Archives

Children and their grandparents have a special bond unlike any other. After all, who else are you going to turn to when mom and dad say no? But in addition to being the ones who take your side and sneak you extra cookies, grandparents offer unconditional and unwavering love and support. In honor of National Grandparents Day on September 8th, 2019, it’s time to flip the script and start spoiling them!

The History of National Grandparents Day

It wasn’t until 1978 that President Jimmy Carter proclaimed the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National Grandparents Day. Though President Carter officiated the day, it was Marian Lucille Herndon McQuade, a West Virginia native, who truly began and popularized National Grandparents Day. And it’s clear to see why — together with her husband, she had 15 children, 43 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-grandchild before passing in 2001.

Continue Reading…

Let’s face it — any day that it’s your birthday is a great day. After all, what more could you want in a day than presents, cake, and good friends? But those of you lucky enough to have been born in August enjoy a few extra perks that some of us will never know. From the beautiful weather to the freedom that summer brings, here are just a few reasons why August birthdays are wonderful.

You’re one of the youngest of your friends.

When you had to wait an excruciating six months to turn 21 after all of your friends, your August birthday seemed like a curse. But once your friends started turning 30, you realized that an August birthday is basically a blessing. Continue Reading…

When you really think about it, what don’t moms do? Since the day you were born, she’s loved and supported you – not to mention, she probably cooked, cleaned, had a job, and drove you to all those extra curricular activities. Even when you might not have realized it (those teenage years, anyone?), your mom always had your best interest at heart. That’s why each year, we spend one day honoring all that our mothers have done for us. And if part of the celebration includes getting your mom a little something special, it should be a carnation – the official flower of Mother’s Day. Below is a brief history about just how carnations became the symbol for motherhood.

The History of Mother’s Day

It’s believed the first celebrations honoring mothers were in Ancient Greece, when Romans held festivals in honor of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. But it wasn’t until Europe in the early 1800s that we saw the first semblance of modern Mother’s Day. At the time, families in the UK and England celebrated “Mothering Sunday.” A day celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, it encouraged people to travel back to their “mother church” – the first church they ever attended in their hometown – for a special service. Over the years, Mothering Sunday transitioned into a more secular holiday, known as Mother’s Day, and was celebrated by kids giving their mothers flowers and other small gifts.

Who Was Anna Jarvis?

Anna Jarvis is considered the founder of Mother’s Day here in America. The story goes that after her mother, whom she was very close with, passed away, Anna vowed to create a day dedicated to honoring mothers both alive and deceased. Continue Reading…