Colors, beaches, and chess on the holiday list

This week’s National holiday forecast holds a great deal of variety. Aside from the prominent Labor Day festivities that lie ahead, there are also a few other surprises in the mix as well.

Friday, Aug. 30 will be a day for students and alumni to show their school spirit with National College Colors Day. According to www.nationaltoday.com, this bright and festive celebration coincides with “back to school” and the kick-off of intercollegiate sports. College Colors Day gets fans in that exciting, crazy-about-sports, college mindset. Rallying behind a team creates a cohesive environment where one can feel accepted and included among a larger population. It elicits positivity and keeps us connected for a common cause with a “we’re all in this together” mentality. College colors, especially on game day, are symbols of traditions, history, rivalry, joy, fun, and even bitterness. There’s something great and powerful in participating in something bigger than oneself.

Friday will also hold National Beach Day. The holiday began in 2014 to pay homage to the beauty of the beach while also calling attention to keeping them clean and safe. Colleen Paige, a Southern California native, started National Beach Day as a tribute to the place where she spent many days growing up. She also wanted to find a way to encourage visitors to act responsibly and ensure that they aren’t harming the wildlife and animals who call the water their home. The celebration also incorporates the leave no trace philosophy. By simply cleaning up, the risk of animals getting trapped or tangled in loose trash is made smaller. National Beach Day is celebrated by attending organized beach cleanup events and hosting beach-themed parties.   

Finally, National Chess Day will take center stage on Sunday, Sept. 1. A game of strategy and skill, chess is played all over the world over by young and old alike. The rules of the game require two opponents to face off. The opponents each use pieces known as kings, queens, rooks, knights, bishops and pawns.  Players move their pieces along a 64-square board. Game times can vary — great players can knock out their opponents very quickly or can spend hours strategizing their every move. To win, a player must use his pieces to capture those of the other player, with the ultimate goal of taking over the other player’s king. Chess is often called “The Game of Kings.” The game can be played the old-fashioned way in person, or by computer with opponents from across the world. The festivities of National Chess Day include hosting chess tournaments, paying a visit to New York City’s Chess District and teaching the game to new players.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate. Go and do so!