#12: March 16-22

March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day Fun 

St. Patrick’s Day is a special holiday that started in Ireland, but it’s now celebrated all over the world! The very first St. Patrick’s Day parade in America happened in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Today, people celebrate by wearing green, decorating with shamrocks, watching parades, and eating delicious Irish foods like soda bread and corned beef. Some places even turn rivers and fountains green for the day. There were many Irish immigrants who helped build our nation, and it is an honor to remember the great missionary, Patrick, who spread the Good News of the Gospel of Christ on the Emerald Isle.

Listen to his story here! Episode 98: The Story of St. Patrick. Also, there is a NEW printable resource available on our Patreon platform for this episode!

Listen to the story of the Irish Potato Famine which caused millions of Irish citizens to immigrate to other nations, including the United States. Episode 130: The Story of the Irish Potato Famine

Fun Fact: The color of St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t always green.  Originally, blue was the color most associated with St. Patrick, and even some old Irish flags featured blue.

 March 17, 1958 – The First American Satellite Broadcast

The Vanguard 1 satellite was launched into space on March 17, 1958, making history as the first solar-powered satellite. It was designed to study Earth’s shape, atmosphere, and orbit. Even though it was only the size of a grapefruit, Vanguard 1 sent important signals back to scientists, helping them learn more about our planet. Unlike modern satellites, Vanguard 1 didn’t take pictures, but it helped prove that Earth is not a perfect sphere, because it’s slightly squished at the poles. 

Fun Fact: Even though Vanguard 1 stopped sending signals in 1964, it’s still orbiting Earth today, making it one of the oldest man-made objects in space.

March 20 – The First U.S. Zoo Opens

Did you know that the very first zoo in the United States was planned in 1859 and opened in Philadelphia in 1874? The Philadelphia Zoo is still around today and is home to over 1,300 animals from all over the world, including lions, giraffes, and even red pandas! When it first opened, visitors had to arrive by boat because there were no bridges nearby.

 Fun Fact: The Philadelphia Zoo created the first-ever zoo nursery to help care for baby animals, making it a pioneer in animal conservation.

1852 – Uncle Tom’s Cabin Changes History 

On March 20, 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a book that helped people understand the terrible reality of slavery in America. The story was so powerful that it inspired many people to fight against slavery, and it became one of the best-selling books of the 19th century. It was even turned into plays so that more people could see its message.

 Listen to the Episode 118: the Story of Harriet Beecher Stowe!

Fun Fact: The book was so famous that it was translated into over 20 languages, spreading its message around the world. When President Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe, he famously said, “So you’re the little lady who started this great war!”

March 22 The First Movie in America 

In 1895, people in America got to see something amazing—the very first motion picture show! Before this, pictures were just still images, but this new invention made them move, creating the magic of movies. This first film was short and simple, but it led to the movie industry we know today, with cartoons, action films, and even 3D movies!

Fun Fact: Early movies didn’t have sound, so live musicians played music while people watched the film!