Memorial Day first began as "Decoration Day" in remembrance of those soldiers who died in the Civil War. It began on May 5th in 1866 when the townspeople of several different areas went about decorating the graves, of soldiers, with wreaths, flowers and crosses. Also flags were flown at half-mast in honor of the fallen soldiers who died so bravely. Two years later, General Logan declared "Decoration Day" be made official. However, he moved the date to May 30th because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, in attendance were General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant.
In 1882 the name was change from "Decoration Day" to "Memorial Day" in order to honor fallen Veterans of all wars not just the Civil War.
In 1971 Congress created the National Holiday Act making Memorial Day a three day weekend, by having Memorial Day observed on the last Monday in May. This was to allow families to have more time together for reflection and to be able to take time to travel to wherever it was needed to pay their respects. In retrospect it was a good idea, however it only seemed to backfire. Most of the nation's people decided to use the time to take mini-vacations instead of honoring our fallen soldiers as was intended. Traditions have fallen to the wayside nowadays. Many graves of our soldiers, who fought for our freedom, lay forgotten and bare on Memorial day. It is this day in which we are to show our respect and honor them for what they gave freely given, their lives for ours. Yet, we go off camping and merry-making without a moment's thought for them leaving their graves unadorned. Such a sad state of affairs we have let this National holiday for them become. It seems that changing the date only undermined the real meaning of the solemnity of the day.
In December 2000 Congress, in an attempt to get Americans to remember the true meaning and significance of Memorial Day, passed into law the "National Moment Of Remembrance Act." This was signed into law by the President to be sure that our American Heroes and Fallen Soldiers are not to be forgotten. This act, "encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation."
What we need to do is ask Congress to put Memorial Day back on May 30th where it belongs. Let it go back to it's original day so we can rekindle the feelings of kinship that go with this day. For over the years many places have let the traditions fall to the wayside. Towns no longer host parades. Those that do go to cemeteries, decorate any loved ones' grave in memory of them. Memorial day is set aside to remember our Fallen Soldiers or Veterans and pay tribute to them. It is their graves that get decorated, parades are held in their honor and memory. You can go any other day of the year and remember your other loved ones and honor and decorate their graves. Let's remember the true reason behind the observance of this day and bring it back to it's original purpose once more.
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Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flowers. Show all posts
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Mother's Day: History And Ideas
In 1908 Anna M. Jarvis campaigned the church, for a day called Mother's Day to become official, in remembrance of her mother Anna Reeves Jarvis. Her mother had devoted twenty years to the church doing Sunday School teaching. On May 10, 1908 at Andrew's Methodist Church, in Grafton Virginia, a celebration was held. To honor her mother and in celebration of peace. This celebration was the first official Mother's Day celebration in the United States. Other women in previous years, most notably Julia Ward Howe, had celebrated Mother's day unofficially mainly on July 4th. In 1914Woodrow Wilson made history as he officially signed the paper to make the second day in May Mother's Day.
Through the ages many different meanings have been attached to Mother's Day. Or as some cultures call it Mothering Sunday. Did you know that in other regions of the world it is even celebrated at different seasons/months of the year. Some countries celebrate the church as the Mothering Spirit in which they are grateful to as other's give offering to other deity's. Celebrations can last just for the day of even up to three days in the observance of the Mother. Whether the Mother image is Mom, church or deity; the thankfulness for the giving of love, inspiration, life, and protection is the main thread.
Therefore, remember your Mother in some way this Mother's Day. Be thankful for what she has done for you. Maybe, she wasn't a perfect Mom or always there like you wished. Mothers are not infallible, they are human after all. If you have a problem or issue that has kept you apart; then maybe the best gift of all could be resolution, forgiveness or at least talking it over (actually listening to her side without interruption). If your Mom is still around and you need to resolve something -- don't wait till it's too late. She is always going to be there for you (even if you are the one at fault-- she will forgive you). That's what a Mom's love is all about.
Now, ideas for those that need them:
You could get the regular standbys of chocolate, flowers, or a card.
Or you could dress up those options:
1)Don't buy a card - make one;Mom's love handmade things, then if you live nearby make her either breakfast or lunch too and do the dishes afterwards.
2)Hand-picked flowers in an unusual or hand-painted vase with a photo of you (or your family attached) to it.
3)Home-made candy or chocolates or even bread or cookies (whatever she loves the best) on a home-made ceramic plate with her grand-children's hand-prints drawn/painted and glazed (dated too).
Don't live nearby; Here's a few options:
1)With liquid embroidery draw around one of each of her grand-children's hands, placing one hand on each side of a plain white potholder. Place the child's name and age inside the hand print. If you have four children you can make two potholders with this method. If you have more than four children you can also do this same method on a plain flour sack kitchen towel. It will be treasured by her believe me, I still have the one I gave my Mother (I got it after she passed away). One year I did a Kitchen Curtain Set for my Mother, by gathering all her grand-children together, who at the time were ages 6 months to 8 yrs. I had each of them draw, write and color (with liquid embroidery) whatever they wished upon the plain white material I had sewn into curtains. Of course I had to measure her kitchen windows when she wasn't home. She really loved those curtains, she put them in her cedar chest when she moved and they wouldn't fit any of her other windows.
