Tag Archive for Tuesday

Why We Vote on That Day of the Week

October 2, 2020 Comments Off on Why We Vote on That Day of the Week

I’ve often wondered why the day for federal elections is set on Tuesday. In the midst of a busy week, with school, work, family responsibilities, and the like.  Why not, say, on Saturday?  Now I know.

It seems that Tuesday was chosen for the convenience of voters, which, in those days (1845), were the more prosperous white men. Those guys were mostly rural Christian farmers. That meant that they couldn’t vote on Sunday, the Lord’s day, and Wednesday was Market day.  Besides, they had to travel by horse one or two days to get to the polling place. Tuesday worked around all that for most of them

But why November? Because by early November the crops have been harvested, yet harsh winter weather hadn’t set in yet.  It was a handy time for them to travel to vote.

Who votes has changed, and we’re less of an agrarian economy than in those days.  But the Tuesday after the first Monday in November remains the same.

Who says politics is behind the times?

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Traditional Ash Wednesday Riot

February 18, 2015 Comments Off on Traditional Ash Wednesday Riot

A sanctioned riot on Ash Wednesday?  For most Western Christians, today is the day that kicks off a season of penance and atonement, reflecting Christ’s 40 days in the desert.  The kick-off in Ashbourne, England, is quite different, though.  It’s the second day (starting yesterday, Fat Tuesday–Shrove Tuesday to them) of a free-for-all soccer game that looks more like two mobs of rioters going at each other.

This Royal Shrovetide Football Match, also called “hugball,” is a tradition dating back to 1667 and involves hundreds of people and very few rules.  Read more about it at “This Soccer Match May Just Be the Craziest Ash Wednesday Tradition Ever.”

Not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.

 

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No-Cost Giving

December 2, 2014 Comments Off on No-Cost Giving

“Giving Tuesday” is a great idea and doesn’t have to cost a cent.  In fact, it’s a day that can easily be spread throughout the year.  Here’s how:

Everyone has one or two hours.  True, we may have to steal them from a television program or that yard work that should be done.  It’s okay to re-prioritize every once in awhile, though.  Let those two hours make a difference.  Hand out shampoo and food at fairs held for the homeless in your community.  Give blood through the Red Cross or a local hospital.  Work toward wiping out a disease and, meanwhile, care for the sick, by distributing contribution envelopes to neighbors for the Cancer Society or Heart Association.  Serve a meal at a soup kitchen during a non-holiday season, when volunteers are scarce.  Sort through those newborn items your baby outgrew before wearing them and give them to the church’s layette program.  Pick up people without transportation and bring them to an appointment or grocery shopping.  Use your imagination; you’ll figure out other way to help people in need. It could be called “Closed-Wallet Giving.”  What it is, though, is “Open-Hearted Giving”—giving of yourself.

 

 

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