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Bright Nights (Springfield)
Bright Nights is an annual holiday lights display held in Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts. The event is run collaboratively between Springfield's Department of Parks, Buildings & Recreation Management and local nonprofit Spirit of Springfield. The event usually runs from Thanksgiving week until January 1 or 2, contributing to significant vehicular congestion throughout the Forest Park neighborhood. History Development In February 1995 Patrick Sullivan, the Springfield Parks Director, found a brochure from a North Carolina company which created light displays. Sullivan, who was also inspired by simple holiday displays he had seen at Forest Park during his childhood, decided he wanted a series of light displays for the park. That spring, Sullivan and Judith Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield, worked with designer John Catenaci to design the displays. The displays were initially invested in by Peter Picknelly, the chairman of Peter Pan Bus Lines at the time. Co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Forest Park (Springfield, Massachusetts)
Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts, is one of the largest urban, municipal parks in the United States, covering of land overlooking the Connecticut River. Forest Park features a zoo, aquatic gardens, and outdoor amphitheater, in addition to design elements like winding wooded trails, and surprising, expansive views. The site of America's first public, municipal swimming pool, currently, during the holiday months Forest Park hosts a popular high-tech lighting display, known as '' Bright Nights''. Contrary to popular belief, the park was not designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, although it was designed by his firm. History In 1884, Springfielder Orick H. Greenleaf offered for the establishment of a park to be named Forest Park. Shortly after, approximately were donated by wealthy philanthropist Everett Hosmer Barney. Barney made his fortune as a Civil War arms producer and later as a businessman, inventing clamp-on ice skates and rollerskates. In 1890 Barney built an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates. The lion is an apex predator, apex and keystone predator. The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is usually more diurnality, diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active nocturnality, at night and crepuscular, at twilight. During the Neolithic period, the lion ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia, from Southeast Europe to India, but it has been reduced to fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of reptiles of the clade Dinosauria. They first appeared during the Triassic Geological period, period, between 243 and 233.23 million years ago (mya), although the exact origin and timing of the #Evolutionary history, evolution of dinosaurs is a subject of active research. They became the dominant terrestrial vertebrates after the Triassic–Jurassic extinction event 201.3 mya and their dominance continued throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The fossil record shows that birds are feathered dinosaurs, Evolution of birds, having evolved from earlier Theropoda, theropods during the Late Jurassic epoch, and are the only dinosaur lineage known to have survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event approximately 66 mya. Dinosaurs can therefore be divided into avian dinosaurs—birds—and the extinct non-avian dinosaurs, which are all dinosaurs other than birds. Dinosaurs are varied from taxonomy (biology), taxonomic, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Angel
An angel is a spiritual (without a physical body), heavenly, or supernatural being, usually humanoid with bird-like wings, often depicted as a messenger or intermediary between God (the transcendent) and humanity (the profane) in various traditions like the Abrahamic religions. Other roles include protectors and guides for humans, such as guardian angels and servants of God. In Western belief-systems the term is often used to distinguish benevolent from malevolent intermediary beings. Emphasizing the distance between God and mankind, revelation-based belief-systems require angels to bridge the gap between the earthly and the transcendent realm. Angels play a lesser role in monistic belief-systems, since the gap is non-existent. However, angelic beings might be conceived as aid to achieve a proper relationship with the divine. Abrahamic religions describe angelic hierarchies, which vary by religion and sect. Some angels have specific names (such as Gabriel or Mich ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Santa Claus
Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Christmas Eve. Christmas elves are said to make the gifts in Santa's workshop, while flying reindeer pull his sleigh through the air. The popular conception of Santa Claus originates from folklore traditions surrounding the 4th-century Christian bishop Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children. Saint Nicholas became renowned for his reported generosity and secret gift-giving. The image of Santa Claus shares similarities with the English figure of Father Christmas, and they are both now popularly regarded as the same person. Santa is generally depicted as a portly, jolly, white- bearded man, often with spectacles, wearing a red coat with white fur collar and cuffs, white-fur-cuffed red trousers, a red hat trimmed with white fur, a b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Pan
Peter Pan is a fictional character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie. A free-spirited and mischievous young boy who can fly and never grows up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys, interacting with fairies, pirates, mermaids, Native Americans, and occasionally ordinary children from the world outside Neverland. Peter Pan has become a cultural icon symbolizing youthful innocence and escapism. In addition to two distinct works by Barrie, '' The Little White Bird'' (1902, with chapters 13–18 published in '' Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens'' in 1906), and the West End stage play '' Peter Pan; or, the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up'' (1904, which expanded into the 1911 novel '' Peter and Wendy''), the character has been featured in a variety of media and merchandise, both adapting and expanding on Barrie's works. These include several films, television series and many ot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hanukkah Menorah
