Clusters of redbud blossoms cover the tree’s branches in the early spring, before the leaves begin to unfold.
Credit: © Thinkstock

Spring has sprung! Today, Monday, March 20th, is the vernal equinox. The equinox is the official marker of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. The equinox occurs when the sun is directly above Earth’s equator. When the sun is in this position, all places on Earth receive approximately 12 hours of sunlight. The term equinox comes from a Latin word meaning equal night.

Many people in the United States are welcoming spring with piles of snow outside their front door! Unseasonal and abnormal storms have hit California and the northeast United States. Heavy rain, snow, hail, and even tornadoes have hit California in the last two months. The flooding has broken levees in some communities in northern California, raising fears of even more damage. A nor’easter hit New England on Tuesday, March 14th, after an unusually quiet winter, dropping nearly 28 inches (71 centimeters) of snow in Vermont and Massachusetts. A nor’easter is a powerful storm coming from winds going northeast that produces a lot of precipitation. Many people throughout the United States are keeping their snow shovels, boots, and parkas out for a few more weeks!

A snowstorm in the Boston area left two feet of snow. Credit: AP Photo

The equinoxes occur on March 19, 20, or 21 and on September 22 or 23. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the start of spring and is often called the vernal equinox. The position of the vernal equinox is called the first point of Aries. The word vernal means of spring. The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn and is called the autumnal equinox. The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

The time interval from the March equinox to the September equinox is longer than that between the September equinox and the next March equinox by several days. This time difference results from the earth’s elliptical (oval-shaped) orbit around the sun. The earth moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the sun. The distance between the earth and the sun is shortest in January. Therefore, the earth completes the semicircle from the September equinox to the March equinox faster than it does the opposite semicircle.

The equinoxes are the two moments of the year when the sun is directly above the equator. As Earth moves in its orbit around the sun, the position of the sun changes in relation to the equator, as shown by the dotted lines in this diagram. The sun appears north of the equator between the March equinox and the September equinox. It is south of the equator between the September equinox and the next March equinox. Credit: WORLD BOOK diagram

Historically, the year began with spring in many cultures. Evidence of this practice in ancient Rome remains part of the modern calendar. Counting March instead of January as the first month of the year, we find that September, October, November, and December are the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months. The prefixes sept-, oct-, nov-, and dec- come from the Latin words for 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Spring looks different around the world. The Northern Hemisphere has spring weather from late March through May. In the Southern Hemisphere, spring weather begins in September and lasts through November. The number of daylight hours increases during spring, particularly in the polar regions, and the temperature rises. Nature awakens in spring. Flowers bloom, and hibernating animals leave their winter sleeping places. Many cultures have festivals that celebrate the arrival of spring. Find your own way to celebrate spring this year. Spring is a new beginning, enjoy the flowers, longer days, and warmer weather!

Waffles are often served for breakfast with syrup and fruit.
Credit: © olga’s captured moments/Shutterstock

Popular mouth-watering breakfast foods include doughnuts, french toast, pancakes, and sugary cereals. Typical savory breakfast items may include bacon and sausage, biscuits and gravy, eggs in any form, and hash browns or other potatoes. Few items can cross the divide of sweet and savory as well as the waffle.

The waffle is a crisp batter cake made from flour, eggs, and sugar. A waffle is made by baking batter in a grooved and heated press until it crisps. The press is a hinged appliance called a waffle iron that typically makes a gridlike pattern on the cakes. The waffle iron can be designed to produce a variety of shapes. People enjoy waffles for their golden color, crisp exterior, fluffy texture, and sweet taste.

In the United States, waffles are usually served with butter, syrup, and perhaps fruit for breakfast. They are also served in such savory dishes as the popular American combination of chicken and waffles. Waffles are also served in dessert dishes, commonly with ice cream.

Waffles can be traced back to the 1200’s in Europe. Dutch and German people brought waffle irons when they immigrated to the United States. In the 1700’s, many wealthy American families owned waffle irons and made waffles for special occasions. In the mid-1800′s, waffles became a staple of hotel menus for breakfast along with options topped with meat and gravy for dinner. The electric waffle iron was introduced in the early 1900’s and became a popular wedding gift.