2)A Handmade card; this is still a great option. You could also include a coupon book. The coupons you could make to say little things like; this entitles you to an I'm sorry Mom; this entitles you to I love you Mom; this entitles you to a phone call to me no matter what time and I'll listen; this entitles you to me calling you on your birthday; this entitles you to me coming to dinner (if you only live an hour or something like that not out of state)-- you get the idea. *remind Mom in the coupon book to let you know she is using her coupon at the time if it's over the phone and not in person.
3)A handmade photo frame with a picture of you/your family. You could dress up the photo frame with dried rose petals, confetti, lace, smaller photo collage images, buttons, seashells from a childhood family vacation or make it from twigs. Please wrap it in bubble wrap if it is fragile and ship it accordingly.
4)Make a dvd or cd of the grand-children, your children, singing songs and telling stories. Mail this to her. Then call her on Mother's Day to allow her to talk to the children and let them know how much she enjoyed the dvd/cd. I still have a cassette tape my children made for my Mother one year when we lived in Wyoming and she was in California. (once more I got it after she passed on in 2004--one day I will probably play it for my grand-children so they can hear their parents as kids).
Most of all, whatever you do for Mom, do it from the heart. Celebrate her with love, enjoy the fact that she is your Mother and has cared/done what she could to raise you. Embrace her, forgive her if necessary, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate the woman she is/has been. If your Mother, like mine, is passed then sit back and remember her in fond memories. Celebrate her life as she would want you to do. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there.
history
Through the ages many different meanings have been attached to Mother's Day. Or as some cultures call it Mothering Sunday. Did you know that in other regions of the world it is even celebrated at different seasons/months of the year. Some countries celebrate the church as the Mothering Spirit in which they are grateful to as other's give offering to other deity's. Celebrations can last just for the day of even up to three days in the observance of the Mother. Whether the Mother image is Mom, church or deity; the thankfulness for the giving of love, inspiration, life, and protection is the main thread.
Therefore, remember your Mother in some way this Mother's Day. Be thankful for what she has done for you. Maybe, she wasn't a perfect Mom or always there like you wished. Mothers are not infallible, they are human after all. If you have a problem or issue that has kept you apart; then maybe the best gift of all could be resolution, forgiveness or at least talking it over (actually listening to her side without interruption). If your Mom is still around and you need to resolve something -- don't wait till it's too late. She is always going to be there for you (even if you are the one at fault-- she will forgive you). That's what a Mom's love is all about.
Now, ideas for those that need them:
You could get the regular standbys of chocolate, flowers, or a card.
Or you could dress up those options:
1)Don't buy a card - make one;Mom's love handmade things, then if you live nearby make her either breakfast or lunch too and do the dishes afterwards.
2)Hand-picked flowers in an unusual or hand-painted vase with a photo of you (or your family attached) to it.
3)Home-made candy or chocolates or even bread or cookies (whatever she loves the best) on a home-made ceramic plate with her grand-children's hand-prints drawn/painted and glazed (dated too).
Don't live nearby; Here's a few options:
1)With liquid embroidery draw around one of each of her grand-children's hands, placing one hand on each side of a plain white potholder. Place the child's name and age inside the hand print. If you have four children you can make two potholders with this method. If you have more than four children you can also do this same method on a plain flour sack kitchen towel. It will be treasured by her believe me, I still have the one I gave my Mother (I got it after she passed away). One year I did a Kitchen Curtain Set for my Mother, by gathering all her grand-children together, who at the time were ages 6 months to 8 yrs. I had each of them draw, write and color (with liquid embroidery) whatever they wished upon the plain white material I had sewn into curtains. Of course I had to measure her kitchen windows when she wasn't home. She really loved those curtains, she put them in her cedar chest when she moved and they wouldn't fit any of her other windows.
2)A Handmade card; this is still a great option. You could also include a coupon book. The coupons you could make to say little things like; this entitles you to an I'm sorry Mom; this entitles you to I love you Mom; this entitles you to a phone call to me no matter what time and I'll listen; this entitles you to me calling you on your birthday; this entitles you to me coming to dinner (if you only live an hour or something like that not out of state)-- you get the idea. *remind Mom in the coupon book to let you know she is using her coupon at the time if it's over the phone and not in person.
3)A handmade photo frame with a picture of you/your family. You could dress up the photo frame with dried rose petals, confetti, lace, smaller photo collage images, buttons, seashells from a childhood family vacation or make it from twigs. Please wrap it in bubble wrap if it is fragile and ship it accordingly.
4)Make a dvd or cd of the grand-children, your children, singing songs and telling stories. Mail this to her. Then call her on Mother's Day to allow her to talk to the children and let them know how much she enjoyed the dvd/cd. I still have a cassette tape my children made for my Mother one year when we lived in Wyoming and she was in California. (once more I got it after she passed on in 2004--one day I will probably play it for my grand-children so they can hear their parents as kids).
Most of all, whatever you do for Mom, do it from the heart. Celebrate her with love, enjoy the fact that she is your Mother and has cared/done what she could to raise you. Embrace her, forgive her if necessary, Mother's Day is a day to celebrate the woman she is/has been. If your Mother, like mine, is passed then sit back and remember her in fond memories. Celebrate her life as she would want you to do. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's out there.
history
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