Religion

On December 30, 1696, it is said a miracle took place in Guápulo, Ecuador. That miracle was performed by the Virgin Mary (called the “Lady of the Cloud” by certain communities in Ecuador and Peru). The event became an important part of Guapulo’s culture.

On December 2, 1763, the Touro Synagogue was officially dedicated after four years of construction. Today, it’s the oldest standing synagogue in the US.

Celebrated annually on November 1, the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is a time to celebrate lost loved ones. While the holiday is a relatively modern tradition, its origins date back thousands of years.

Do you know some of the early origins of Halloween? Or how Jack-o’-lanterns got their name? Read on to discover lots of neat Halloween history…

Missionary Frank Charles Laubach was born on September 2, 1884, in Benton, Pennsylvania.  He dedicated his life to teaching people around the world to read, visiting more than 100 countries and developing books for 312 different languages.

On August 6, 1974, the USPS issued the Chautauqua Institution stamp, the second in the Rural America series, honoring the organization’s centennial.  Initially founded to train Sunday school teachers, “Chautauqua” became a term for commercial traveling companies who pitched tents and presented lecturers, orators, and performing artists to rural areas.

Mark Hopkins was born on February 4, 1802, in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. He was the youngest college president in the US and produced many influential writings on religion, education, morality, and more.

On January 30, 1948, a Hindu extremist assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.  Gandhi used civil disobedience and hunger strikes to fight discrimination and push for India’s independence from Great Britain, among many other causes.

On April 15, 1732, the first stone was laid for Boston’s Christ Church, more famously known as the Old North Church. It’s home to the oldest church bells in America. And it was made famous during Paul Revere’s midnight ride with the signal, “one if by land, two if by sea.”