Black History Month originated in the US but has spread to Canada, Ireland, and the UK. In 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week." Primary emphasis was placed on teaching the history of Black Americans in public schools. Churches played a significant role in the distribution of literature, with the press aiding in the publicity effort. Through the 1930s, Negro History Week countered the myth of the South's "lost cause," which argued that slaves had been well-treated, that the Civil War was a war of "northern aggression," and that Black people had been better off under slavery. Black History Month was first proposed by Black educators and students at Kent State in February 1969. 7 years later, it was being celebrated across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers.

Super Bowl Sunday is the day the NFL's annual championship game is played. NFL executives have called for a 3-day weekend to allow fans to celebrate, and there's thought to be a loss of productivity the Monday after. The TV network carrying the game will usually devote the entire day's programming to the game, with extended pregame shows, NFL Films retrospectives, and special talk shows in the hours leading into the game. The event is the second-largest food consumption event in the US, behind only Thanksgiving, and some police departments have noticed a dramatic increase in drunk driving. Roughly 28 million pounds of chips, 1.25 billion chicken wings, and 8 million pounds of guacamole are consumed.

(via Wikipedia)

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