Groundhog Day, celebrated each year on February 2, is a lighthearted tradition centered on Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog who predicts the arrival of spring. Rooted in German Candlemas customs brought to Pennsylvania by immigrants, the holiday holds that if Phil sees his shadow, winter will last six more weeks; if not, spring will come early. First noted in an 1886 Pennsylvania newspaper, the tradition has grown into a major annual celebration in Punxsutawney, drawing thousands of visitors who gather for fun, folklore, and a reminder that, as scripture teaches, there is a season for every purpose under heaven.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/groundhogday-8

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.

National Freedom Day commemorates February 1, 1865, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the resolution that led to the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. The day was founded by Major Richard Robert Wright Sr., a former slave and educator who dedicated his life to advancing education, economic opportunity, and freedom for African Americans. Officially recognized in 1948, National Freedom Day invites reflection on the meaning of liberty and the responsibility to preserve it. It reminds Americans that freedom is both a gift and a duty, strengthened through service, faith, and commitment to justice for all.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/freedom-day-7

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.

The first prayer in the Continental Congress was offered on September 7, 1774, at Carpenters’ Hall in Philadelphia by Reverend Jacob Duché, a respected Anglican minister chosen with support from leaders such as Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. At a tense moment when war with Great Britain seemed imminent, Duché read from Psalm 35 and offered an extemporaneous prayer that deeply moved the delegates, including George Washington and the Adams cousins. John Adams later wrote that the prayer united men of different colonies and denominations and brought many to tears, reflecting the Founders’ belief in God’s providence and the role of prayer at the beginning of America’s fight for independence.

Read the full article here: https://familyschool.org/spotlight/first-prayer-5

This episode was created using Notebook LM voice-overs and original research by Rosemary Pollock, historian and published author, who holds an MA in U.S. History and an MA in U.S. History with a focus on the History of Science and Medicine.

Produced by Isaac Okawa with American Heritage Worldwide.