Pennsylvania State Data Center

From the 92nd annual Veterans Day parade in downtown Pittsburgh to the events at the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media, communities across the commonwealth spare no effort to honor former servicemen and women on Veterans Day. Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Seven years later, Congress passed a resolution calling for an annual observance, and ultimately November 11th became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to thank and honor all those who served in the United States Armed Forces.

Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14th celebrating love and affection. One legend contends that Valentine’s Day originated to commemorate the anniversary of the death of St. Valentine, a Roman clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in defiance of the emperor. According to another, the holiday began as a Roman fertility festival. Regardless of its origins, Valentine’s Day provides a terrific opportunity to express affection for that special someone.

Thanksgiving Day is rooted in the tradition of the many harvest festivals celebrated throughout history. In the United States, Thanksgiving is popularly traced to a 1621 feast shared by English Pilgrims, who founded the Plymouth Colony, and members of the Wampanoag Native American tribe. The celebration gained greater prominence when President Abraham Lincoln, longing to unite the county during the Civil War, proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to be held in November 1863. In 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt declared that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the next to last Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping. Two years later, Congress established an official federal holiday to be celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.

Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day on November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Seven years later, Congress passed a resolution calling for an annual observance, and ultimately Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to thank and honor all those who served in the United States Armed Forces. This national day of respect and remembrance is marked by parades and commemorations across the country, including the notable Veterans Day National Ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery.

The occurrence of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals performed thousands of years ago, has long been associated with thoughts of witches, ghosts, devils, and other creatures of the night. In the United States, the first recorded instance of Halloween festivities occurred in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921. However, Allentown, Pennsylvania’s annual Halloween parade, rumored to be the nation’s first, dates to 1905. While the customs and rituals associated with All-Hallows Eve have changed dramatically over the years, Halloween has grown to one of the most popular and widely celebrated holidays in the United States.

Columbus Day (October 11, 2010) honors Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, whose three fabled ships commissioned by Queen Isabella of Spain landed on American shores in 1492. The momentous voyage, celebrated since colonial times as the birth of a New World, became an official federal holiday in 1934. The observance of Columbus Day offers an opportunity to celebrate the immigration of settlers to America. The mass immigration of people from all over the world has helped the United States of America become one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world.

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress, setting the 13 colonies on the road to freedom as a sovereign nation. As always, this most American of holidays will be commemorated by Pennsylvania and the rest of the country with parades, fireworks and backyard barbecues.

The holiday season is a time for celebration, gift-giving and family. From the Christmas shopping bonanza that fills the coffers of Pennsylvania malls and retail outlets to other wintertime celebrations like Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, Pennsylvania’s economy sees a boost of activity in the holiday season.

What many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving took place in December 1621 when the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The day did not become a national holiday until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

The holiday season is a time for celebration, gift-giving and family. From the Christmas shopping bonanza that fills the coffers of Pennsylvania malls and retail outlets to other wintertime celebrations like Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, Pennsylvania’s economy sees a boost of activity in the holiday season.

The observance of Halloween, which dates back to Celtic rituals thousands of years ago, has long been associated with thoughts of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. In the United States, the first recorded instance of a Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921, but Allentown, Pennsylvania claims one of the nation’s oldest Halloween parades, dating to 1905. Over the years, the customs and rituals associated with All-Hallows Eve have changed dramatically, and Halloween has become the darling of American holidays. This one-night event is “out-earned” only by Christmas and “out-partied” only by New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.

Grab your shillelagh and put on some green, because it’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, a freewheeling celebration of Irish culture and heritage, including the more than 2.1 million Pennsylvanians who claim Irish ancestry.

Nearly every Christmas shopper will have a young boy or girl on his or her list this holiday season, and while a new sweater or coat may be practical, most children are looking forward to unwrapping that special toy. In celebration of the holiday season, the Pennsylvania State Data Center follows the statistical journey of a Pennsylvania toy from the manufacturer to Christmas gift.

This Veterans Day, Pennsylvanians won’t have to look far to find a former serviceman to honor. As of 2000, more than 1.2 million Pennsylvanians (13.7 percent of the adult population) had served in the armed forces. The Commonwealth ranked behind just four other states (California, Florida, Texas, and New York) in the number of resident civilian veterans. An additional 7,595 Pennsylvanians were active duty military in 2000.

The holiday season, with its many traditions, family gatherings, and good feelings, is almost here. In celebration of the season, the Pennsylvania State Data Center presents the following holiday facts and figures.

What many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving took place in December 1621 when the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. The day did not become a national holiday until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.

The observance of Halloween, which dates from the Dark Ages, has long been associated with thoughts of witches, ghosts, devils and hobgoblins. In the United States, the first recorded instance of a Halloween celebration occurred in Anoka, Minnesota in 1921, but Allentown, Pennsylvania claims one of the nation’s longest running Halloween parades, dating to 1905. Over the years, the customs and rituals associated with Halloween have changed dramatically. Today, many of the young and “young-at-heart” take a more light-hearted approach — donning a scary disguise or one that may bring on smiles when they go door-to-door for treats or attend or host a Halloween party.

Although not an “official” holiday in the United States, St. Patrick’s Day has a long history of being celebrated with parades and general goodwill for all things Irish. There are many parades scheduled throughout the state, including one in Harrisburg on Saturday, March 19 at 2:00 p.m.

One legend has it that Valentine’s Day originated to commemorate the anniversary of the death of St. Valentine, a Roman clergyman who was executed on Feb.14, about 270 A.D., for secretly marrying couples in defiance of the emperor. According to another, the holiday began as a Roman fertility festival. Americans probably began exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther Howland (1828-1904), a native of Massachusetts, began to sell the nation’s first mass-produced valentines.

The Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg reports that the 2004 statewide rifle-hunting season for antlered and antlerless deer will take place from November 29th through December 11th.

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift? If you’re looking to buy a gift, novelty or souvenir for that special someone, then you’re in luck. According to the 1997 Economic Census, there were 37,285 such establishments, with sales of $14.5 billion and 208,371 paid employees.

With less than a week remaining until Christmas, Pennsylvania businesses have risen to the challenge of filling the purchasing needs of shoppers throughout the state. The Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg reports that according to the 1997 Economic Census, there were 50,208 retail trade establishments in Pennsylvania in 1997 with over 650,000 paid employees. Retail trade establishments generated nearly $110 billion in sales in Pennsylvania in 1997.

The Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg reports that the 2002 statewide rifle-hunting season for antlered and antlerless deer will take place from December 2nd through December 14th.

Veterans’ Day will be observed this November 11, 2002. The Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg reports that, according to the 2000 Census, 1,280,788 individuals were veterans of the armed forces in Pennsylvania. Summary File 3, socio-economic data recently released by the Census Bureau, indicates that 13.7 percent of the over 9.3 million people in Pennsylvania 18 years or older were veterans of the armed forces.

America loves books, periodicals and greeting cards. According to the 1997 Economic Census, there were over 97,000 such establishments, with sales of over $70 billion and over three quarters of a million employees.

Marriage & Divorce: With February 14th fast approaching, the Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn State Harrisburg reports that marriages and divorces are down but candy and flower sales are flourishing, This is according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, marriage and divorce rates and the 1997 Economic Census.

The holiday season is here and businesses in Pennsylvania are ready for the shopping rush.