Most waffles consist of flour, baking powder, eggs, milk, sugar, and butter or vegetable oil. The batter may be mixed with such sweeteners as honey, brown sugar, and chocolate chips, as well as such other ingredients as bacon, oats, nuts, and fruit. Toppings for breakfast waffles include butter, fruit, honey, jam, powdered sugar, maple syrup, and whipped cream.

In Hong Kong, egg waffles or bubble waffles are often served as a cone with ice cream.
Credit: © baibaz/Shutterstock

Many countries have different popular versions of the waffle. Perhaps the best-known is the Belgian waffle. The batter is baked in a hot iron grid to create a large, fluffy waffle. In Hong Kong, the egg waffle or bubble waffle is a popular dessert. It often is used as a cone to hold ice cream. In the Netherlands, the Liege waffle is made with sugar and paired with coffee. Also in the Netherlands, the Dutch stroopwafel is two thin cookie-like wafers with caramel sandwiched between.

A waffle is a type of quick bread. Other quick breads include corn bread, doughnuts, muffins, and pancakes. Most quick bread is baked at home or in local bakeries and supermarkets. Waffles are very similar to pancakes. Many types of waffles are sold in grocery stores and restaurants and made at home. At home, waffles may take about 20 minutes to prepare and about 5 minutes to cook. Ready-to-eat frozen waffles require only heating in the toaster or microwave. Eggo Food Products Inc. introduced frozen waffles in the 1950’s. At the time, freezers and frozen foods were gaining popularity in American households and grocery stores. Frozen waffles offered ready-made convenience for parents and kids. The product could be placed directly in the toaster for a few minutes.

Gluten-free and vegan waffles can be made with substitutes for butter, eggs, flour, and milk. Boxed mixes are sold in grocery stores ready to mix with just water or very few ingredients. Today, manufacturers fortify many ready-to-eat waffles with extra nutrients. Such waffles can include high-fiber and whole-grain varieties. Breakfast waffles consist largely of energy-producing carbohydrates and may contain added protein, depending on the ingredients.

Cinco de Mayo, a holiday celebrated by Mexicans and Mexican Americans, commemorates the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Its name is Spanish for Fifth of May. These performers in Mexico City celebrate the holiday with a re-enactment of the battle. Credit: © Jorge Uzon, AFP/Getty Images

Today, May 5, is Cinco de Mayo, a holiday celebrated in Mexico and in many communities throughout the United States. Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for Fifth of May. Many people know that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of a Mexican army over a French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. But few people know much about the battle itself, which took place near Puebla, a city in central Mexico, during a French invasion of Mexico. Mexican forces won the Battle of Puebla, but their victory did not stop the French from taking control of Mexico. A French-supported government led by Emperor Maximilian ruled Mexico from 1864 until 1867, when Maximilian was killed and the Mexican republic was restored.

A statue of former Mexican President Benito Juárez stands in Pachuca, the capital of the state of Hidalgo, in central Mexico. The hills of Pachuca contain deposits of valuable metals such as gold and silver. Credit: © AA World Travel Library/Alamy Images

In April 1862, a force of some 6,000 French troops marched inland from the port city of Veracruz, intending to take Mexico City, the nation’s capital. Puebla lay along the route to the capital, and Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza assembled about 4,800 troops nearby to stop the French advance. On April 28, the French won an initial battle at Acultzingo Pass leading to Puebla. Zaragoza then withdrew to Puebla, which was protected by fortifications on two large hills—Guadalupe and Loreto—and other defenses.

On May 5, 1862, French artillery began bombarding Puebla’s defenses, and an infantry assault soon followed. The French attack failed under the concentrated fire from Puebla’s defenders. A second attack also failed, but the French refused to quit and launched a third attack. It too failed. Suffering heavy casualties (people killed and wounded), the French called off the assault. Mexican cavalry then attacked the French as they attempted to withdraw, inflicting still more casualties. With the battle lost, the French eventually retreated to Orizaba, a city midway between Puebla and Veracruz.

