For the week of Mar. 14, 2010

Mar. 14
Albert Einstein (1879-1955): Jewish German American. Physicist. The leading theoretical physicist of the twentieth century, Einstein received the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921. When the Nazi government confiscated his property and deprived him of his German citizenship in 1933. Einstein immigrated to the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen and took a post at the Institute for Advanced Study in *Princeton, New Jersey. *

Mar. 15
Eusebio Francisco Kino (1645-1711): Italian. Jesuit missionary and explorer. Kino is noted for his success in making converts among the Pima Indians while respecting their customs, and for the historical value of his letters, journals, and maps. From 1687 to the end of his life he worked in Pimeria Alta (now southern Arizona and northern Sonora in Mexico), where he founded a number of missions and introduced the Indians to cattle and to new crops. This day is the anniversary of his death.

Mar. 16
First publication of Freedomis Journal (1827): African American. On this date Samuel E. Cornish and John B. Russwurm began publication of the first African American newspaper. The first edition of Freedom's Journal was devoted entirely to issues of slavery and discrimination.

Mar. 17
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987): African American. Civil rights activist and pacifist. Rustin worked from 19141 to 1953 for the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a group seeking peaceful solutions to world problems; served as executive director of the War Resisters League from 1953 to 1955; and worked for the next five years with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. One of the chief organizers of the 1963 March on Washington for civil rights, Rustin also traveled to Africa, Europe, and Asia to support local protest movements for social justice.

Mar. 17
St. Patrickis Day: Ireland. Tradition holds that Irelandis patron saint died on this date in A.D. 493 at the age of 106. The anniversary of his death is celebrated in Ireland as a national holiday, with green, the color of the day signifying undying gratitude to the memory of St. Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland. The shamrock is worn to commemorate its use by the saint as a symbol of the Trinity. St. Patrickis Day is celebrated by people of Irish decent all over the world as an expression of pride in their heritage.

Mar. 19
Feast of St. Joseph: Roman Catholic. This feast day honors St Joseph, the husband of Mary. The celebration is especially important in Italy, because during the Middle ages when Sicily was plagued with a horrible drought, St. Joseph (San Giuseppe) answered the peopleis prayers to him by ending the drought. A giant feast was held to honor San Giuseppe, a tradition that continues to this day. On the eve of March 19, bonfires are lit in the streets. The next day, an elderly carpenter is chosen to act the part of San Giuseppe, while a poor girl is chosen to play the part of Mary, and a young orphan boy plays the infant Jesus. A midday mass is held, followed by and outdoor banquet where crespoli di riso (rice made into sausages and fried in honey) and sfinci (cream-puff fritters with ricotta filling) are eaten. After the banquet, the Holy Family mounts richly adorned mules and leads a procession while being showered with gifts. The feast became widespread in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, and in 1621 Pope Gregory XV made the Feast of St. Joseph a holy day.

Mar. 20
Independence Day: Tunisia. This holiday commemorates the treaty of March 20, 1956, by which France recognized Tunisia as a sovereign nation.

Mar. 20
Now Rouz (New Year): Iran. This is the traditional New Year in Iran, coming at the time of the spring equinox and marking year 1380. The two days before Now Rouz are celebrated as holidays, as are the thirteen days following Now Rouz.

Mar. 20
Vernal Equinox Day (Shumbun No Hi): Japan. This celebrates the beginning of spring *and is a public holiday in Japan. *

Mar. 21
Benito Pablo Juarez (1806-1872): Mexico. Political leader. One of the national heroes of Mexico, Juarez served his country as minister of justice, vice president, and president during the turbulent period from 1855 until his death. Among Juarezis achievements are both the successful military resistance to the French emperoris attempt to impose a puppet ruler, the archduke Maximilian of Austria, as emperor of Mexico, and the institution of a number of civil reforms.

Mar. 21
Naw Ruz (New Year): Bahaii. The Bahaii year consists of 19 months with 19 days in each month. The new year is preceded by a 19 day period of fasting from sundown to sunset beginning on March 2 and ending on March 20, during which Bahai is set time aside for prayer and meditation. Children under 15, the ill and pregnant women and nursing mothers are exempt from the fast. Bahaii days begin at sunset, so the New Year starts at sundown on March 20.