A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah, is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. Eight of the nine branches hold lights (candles or oil lamps) that symbolize the eight nights of the holiday; on each night, one more light is lit than the previous night, until on the final night all eight branches are ignited. The ninth branch holds a candle, called the ''shamash'' ("helper" or "servant"), which is used to light the other eight. The Hanukkah menorah commemorates, but is distinct from, the seven-branched menorah used in the ancient Temple in Jerusalem. Along with the seven-branched menorah and the Star of David, it is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish ceremonial art. Construction The shamash must be offset on a higher or lower plane than the main eight candles or oil lamps, but there are differing opinions as to whether all the lights must be arranged in a straight line, or if the hanukkiah can be arranged in a curve. Public ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kinara
The kinara is a seven-branched candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. History Shortly before the first celebration in 1966, Maulana Karenga searched for a candle holder with seven holes in which he and the other US Organization US Organization, or Organization Us, is a Black nationalist group in the United States founded in 1965. It was established as a community organization by Hakim Jamal together with Maulana Karenga. It was a rival to the Black Panther Party in C ... members could use to celebrate the first Kwanzaa. However, absent the presence of a handcrafted kinara, two holders were broken from a Hanukkah menorah which was then used to hold the seven candles. The following year, US Organization member Buddy Rose-Aminifu crafted the first kinara. Early photographs of the first kinara show that it was of rudimentary design, being a wooden log with holes drilled into it to support the candles. Description During the week-long celebr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nativity Of Jesus
The Nativity or birth of Jesus Christ is found in the biblical gospels of Gospel of Matthew, Matthew and Gospel of Luke, Luke. The two accounts agree that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Palestine, in Herodian kingdom, Roman-controlled Judea, that Mary, mother of Jesus, his mother, Mary, was engaged to a man named Saint Joseph, Joseph, who was Davidic line, descended from King David and was not his biological father, and that his birth was Virgin birth of Jesus, caused by divine intervention. The majority of contemporary scholars do not see the two canonical gospel Nativity of Jesus, Nativity stories as historically factualMarcus Borg, 'The Meaning of the Birth Stories' in Marcus Borg, N T Wright, ''The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions'' (Harper One, 2007) page 179: "I (and most mainline scholars) do not see these stories as historically factual." since they present clashing accounts and irreconcilable Genealogy of Jesus, genealogies. The secular history of the time does not synchron ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Big Y
Big Y Foods, Inc. (or Big Y) is an American, family-owned supermarket chain located in Massachusetts and Connecticut. It operates under the trade names Big Y World Class Market or Big Y Supermarket. The company is headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, and is currently run by cousins Charles and Michael D'Amour. Big Y is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, and it employs over 12,000 people. In 2021 Big Y was the 210th-largest private company in the United States, according to that year's ''Forbes'' magazine "Largest Private Companies" list. Big Y is the fifth largest supermarket chain in New England after Quincy-based Stop & Shop, Scarborough-based Hannaford, West Bridgewater–based Shaw's Supermarkets, and Tewksbury-based Market Basket. Big Y is the second largest in Southern New England after the aforementioned Stop & Shop. History In 1936, a young entrepreneur, Paul D'Amour, aided by his brother, Gerald, and sisters, Ann Mari ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flag Of The United States
The national flag of the United States, often referred to as the American flag or the U.S. flag, consists of thirteen horizontal Bar (heraldry), stripes, Variation of the field, alternating red and white, with a blue rectangle in the Canton (flag), canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows, where rows of six stars alternate with rows of five stars. The 50 stars on the flag represent the 50 U.S. states, and the 13 stripes represent the Thirteen Colonies, thirteen British colonies that won independence from Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War. The flag was created as an item of military equipment to identify US ships and forts. It evolved gradually during early American history, and was not designed by any one person. The flag exploded in popularity in 1861 as a symbol of opposition to the Confederate States of America, Confederate Battle of Fort Sumter, attack on Fort Sumter. It came to sy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Governor Of Massachusetts
The governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the head of government of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The governor is the chief executive, head of the state cabinet and the commander-in-chief of the commonwealth's Massachusetts National Guard, military forces. Massachusetts has a Republicanism, republican system of government that is akin to a presidential system. The governor acts as the head of government while having a distinct role from that of the Massachusetts General Court, legislative branch. The governor has far-reaching political obligations, including ceremonial and political duties. The governor also signs bills into law and has Veto, veto power. The governor is a member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council, a popularly elected council with eight members who provide advice and consent on certain legal matters and appointments. Beginning with the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Massachusetts Bay Company in 1629, the role of the gove ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
