Happy New Year: 2013, January 1 ...

We have written 2012 into the history books, as we welcome 2013 and the promise of the New Year...

January will welcome a variety of themes, as we celebrate special days, week-long observances, as well as special events during the month.

The month of January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month ...

There are week-long observations during the month of January:

• Women’s Self Empowerment Week, January 3-7
• No Name Calling Week, Jan. 21-25

Day-long observations during the month of January:

• New Years Day, January 1
• Epiphany (Christian), January 6
• Religious Freedom Day, January 16
• Dr. Martin Luther King Day, January 21 - Two Cedar Rapids celebrations occur during this day, as 27th annual Remembering Martin Luncheon at Kirkwood CC at 11:30 a.m. and Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration at 7:00 p.m. at St. Paul's UMC on Monday, January 21st
• Maulid an Nabi (Islam), January 24
• Tu B’Shevat (Jewish), January 25-26
• Data Privacy Day, January 28

A fun exercise my mother liked to give, when we were growing up, was to write the words Happy New Year on the side of a piece of paper and ask us to use the letters and make New Year's Resolutions.  She would also do it at Christmas and Thanksgiving with the family...

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