Festa del Redentore

Festa del Redentore, or Feast of the Redeemer, is celebrated in Venice, Italy. It marks the end of the plague in the late 16th century, when the people of Venice dedicated a church on Giudecca Island to Jesus the Redeemer and vowed to visit it every year. They continue to keep their promise by building a bridge of boats across the Giudecca and Grand canals, across which worshippers can walk back and forth during the celebration. During the festival the cafes, canals, and the church are decorated with lights. When the bridge of boats closes around nine o’clock, a fireworks display begins. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Ginger Rogers (1911)

Rogers was an Oscar-winning American actress and dancer—most notably as Fred Astaire’s partner. Their first appearance together was in 1933’s Flying Down to Rio. Though they were not given star billing, they stole the show and went on to make nine more films together. Rogers also starred in several non-musical roles and, by 1945, was one of the highest paid performers in Hollywood. She was honored by the Kennedy Center in 1992. Why were parts of the event prohibited from being televised? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Allura Red AC

Allura Red AC is a red synthetic dye that is often used as a food coloring. Although some fear that it poses a health risk and it is banned in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland, Allura Red AC has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in cosmetics, drugs, and food, and it is found in many products, including tattoo inks and orange soda. From what substance is Allura Red derived? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Rondo Days Celebration

The Rondo Days Celebration launched in 1983 as a showcase for the rich African-American culture and heritage of the Rondo community in St. Paul, Minnesota, which was destroyed in the 1960s by the construction of the I-94 freeway. A celebration of multi-cultural food, art, music, and activities, it now draws up to 35,000 visitors a year. Other highlights include a community parade, a free dinner honoring the community’s senior citizens, and a five-kilometer fun walk and run. There also is an annual, hotly contested drill-team competition drawing squads from across the country. Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Linda Ronstadt (1946)

Ronstadt is an American popular-music singer and record producer. She embarked on a solo career in the late 1960s and became known for her interpretations of folk songs and collaborations with artists from a diverse array of genres. She became one of the most successful female singers of the 1970s and branched out in the 80s with award-winning Spanish language albums. One of her grandfathers was an inventor who made a fortune by patenting what widely used household item? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary

Urartu

Urartu was an ancient kingdom of Armenia and the site of a sophisticated agricultural and commercial civilization noted for its advanced metalworking and stonemasonry techniques. Although it flourished from the 13th to the 7th century BCE, the kingdom eventually dissolved after repeated invasions by the Cimmerians, Scythians, and Medes. First mentioned in Assyrian records from the 13th century BCE, many scholars believe the name Urartu is a variation of what Old Testament name? Discuss

Source: The Free Dictionary