1 . Upcoming Events in New Jersey

Oktoberfest

Start Date: October 1, 2021

End Date: October 31, 2021

Pilsener Haus & Biergarten will host its annual celebration of OKTOBERFEST, beginning October 1 and will feature events and celebrations throughout the entire month. New menu items, fall cocktails, and special Oktoberfest beers will be served all month long.

Anna Deavere Smith

Date: October 21,2021

Start Time: 11:00 AM

End Time: 12:00 PM

As a part of the Visiting Writers Series, the actress, playwright, teacher, and author, Anna Deavere Smith will join us for a virtual speaking engagement. According to her website, Anna Deavere Smith “looks at contemporary issues from multiple viewpoints and combines the journalistic technique of interviewing her subjects with the art of interpreting their words through performance.” Among the topics she addresses in her presentations are the fragility of youth, inequality, and the criminal justice system.

Trio Solace

Date: October 22, 2021

Start Time: 2:00 PM

End Time: 3:30 PM

Trio Solace was formed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by long-time school friends Yukiko Kuhara (violin), Mark Serkin (cello), and Jacob Savransky (piano) as a way to spread a little bit of comfort by way of music. The trio consists of three graduates from Mannes School of Music, The New School.

Grain House Halloween Brunch

Date: October 31, 2021

Start Time: 11:00 AM

End Time: 3:00 PM

Trick or Treat at the Grain House annual Halloween Brunch and see our horrible decorations! The Grain House Witch will be giving out Halloween candy & souvenirs. Reservations required: 908-221-1150.

2 . If you're British or live in a Commonwealth nation, Christmas doesn't end on December 25.The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day, and the relaxing holiday is a chance to allow the celebration for one more restful day.

But its name has nothing to do with the sport of boxing, and unlike the popular idea, did not appear from a need to return unwanted gifts or clean up trash produced by Christmas gifting.

There are several theories as to how that charitable tradition became known as "boxing".Some historians link the use of the term to boxes of donations that were laid in churches during the pre-Christmas season of Advent in the early days of Christianity during the second and third centuries A.D.The day after Christmas, the boxes were opened and the money was given away to the poor.

Another possible story for Boxing Day has to do with a tradition that formed in 19th century Victorian England, where servants sacrificed（牺牲）time with their own families to cater to their employers on Christmas.On the day after Christmas, employers would give the servants a rare day off and send them home with leftovers from the family's Christmas feast for their service.

Though the reasons are lost to history, Boxing Day charity eventually fell out of tradition---and was replaced with physical and material pleasures.Today, the holiday is linked with sports, with major football rugby, and cricket matches and horse races taking place on December 26.

December 26 is also a big shopping day throughout the UK and the Commonwealth.The holiday kicks off what is known as " Boxing Week" , during which retailers（零售商）try to move old stock and shoppers compete for one last bargain of the year.In recent years, though, the American tradition of Black Friday---massive sales that take place the day after Thanksgiving each November---has become popular in the United Kingdom and has largely overshadowed Boxing Week.