In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty-six days (forty days not counting Sundays) before Easter. It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

We are now in Black History Month.
Each year, February is reserved as the month people of colour are remembered for their contribution to the upliftment of the Black race.
Black History Month was established in 1976 by Afro-Americans for the Study of Afro-American Life and History.

In continuing the 88 th anniversary celebrations of the birth of Louise Bennett- Coverley, the Kingston & St. Andrew office of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission will be hosting " Tenky Miss Lou' – a family fun day .
The event will be held at the Gordon Town Square in the hometown of the late cultural icon and will feature a scenic tour of her former dwelling.

Today (Friday, August 17, 2007) marked the 120th year since the birth of freedom fighter and Jamaica's first inducted National hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
Garvey, was known as a strong man that empowered back people to stand up for their rights, and also inspired Reggae icon Bob Marley, among many other men and women of colour.
One of Garvey's greatest achievements was the formation of the Universal Negro Improvement and Conservation Association and African Communities League, other wise called the UNIA, in 1914, as a means of uniting black people around the world.

As Jamaica Festival 2k7 comes to a close, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission will celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the birth of Marcus Garvey – Jamaica's first national hero, with the hosting of a floral tribute in his honour as well as the launching of the inaugural Marcus Garvey Awards for Excellence in the Performing Arts.

Kingston, Jamaica:
Jamaica, the third largest Caribbean Nation, and the largest English speaking island in the region, celebrates 45 years of Independence on Monday, August 6, 2007.
Jamaica received Independence from British Colonization in 1962, which lasted over 300 years.
At midnight 5th August 1962 the British Flag was lowered and the Jamaican Flag was hoisted for the first time. On the 6th of August 1962 Jamaica was given its independence.
People both young and old will reflect on the movement of the nation 45 years later.

On the second Sunday in May, children around the globe of all ages treat their mothers to something special. It is the one day out of the year when children, young and old, try to show in a tangible way how much they appreciate their mothers.

England was one of the first countries to set aside a day to recognize mothers. In the eighteenth century when many people worked as household servants for the rich, "Mothering Sunday" was reserved for them to return home to be with their mothers. Though this custom stopped when the Industrial Revolution altered the working and living patterns of the people, one Sunday for Mothers was established as a holiday in the twentieth century.

Do you sometimes wonder about how Easter originated, and where and when it started, well you are not alone, many persons over the years have question this.
However, their are different variations to the origins of Easter, but this theory may be a plactical one.

Easter is referred to as the Sunday of the Resurrection, Pascha, or Resurrection Day, is the most important religious feast of the Christian liturgical year, observed at some point between late March and late April each year (early April to early May in Eastern Christianity). It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, which his followers believe occurred on the third day after his death by crucifixion some time in the period AD 27 to 33.

A famous quote from Marcus Mosiah Garvey the first inducted hero of Jamaica is 'Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds.'
For many years Mr. Garvey worked aucidiously to empower the black race with speeches, and examplerary character and movement up the social ladder.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey National Hero of Jamaica (August 17, 1887– June 10, 1940) was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black nationalist, and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL).

As part of JAMCL feature on Black History Month we will give our fellow webbites information on some Black Men who have either touched, changed or traced the future of Black People in the World.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech in August 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. is until this day one of the most inspiring speeches of all time.
In that speech Martin Luther King addressed the issues of Black people being segregated and that he was dreaming of a day when the Black man and the White man will finally live in harmony, and that Black People will finally be free.

Kingston, Jamaica:

Today January 14, 2007 marks the cenetenial of the great earthquake that struck Kingston, Port Royal and other parts of the Island on January 14, 2007 that caused widespread damages to buildings and massive loss of lives. Though the capital felt the brunt of the 'quake' the rest of the island was not spared the wrath and fires broke out killing hundreds of people in its wake.