The French suffered nearly 500 casualties at Puebla, including more than 100 killed in action. Mexican losses were about 85 dead and more than 100 wounded. Despite the defeat, the French recovered quickly. After receiving about 30,000 reinforcements the following autumn, the French renewed their march toward Mexico City. The French won the second Battle of Puebla in May 1863 and then pushed on to take Mexico City. Mexican President Benito Juárez was forced into hiding, and the French installed Archduke Maximilian of Austria as emperor of Mexico in 1864.

Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph served as emperor of Mexico from 1864 to 1867. His reign helped lead to the modernization of Mexico. Credit: © Andrew Burgess, Library of Congress

After the bloody American Civil War ended in the spring of 1865, the United States threatened to intervene to remove the French from Mexico. The French then began withdrawing their forces in 1866. At the same time, a resistance movement led by Juárez increased attacks on the French and Mexican troops loyal to Maximilian.

In February 1867, Maximilian and his army withdrew north of Mexico City to the city of Querétaro, where Mexican rebels soon besieged them. In May, Maximilian was betrayed by one of his officers and captured by rebel troops. The emperor—who had ordered all Juárez supporters caught bearing arms to be shot—was himself executed by firing squad on June 19, 1867. The Mexican republic was then restored, and Juárez again became president.

Tulips are colorful garden flowers that bloom in the spring. Tulip leaves and the flower stem grow directly out of a bulb.
Credit: Derek Fell

Spring has sprung! Sunday, March 20th, was the vernal equinox, the official marker of the spring season in the Northern Hemisphere. The equinox occurs when the sun is directly above Earth’s equator. When the sun is in this position, all places on Earth receive approximately 12 hours of sunlight. The term equinox comes from a Latin word meaning equal night.

The equinoxes occur on March 19, 20, or 21 and on September 22 or 23. In the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox marks the start of spring and is often called the vernal equinox. The position of the vernal equinox is called the first point of Aries. The word vernal means of spring. The September equinox marks the beginning of autumn and is called the autumnal equinox. The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere.

The equinoxes are the two moments of the year when the sun is directly above the equator. As Earth moves in its orbit around the sun, the position of the sun changes in relation to the equator, as shown by the dotted lines in this diagram. The sun appears north of the equator between the March equinox and the September equinox. It is south of the equator between the September equinox and the next March equinox.

The time interval from the March equinox to the September equinox is longer than that between the September equinox and the next March equinox by several days. This time difference results from the earth’s elliptical (oval-shaped) orbit around the sun. The earth moves faster in its orbit when it is closer to the sun. The distance between the earth and the sun is shortest in January. Therefore, the earth completes the semicircle from the September equinox to the March equinox faster than it does the opposite semicircle.

Historically, the year began with spring in many cultures. Evidence of this practice in ancient Rome remains part of the modern calendar. Counting March instead of January as the first month of the year, we find that September, October, November, and December are the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months. The prefixes sept-, oct-, nov-, and dec- come from the Latin words for 7, 8, 9, and 10.

Spring looks different around the world. The Northern Hemisphere has spring weather from late March through May. In the Southern Hemisphere, spring weather begins in September and lasts through November. The number of daylight hours increases during spring, particularly in the polar regions, and the temperature rises. Nature awakens in spring. Flowers bloom, and hibernating animals leave their winter sleeping places. Many cultures have festivals that celebrate the arrival of spring. Find your own way to celebrate spring this year. Spring is a new beginning, enjoy the flowers, longer days, and warmer weather!

A St. Patrick’s Day parade marches up Fifth Avenue in New York City. Celebrated on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Credit: © Rafael Macia, Photo Researchers

Luck, chance, and good fortune are all terms for a charmed life. On Saint Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, you might hear a common phrase proclaiming the “luck of the Irish.” Surprisingly, the favorable phrase came from Americans looking for a gold rush in the 1800’s. Many participants in the California gold rush who gained riches were Irish miners from the United States and Ireland. The phrase has gone from derogatory, referencing ‘dumb luck,’ to positive over the decades.

Many people turn to folklore for explanation of the countrymen’s luck. Finding a mythical leprechaun or the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow would be lucky for anyone. A leprechaun, << LEHP ruh kawn, >> is a solitary fairy of Irish folklore typically depicted as a cheerful, elderly man.

