Tomorrow is May Day – a worldwide holiday that is not celebrated widely in the U.S. -- although it often brings May breakfast feasts that offer some of the best eating of any holiday except for Thanksgiving. Just where did May Day start and what is its significance? A Patch reader asked and we answer here. May Day actually dates back to before the birth of Jesus Christ. It has a long and history as one of the world's principal festivals. And like many ancient festivals, it has a Pagan connection, according to the holidayspot.com website. Perhaps because of its Pagan connection, the Puritans…
Just when is Earth Day this year? Earth Day observances tend to pop up on a lot of different days each April. You can't clean up all the parks or beaches or vacant lots all at once, right? This observance of support for the environment and environmental issues always falls officially on April 22. It started way back in 1970 when a San Francisco activist, John McConnell, and a Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration of support for the environment. McConnell actually chose the spring equinox that year, March 21. Nelson picked April …
April Fools Day is exactly one week away. We were asked: Where did this day come from? We found an answer here. The history of April Fools Day, sometimes called All Fool's Day, is not totally clear. Some believe it sort of evolved simultaneously in several cultures at the same time, from celebrations involving the first day of spring. The closest point in time that can be identified as the beginning of April Fools’ Day is 1582, in France. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. When the Gregorian Calendar …
So, just when is the first day of spring? The date seems to change every year. It changes because the first day of spring is also the vernal equinox – “spring” and “equal night” – which changes every year. Although spring usually starts on March 20 or 21. The vernal equinox means that that are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness in the Northern Hemisphere – the same as the autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. That’s when the sun passes directly overhead at noon if you are standing on the equator. The two equinoxes also sees the sun rise due east and set due west …
It’s a question we get asked a lot: “How do I submit a Letter to the Editor?” There are two ways to submit a Letter to the Editor to Barrington Patch: 1. As a blog post. Submitting a Letter to the Editor as a blog post is easy (really as simple as writing an email) and immediate (as soon as you hit “Approve,” it’ll be live on the site). If you plan on submitting multiple letters over time, submitting them as blog posts will also allow you to establish a voice or presence on the site. However, still feel free to submit as a blog even if you only plan on writing one. 2. By emailing it to …
About this column: You Ask … Patch Answers is a periodic column for anyone looking for answers to questions about Barrington -- anything in the community that is of interest that you want an answer to. Does your question invole a public problem or issue? Do you have a gripe about something? Are you simply very curious about something? Send your query to william.rupp@patch.com. Our team of curious reporters will dig up an answer.
Question to Patch: We love to walk in town. The constant interruptions by poles, boxes and poor design is dangerous and uncalled for. Particularly troubling are the new construction areas that have been allowed to plan small walkways, block pedestrian walkways and make massive blacktop areas that don't deal with the issue of a greener environmentally friendly town. These are new buildings and companies (TD Bank, AAA) which should be accountable and responsible for our town's health and future. My children have been hit by cars, injured and made to walk in the road way on 114 in town. Who …
