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The Almanac

Where the days came from

Every holiday explained properly — what happened, why it stuck, and what a family can actually do about it. The founding of America in five short chapters. And one good thing that happened on this day, every day. All of it prints as a study sheet.

Today in history The year, one page

How America came to be

Five chapters, in the order it happened. Honest about the parts that are hard.

Why anybody came at all Before there was a country there were people getting on boats for reasons worth knowing. The argument that became a revolution It started as a disagreement about taxes and turned into a disagreement about who decides. The Declaration of Independence Five men drafted it, one wrote most of it, and Congress cut a quarter of it away. The Constitution The first try did not work. The second one is still running. The people who did it Not statues. Arguing, inconsistent, particular people.

Every holiday, in the order it happens

23 of them, American and around the world, through 2026.

January

Jan 1 New Year's Day Worldwide January 1 — the start of the Gregorian year. Jan 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day United States The third Monday of January — for the minister who changed a country with words.

February

Feb 16 Presidents' Day United States The third Monday of February — officially still Washington's Birthday. Feb 17 Carnival (Mardi Gras) Brazil, Italy, New Orleans and beyond The Tuesday before Lent — the last feast before forty days of fasting.

March

Mar 17 St Patrick's Day Ireland and the diaspora March 17 — the feast of the patron saint of Ireland.

May

May 25 Memorial Day United States The last Monday of May — remembering Americans who died serving the country.

June

Jun 14 Flag Day United States June 14 — the day the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes, in 1777. Jun 19 Juneteenth United States June 19 — the day the news of freedom finally reached Galveston, in 1865.

July

Jul 4 Independence Day United States The Fourth of July — the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776. Jul 7 San Fermín (the Running of the Bulls) Pamplona, Spain July 6–14 in Pamplona — a nine-day festival for Saint Fermín, opened by a rocket at noon. Jul 14 Bastille Day (La Fête Nationale) France July 14 — France’s national day, and the oldest military parade in Europe.

September

Sep 7 Labor Day United States The first Monday of September — for the people who do the work. Sep 17 Constitution Day United States September 17 — the day the Constitution was signed in 1787. Sep 19 Oktoberfest Munich, Germany Sixteen days in Munich, mostly in September — a wedding party that never stopped.

November

Nov 1 All Saints' Day Christian · worldwide November 1 — the Christian feast for all the saints, known and unknown. Nov 2 Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Mexico November 1 and 2 — Mexican families welcome their dead home for a night, with food and marigolds. Nov 8 Diwali (Deepavali) India and the diaspora The festival of lights — five days, lamps in every window, celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. Nov 11 Veterans Day United States November 11 — thanking everyone who served, living and dead. Nov 26 Thanksgiving United States The fourth Thursday of November — a national day of thanks, kept since 1863.

December

Dec 4 Hanukkah Jewish · worldwide Eight nights in Kislev — one more candle each night, in a window where it can be seen.

Moves each year

the date moves Eid al-Fitr Muslim · worldwide The feast that ends Ramadan — new clothes, sweets, and giving before the prayer. the date moves Lunar New Year China, Korea, Vietnam and beyond The second new moon after the winter solstice — the largest annual human migration on earth. the date moves Nowruz Iran, Central Asia and beyond The spring equinox — the Persian new year, kept for some three thousand years.

For homeschooling families

Every page in the Almanac has a Print the study sheet button. You get the long version of the history, a page of questions with lines to write on, and nothing else — no ads, no sign-in, no watermark. Use it at home or in a classroom.