According to tradition, a person who captures a leprechaun can force him to give up his treasure. This engraving shows a woman sneaking up to capture a leprechaun as he repairs a shoe by a tree.
Credit: (c. 1800-50) engraving by George Cruikshank, Bibliotheque des Arts Decoratifs (Bridgeman Art Library)

According to folklore, leprechauns are clever and greedy. They keep a pot of gold hidden at the end of a rainbow. A person who captures a leprechaun can force the leprechaun to give up his treasure. But a leprechaun usually tricks his captor into looking away and thus escapes. A leprechaun may also grant a person three wishes in exchange for the gold. The leprechaun then tricks the person into wasting the wishes.

Leprechauns often perform good deeds or produce goods for people. In many folk tales, they are cobblers who make and repair shoes. An object made by a leprechaun is thought to bring good luck to anyone who possesses it.

Common good luck charms include a horseshoe, a four-leaf clover, a sprig of heather, and a rabbit‘s foot. Charms are objects thought to have magical power that can be transmitted to those who carry them. They are used to attract good luck and to ward off evil. A four-leaf clover is similar to a shamrock, or three-leaf clover, common in Ireland. Only about 1 in 5,000 clovers have four leaves, so finding a four-leaf clover is a sign of good luck. According to legend, Saint Patrick used a shamrock to explain the idea of the Trinity to the Irish.

In Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a religious holiday. It also is celebrated outside of Ireland in cities with a large number of people of Irish descent. In the United States, St. Patrick’s Day is primarily a secular (nonreligious) holiday.

March 17th is the feast day of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Saint Patrick was a missionary to Ireland in the A.D. 400′s. He converted the Irish to Christianity. People honor Saint Patrick by attending special religious services. They also enjoy family and community gatherings. They celebrate by wearing shamrocks. In the United States, many people wear green clothing. They also hold parties and march in parades. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in what is now the United States was held in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. Today, more than 100 U.S. cities hold parades. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City, New York, is the largest.

Cutting a tree for the home is an important Christmas tradition in many families. This photograph shows an Austrian family carrying a freshly cut Christmas tree through a snow-covered forest.
© Hans Huber, Westend61/Alamy Images

The Christmas season is here! Christmas is a special holiday for many people around the world. Christmas is a Christian feast day that commemorates the Nativity. The Nativity is the birth of Jesus Christ. A feast is a time of celebration. The Nativity feast originated in ancient times and evolved over many years. Most Christians observe Christmas on December 25, but the exact date of Jesus’s birth is unknown. The modern English word Christmas that is used today came from the early English term Cristes maesse, meaning Mass of Christ. Both religious and nonreligious traditions developed around the feast.

Christmas traditions vary throughout the world. People in different places share some Christmas customs. For example, many people attend church services, exchange gifts, put up decorations, and share a special meal. Some customs are unique to a particular group or region. In many countries, Santa Claus brings presents to children during the Christmas season. Children look forward to receiving gifts from Santa Claus on the night of Dec. 24. They also may hang up stockings for Santa to fill with small treats. Today, friends and relatives give one another gifts at Christmastime.

A festive Christmas market in Ettal, Germany, offers a variety of Christmas decorations and gifts. Germany is known for such markets, which fill town squares with temporary booths and shops during the holiday season.
© iStock Editorial/Thinkstock

In the United States and Canada, people decorate their homes with Christmas trees, evergreen wreaths, and Nativity scenes. They place presents for one another under the tree. City streets sparkle with outdoor lights and other decorations. Many people send greeting cards to relatives and friends who live far away. In some places, groups of carolers walk from house to house singing Christmas songs. Charity also has become an important part of the Christmas season. Many people feel a desire to share their good fortune with those who cannot afford Christmas gifts or a large holiday meal. Churches, schools, and businesses organize food and gift drives.

Many people watch shows and movies about Christmas. The Nutcracker ballet, first performed in Russia in 1892, remains a tradition during the Christmas season. Many people have favorite Christmas movies to watch with friends and family such as It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Miracle on 34th Street (1947), A Christmas Story (1983), and Home Alone (1990).

In many places, efforts are being made to prevent the spread of the pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 again this Christmas. Christmas might feel different if you are staying home to stay healthy, but there are many ways to celebrate. You can mail or email someone a Christmas greeting card, or watch a famous Christmas movie! However you choose to celebrate, we hope you have a safe and joyful Christmas!

