper and Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci died. 1611-King James of England appoints a committee to produce a new version of the Bible. 1729-Catherine the Great, czarina of Russia, is born in Germany. 1837-Anniversary of the birth of Henry M. Robert, author of Robert's Rules of Order, a standard parliamentary guide still used by many community organizations today. 1844-Elijah McCoy, Black inventor born in Ontario, Canada. From his expertise comes the expression "The Real McCoy" applying to anything done well. 1870-Minister and an initiator of the Pentecostal religious movement, William Seymour, born. 1903-Benjamin Spock, pediatrician, author of books on raising children, born. 1913-Ethiopian American golfer, winner of Atlanta‟s Southern Open when he was only 18 years old, John Dendy, born. 1945-Actress, political activist, ex-wife of Mick Jagger, Bianca Jagger, born in Nicaragua. 1969-Record-breaking cricket batsman Brian Lara, born Trinidad. 1975-Soccer player David Beckham, born. 1977-Jenna Van Oy, actress (She Cried No, "Blossom"), born. Goslings hatch and mallards are nesting. Watch for rose-breasted grosbeaks. Whip-poor-wills arrive to Minnesota. Thursday, May 3 Today is NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER in the USA.This is CONSTITUTION DAY in Poland & Japan (Keno Kinenbi). THE DAY OF THE HOLY CROSS (Dia de la Santa Cruz), honoring construction workers and miners, occurs in Mexico, with a flower-decorated cross placed on every piece of new construction. Today is WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY. THE FESTIVAL OF NATIONS, with over 90 different ethnic groups from around the world, share music, dancing, food, crafts, and shopping, is held at St. Paul's River Centre, today through May 6th. 1855-Macon B. Allen is the first African American to be formally admitted to the bar in MASS. 1896-Dodie Smith, author of The 101 Dalmatians, born, England. 1898-Septima Clark, teacher & organizer of freedom schools, born. 1901-Estelle Osborne, leader of the nursing movement, professor, and first black nurse in the U.S. to obtain a Master‟s Degree, born. 1902-Astride Alan-a-Dale, African American jockey Jimmy Winkfield wins his second Kentucky Derby in a row. 1911-Wisconsin becomes the 1st state to sign Workman's Compensation Act. 1915-Lyricist and playwright Betty Comden is born. She will co-write several Tony-winning musicals as well as the film Singin’ in the Rain. 1919-Pete Seeger, singer, composer ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone"), civil rights leader, born. 1920-John Lewis, an American jazz pianist and composer best known as the musical director of theModern Jazz Quartet, born. 1921-Sugar Ray Robinson, middleweight boxing champion, born. 1933-James Brown, singer & songwriter, ("Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"), born. 1937-Singer Frankie Valli("Can't Take My Eyes Off You"), born. 1963-2,500 children & adults are jailed in protest march for civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. 1980-Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee formed. Watch for flowers on maple trees. Bees are taking cleansing flights. Catbirds & blue-winged teal return. Friday, May 4 GREENERY DAY (Midori no hi) is observed in Japan. Until 2006, Greenery Day used to be celebrated on April 29, the birthday of former Emperor Showa. The day is dedicated to the environment and nature. Today is CHINA YOUTH DAY(青年), recalling the demonstration in 1919 when thousands of students gathered in Beijing‟s Tiananmen Square to protest imperialistic aggression in China. CHILDREN'S DAY is observed in South Korea. .PROMis held tonight for PHHS students at the Profile Event Center in Minneapolis; the theme is “Even Brighter Than the Moon.” 1494-The Arwak people of Jamaica are visited by Christopher Columbus. 1796-Horace Mann, educator, author, public servant, known as "Father of Public Education" in the U.S., born 200 years ago. 1865-Adam Clayton Powell, Sr., reformer, born. 1875-Kentucky Derby, thoroughbred horse race, inaugurated. 1880-Photographer Richard S. Roberts, credited with “the most realistic collective images of South Carolina's African-American life in the early 20th century,” born. 1886-Labor unrest in Chicago with McCormick Reaper Works led to what has been called theHaymarket Square Riot. 1893-African American cowboy Bill Pickett earns the title of inventor of "bull dogging" (steer wrestling). 1929-Oscar-winning actress and UNICEF‟s goodwill ambassador, Audrey Hepburn, born. 1930-Retired opera singer Roberta Peters, born. 1942-Tammy Wynette, singer, ("Stand By Your Man"), and singer and songwriter Nickolas Ashford, born.(d. 2011) He and his wife and writing partner Valerie Simpson wrote “Reach Out and Touch Somebody‟s Hand” and "Ain't No mountain High Enough". 1951-Jackie Johnson of Jackson Five, born. 1961-This is the anniversary of the walk and work of the Freedom Riders, people who organized so that all have the right to use public transit. 1970-Today is KENT STATE STUDENT'S MEMORIAL DAY remembering the four University students killed & 13 injured by National Guard while demonstrating against U.S. invasion of Cambodia. 1972-Mike Dirnt, rock pop artist, member of Green Day, born. 1979-Britain's Queen Elizabeth appoints Margaret Thatcher as their first woman prime minister in 700 years. 1979-Musician Lance Bass of “N Sync,” born 1986-The Disabled Women's Political Caucus formed in Washington, D.C. 1989-Tienamen Square-1000's die while protesting for freedom of speech, information and the press. Eastern gray tree frog begins calling. Wood thrush and Scarlet tanager make their Spring arrival. Saturday, May 5 CHILDREN’S DAY ((子供の日, kodomo no hi)): The Boy's Festival (Tango no Sekku) is celebrated in Japan on this day. Families pray for the health and future success of their sons by hanging up carp streamers and displaying samurai dolls, both symbolizing strength, power and success in life. (The Girl‟s Festival, by the way, is celebrated on March 3.)Today is the anniversary of CINCO DE MAYO, the celebration of the triumph of Mexican forces, outnumbered 3 to 1, over the French army in 1862 led by Napoleon III. An annual Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place in District del Sol on St. Paul's West Side with music, food and a salsa-tasting contest, a parade on Saturday, sports zone, wellness village, crafts, children's section and history area. Also, check out Cinco de Mayo activities on Lake Street in Minneapolis.