Census Bureau Irish Statistics for St. Patrick's Day

The Census Bureau has a Facts for Features section on its web page that celebrates holidays and seasonal/special events. The page that is dedicated to celebrating St. Patrick's Day has a wide variety of statistics ranging from the educational and income status of Irish Americans to beef and cabbage production. Celebrate St. Patrick's Day (March 17) with fun facts.

Wonderland of Lights

Marshall, an East Texas city with a population of 24,000, boasts one of the largest light festivals in the United States. It is most famous for the white lights (approximately 125,000) decorating the former Harrison County Courthouse (now the Harrison County Historical Museum).

Besides admiring the lights, visitors may explore the history of East Texas. Numerous historical homes, such as the Starr Family Mansion, decorate for Christmas and offer tours throughout December.

For information about other holiday activities in Marshall, see the Marshall Chamber of Commerce website.

The First Thanksgiving

When many people think of the first Thanksgiving in America, they imagine pilgrims and American Indians. However, 80 years before the pilgrims celebrated at Plymouth, Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and 1,500 men celebrated Thanksgiving at Palo Duro Canyon. Palo Duro Canyon is now part of the Texas panhandle and a state park.

Still, many do not consider the Texas Thanksgiving the first Thanksgiving. Check out the Library of Congress website for more information on the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States.

Halloween Government Style

Do you know how many children trick-or-treat on Halloween or what states produce the most pumpkins? The Census Bureau's Facts for Features has the answers. Are you curious how the traditions associated with Halloween began. "The Fantasy and Folklore of All Hallows" from The American Folklife Center has a detailed explanation. Do you need safe makeup or simple costume ideas for parties or trick-or-treating? How about suggestions for healthy Halloween treats? Even more important, are you aware of safety tips to make Halloween a night of treats, not tragic tricks. Government agencies do their best to ensure that everyone has a happy and informed Halloween.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Jan. 15, 2007, the 21st anniversary of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday, thousands of people across the country are choosing to honor his memory by participating in service projects in their communities. For more information about the man who inspired this dedication, access The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute site. The site contains audio excerpts of his sermons and speeches, a biography, an encyclopedia, a document inventory, and information about purchasing compilations of his papers. Dr. King's biography and speeches are also available through the American Memory Project of the Library of Congress.

Oops - USPS!

Caught in a bind because you haven't mailed your holiday packages to Aunt Emma in San Francisco or Uncle Fred in Maine? If you hate waiting in long lines at the post office, find the nearest Automated Postal Center by entering your city, state, and zip code in the online form or by calling (800) ASK-USPS. Automated postal centers near Rice University include the University of Houston at 1319 Richmond Ave. ( .95 miles), Southmore at 4110 Almeda Rd. (1.33 miles), Medical Center at 7205 Almeda Rd. (1.78 miles), and River Oaks at 1900 W. Gray St. (2.30 miles). Maps and driving directions are available from the site.

Name That Turkey

Just when you thought we'd posted our last voting blog for the season... There are only five days left to vote on the names for the National Thanksgiving Turkey and alternate! Your choices are:

Ben and Franklin
Plymouth and Rock
Washington and Lincoln
Corn and Copia
Flyer and Fryer

Firstgov.gov has an excellent listing of Thanksgiving resources including travel advice, recipes and cooking tips, and ideas for Thanksgiving activities. Have a safe and happy holiday!

Holiday Travel - Be Informed!

If you are traveling during the holiday season, access these links to make your trip easier.

To find out about traffic conditions in Houston including road closures and construction and speed reports, view Houston Transtar. For Texas statewide road conditions visit the Texas Department of Transportation Travel site.

If you are traveling by air, check out the "live updates" section of Avoid Delays to see if a particular airport is experiencing delays. If you plan to take carry-on luggage, read the requirements on the TSA site. Access the Department of Transportation's Aviation Consumer Protection Division's latest report to find out if your airline has a reputation for flight delays, mishandled baggage, oversales, or consumer complaints.

If you are traveling overseas, it's a good idea to read Tips for Traveling Abroad and A Safe Trip Abroad first. If you plan to drive a car in a foreign country, in addition to your driver's license you may need an International Drivers Permit (IDP) available from a local office of the American Automobile Association. Check with the consular office in the country you are visiting to find out if the IDP is required. To locate that office, call the Federal Information toll-free line at 1 (800) FED INFO. For precautions about driving abroad or riding a train, see the State Department's article "Traveling by Train and Driving Abroad." If you are going to an area of the world experiencing political unrest, access the State Department's Travel Warnings and
Consular Information Sheets. To view the recommended immunizations for visiting a particular country, acess the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Travel Information Page. If you have passport questions, visit the State Department's Passport page. See details about the new electronic passport. For questions about what you can bring back with you, access the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection site.

Bon Voyage!

Celebrate Veterans Day, November 11, 2006

Internationally, Veterans Affairs Canada honors veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11 with a a Day of Remembrance. For a listing of national celebrations see the Department of Veteran Affairs site which also contains teacher resources, photo and poster galleries, history projects, and fact sheets. Celebrations in Houston commence at 10:00 a.m. with a ceremony at City Hall (901 Bagby/Hermann Square), continue at 11:00 a.m. with a Moment of Silence to commemorate the signing of the WWI Armistice (11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month), and culminate with a parade at 11:30 starting at Smith and Texas. Rice University celebrates on Friday, Nov. 10, with a 12 noon gathering around the flagpole at the Rice Memorial Center followed by a reception honoring Rice's veterans.

Halloween Government Style

Check out the Census Bureau’s Halloween page for fun facts and statistics about everything from where Halloween celebrations started in the U.S. to the number of Trick or Treaters.