Winter is the coldest season of the year. The Northern Hemisphere, the northern half of Earth, has winter weather from December to early March. Winter storms produce large snowfalls in some areas, shown here. In the Southern Hemisphere, winter weather begins in late June and lasts until early September.
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Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 is the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere. On the winter solstice, the sun is at its most southerly position. It marks the day in the year with the least amount of sunlight and the beginning of winter. After the winter solstice, days begin growing longer and nights shorter approaching spring. The winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere happens in June because the seasons are reversed. December 21 in the Southern Hemisphere is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

During the winter solstice, the sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn is an imaginary line that traces the southern boundary of the earth’s Tropical Zone. It marks the farthest limit south of the equator where the sun can appear directly overhead. The change results from the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation. The winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere happens on December 21 or 22.

Earth spins around its axis once every 24 hours. This motion creates day and night. Earth also travels around the sun once every 365 days. This motion creates the year. The entire solar system revolves around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.

On the winter solstice which occurs in December in the Northern Hemisphere and June in the Southern Hemisphere, people celebrate the rebirth of the sun and the beginning of winter. For a long time, cultures around the world have celebrated holidays and feasted around the winter solstice. Most of the celebrations feature light since it occurs on the darkest day of the year.

Stonehenge may have been a place where people celebrated the winter solstice. Stonehenge is an ancient ruin in southwestern England. It consists of huge, rough-cut stones set in a circle. The stones are aligned toward the winter solstice sunset. There is archeological evidence the people who lived there held a large feast on the winter solstice.

Ancient Roman holidays were planned around the winter solstice. People have also celebrated specific holidays on the winter solstice in China, Iran, Japan, and Scandinavia. The Incas and some Native American tribes celebrated the winter solstice by fasting, dancing, and then feasting.

Credit: © FooTToo, Shutterstock

When thinking of the Christmas holiday, many think of Saint Nicholas. Did you know he had a beastlike companion who disciplines naughty children? The Krampus is a figure in the Christmas folklore of the central European nation of Austria. Krampus didn’t dole out coal, it often threatened ‘bad’ kids with physical punishment. Krampus was modeled after the Christian Devil, also known as Satan, and northern European gods whose worship predated the introduction of Christianity in the region. The name Krampus comes from the old German word krampen, meaning claw.

Krampus originated in the Middle Ages (about the 400′s through the 1400′s), when the famous bishop St. Nicholas became a popular gift-giving figure. Traditionally, St. Nicholas brought presents to well-behaved children on December 5 or December 6, his feast day. Medieval Christians also created a companion for St. Nicholas to discipline badly behaved children, as they pictured the Devil punishing sinners. The companion served as a sort of alter ego of St. Nicholas—that is, another aspect of his nature, or a close associate. This tradition was especially popular in central and eastern Europe. The companion was known as Knecht Ruprecht (Servant Rupert) or Belsnickel (also spelled Pelznickel or Belsnichol) in parts of Germany, Schmutzli in Switzerland, Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) in what is now the Netherlands, and Krampus in Austria.

An illustration of Krampus
Credit: © darko m, Shutterstock

Among the different versions of St. Nicholas’s companion, Krampus was especially frightening. Images of Krampus show him with large, goatlike horns; a long tongue and sharp teeth; and hooves on one or both legs. Some accounts describe Krampus with an empty basket on his back, for carrying away naughty children. In some descriptions, Krampus carries chains, and holds a whip or birch twigs for beating children.

The purpose of Krampus was to scare children into being good. Accounts about St. Nicholas describe the bishop as intervening on behalf of naughty children so that Krampus did not actually harm them. St. Nicholas would scold a naughty child, usually a boy, and tell him that he had to change his ways and obey his parents. Over time, Krampus became a less frightening figure. In the 1800′s in Austria, accounts described Krampus as accompanying St. Nicholas through village streets and to children’s homes, suggesting that he was not really all that dangerous.

