All About Rodeos !

What is a Rodeo?

By Joseph Stutzman

Rodeo is a popular sport in the United States that aims to showcase the skills and speed of the cowboys and cowgirls to participate in the events, which usually involves horses and other livestock. The sport is derived from the working practices of cattle herders in the US, Canada, Australia, and South America.

Today's modern rodeos typically take place in an indoor or outdoor fenced dirt arena that contains bucking chutes and roping chutes at either end. Most rodeo champions receive rewards in the form of prize money along with a rodeo belt buckle, which is one of the most recognized trophies in the world. Other rodeos give out prizes in the form of horse trailers, hand-tooled saddles, and vehicles.

There are many different types of rodeo events. Each event features its own rules, rewards, and styles. Standard events in most rodeos include bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. Bareback riding, saddle bronc, and bull riding care considered roughstock judged events, while steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down roping, and team roping are considered timed events.

<  Bareback Riding

  

Bull Riding  >

  

<   Steer Wrestling

Team Roping  >

  

 <  Tie-down Roping

   (also called calf roping)

 

Barrel Racing  >

Roughstock events are dangerous events that often draw the largest crowds. Competitors compete against one another in these types of events. Each competitor ride is called a go-round. The horses and bulls that are involved in these events are usually brought into the arena only once each day, but some competitors can ride them more than once. Prizes are given out for each go-round and for an overall winner. To score in a roughstock event, the competitor must use only one hand to ride the animal. Scores range from 1 to 25 points for the cowboy and 1 to 25 points for the animal for a maximum possible score of 100 points. In contrast, timed events are scored only by the lowest time.

The rodeo can be a fun spectator event for the whole family to enjoy.

Here are links to some interesting information and videos about rodeos. 

They Call This Thing Rodeo

So you think Barrel Racing is Easy? Think again!

A tip of the hat to the vaqueros

Brazilian Rodeo a Mix of Moos and Music
What is a Rodeo Clown?

For each of the different celebrations, describe the traditions using fire.

For each of the different celebrations, describe three traditions using clothing.

There are many traditions that people follow when celebrating special occasions. From the reading, describe three traditions using money. 

The History of Valentines Day

Every February we celebrate Valentine's Day by giving flowers, candy and cards to those we love. We do this in honor of Saint Valentine. You may be wondering, "Who is St. Valentine"? Time to brush up on your Valentine's history!

Legend has it that Valentine was a priest who served during third century Rome. There was an Emperor at that time by the name of Claudius II. Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married. With this thought in mind he outlawed marriage for young men in hopes of building a stronger military base. Supposedly, Valentine, decided this decree just wasn't fair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out about Valentine's actions he had him put to death.

Another legend has it that Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailer's daughter. Before he was put to death he sent the first "valentine" himself when he wrote her a letter and signed it "Your  Valentine", words still used on cards today.

Perhaps we'll never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but this much is for sure...February has been the month to celebrate love for a long time, dating clear back to the Middle Ages. In fact, Valentines ranks second only to Christmas in number of greeting cards sent.

Another valentine gentleman you may be wondering about is Cupid (Latin cupido, "desire"). In Roman mythology Cupid is the son of Venus, goddess of love. His counterpart in Greek mythology is Eros, god of love. Cupid is often said to be a mischievous boy who goes around wounding both gods and humans with his arrows, causing them to fall in love.

Information courtesy of http://holidays.kaboose.com/valentines-day/history/val-history.html

Punxsutawney Phil and Groundhog Day

 

      Click on Phil's picture to see what he predicted for Spring 2011!

In 1723, the Delaware Indians settled Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania as a campsite halfway between the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers.  The town is 90 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, at the intersection of Route 36 and Route 119.  The Delawares considered groundhogs honorable ancestors.  According to the original creation beliefs of the Delaware Indians, their forebears began life as animals in "Mother Earth" and emerged centuries later to hunt and live as men. 

When German settlers arrived in the 1700s, they brought a tradition known as Candlemas Day, which has an early origin in the pagan celebration of Imbolc.  It came at the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  Superstition held that if the weather was fair, the second half of Winter would be stormy and cold.  For the early Christians in Europe, it was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people in the dark of Winter.  A lighted candle was placed in each window of the home.  The day's weather continued to be important.  If the sun came out February 2, halfway between Winter and Spring, it meant six more weeks of wintry weather.

The earliest American reference to Groundhog Day can be found at the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at Franklin and Marshall College:

February 4, 1841 - from Morgantown, Berks County (Pennsylvania) storekeeper James Morris' diary..."Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." 

The groundhog, also known as a woodchuck (Marmota monax), is a member of the squirrel family.  Groundhogs in the wild eat succulent green plants, such as dandelion, clover, and grasses. 

According to handlers John Griffiths and Ben Hughes, Phil weighs 15 pounds and thrives on dog food and ice cream in his climate-controlled home at the Punxsutawney Library. 

Up on Gobbler's Knob, Phil is placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump on stage before being pulled out at 7:25 a.m. to make his prediction.