In some parts of the world, St. Nicholas developed to become the jolly figure of Santa Claus. Santa’s only associates are elves who make toys and visit with children in department stores at Christmastime. However, the Krampus tradition has survived. Some communities in Europe hold Krampus events on December 5, known as Krampusnacht (Krampus night). People dress up as Krampus and celebrate in the streets. Krampus also has been the subject of novels, television programs, video games, and even a motion picture called Krampus (2015).

Credit: © Manny DaCunha, Shutterstock

The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. The day marks the nation’s birthday, July 4, 1776, when delegates to the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the Declaration of Independence.

The delegates represented the 13 British colonies, which had come to resent the ever-increasing taxes and restrictions that King George III sought to impose on them. In April 1775, British troops had clashed with colonial militia at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts, in effect signaling the outbreak of the American Revolution. The Declaration of Independence explained the reasons for the colonists’ rejection of British rule, detailed the ways in which the British government had violated American rights, and declared the freedom of the American colonies from Britain. The American Revolution ended in 1783 when Britain recognized the independence of the United States.

July 4 is traditionally a day of patriotism and celebration, including a full menu of picnics or cookouts and fireworks, with popular side dishes of baseball, fairs, parades, and parties. Last year, public celebrations of the holiday were largely absent, as people followed social distancing measures intended to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, with widespread vaccinations putting the disease in retreat in many areas, fireworks and other public displays have largely returned.

The Fourth of July isn’t just a day for celebration, however. It’s also a good time to reflect on the promise of freedom outlined in the Declaration of Independence and to think about how various groups are still struggling to achieve that freedom. In a year that followed worldwide protests over the killing of George Floyd, many people are choosing to make the Fourth not only a celebration of our nation’s history but a time of reflection and preparation for its future.

Credit: © Phil Dent, Getty Images

June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month. All month long, Behind the Headlines will feature lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning pioneers in a variety of areas.

As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, many people are returning to sporting events. While fans cheer for their teams and order hot dogs from their seats, they will sing such classic songs as “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.”

These sporting-event anthems were recorded by the rock group Queen, which gained popularity in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Leading this band—just as a captain leads a sports team—was the British rock singer, songwriter, and musician Freddie Mercury (1946-1991). He was known for his soaring, operatic vocals and theatrical stage presence.

Mercury was born on Sept. 5, 1946, in Zanzibar, to Parsi parents from India. His real name was Farrokh Bulsara. He was given the nickname Freddie while attending a British boarding school. Around this time, he began taking piano lessons. He later played in rock and roll bands. In 1964, Bulsara’s family moved to Middlesex, England.

In the late 1960′s, Bulsara attended Ealing Art College in London. Around this time, he befriended several musicians in a local band called Smile. They were lead singer and bassist Tim Staffell, guitarist Brian May, and drummer Roger Taylor. Inspired by the group, Bulsara began singing and playing piano with several rock groups. He joined Smile as lead singer after Staffell left the group. In 1970, encouraged by Bulsara, the group changed its name to Queen. Soon after, Bulsara changed his last name to Mercury. Bassist John Deacon joined the group in 1971.

The group’s first album, Queen, was released in 1973. The albums Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack were released in 1974. The group’s third album, A Night at the Opera (1975) was a breakthrough for the group. It featured the huge hit “Bohemian Rhapsody,” written by Mercury. It has been called one of the greatest songs in rock and popular music. The song is a six-minute musical suite, containing several movements, including a piano ballad section; a layered, operatic vocal passage; and a charging, hard rock segment. A groundbreaking promotional music video accompanied the song’s release. Years before the era of MTV, when music videos became commonplace, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” video greatly added to the song’s popularity.

Queen combined hard rock and flamboyant (showy) “glam” rock with layered guitars and intricate vocal harmonies. Queen’s many hits include “Bicycle Race” (1978); “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Killer Queen,” and “You’re My Best Friend” (all 1979); “Another One Bites the Dust” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” (both 1980); “Somebody to Love” (1981); “Under Pressure” (with the British singer David Bowie, 1981); and “I Want to Break Free” and “Radio Ga Ga” (both 1984).

Mercury also performed as a solo artist. He recorded the albums Mr. Bad Guy (1985) and Barcelona (1988). He also recorded a number of singles, including “Time” (1986) and “The Great Pretender” (1987).

Mercury died of complications from AIDS on Nov. 24, 1991. Queen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.