Sweetest Day is Saturday, October 20, and this is now considered to be a day filled with flowers, candy, and romance. Wait, isn’t that what Valentine’s Day is for? St. Valentine might feel robbed over this one.
What started out as a “do something sweet” holiday celebrated primarily in the Great Lakes Region and the Northeastern part of the United States has now traveled across the country into other states such as California, Florida, and Texas. It is celebrated the third Saturday of October every year.
The first Sweetest Day was declared on October 8, 1922, in Cleveland, so you can imagine the pressure Ohioans feel every year to buy something sweet for their loved ones... or risk feeling like a complete tool if they don’t.
I personally find myself being annoyed over such a holiday -- what is the point? I mean, we have Valentine’s Day, right? And seriously, shouldn’t your sweetie be providing romance all year around? (OK, easy with the sarcastic eyeroll.)
I decided to do some research on this holiday in an effort to figure out where it actual stems from -- and, surprisingly, it wasn't invented by a woman or Hallmark but a philanthropist -- a male one!
The Sweetest Day holiday was started by candy employee and philanthropist Herbert Birch Kingston. Kingston designated this day as a way to do something nice, or I should say “sweet,” for those less fortunate. He delivered boxes of candy throughout the city, and this proved to be very helpful for those individuals in need, especially during the Great Depression.
So after learning this, I’m no longer annoyed about the holiday itself, but I am still annoyed about how this holiday has evolved. As much as we love the sweeties in our lives, we should be showing gratitude not only toward our loved ones, but also giving to others less fortunate. You never know, something as simple as giving a box of sweets may make someone’s day. Kudos to Mr. Kingston for making sweet memories for those in need.
Happy Sweetest Day to all of you, and remember, life is like a box of chocolates... you never know what you're gonna get. How will you spend the day?
The 2013 Nurse Compensation Survey Results Are In Michelle Bragazzi, BS, RN, 5/3/2013 32 In February, TheONC surveyed more than 600 oncology nurses to find out more about their careers. We wanted to know if they felt adequately compensated and satisfied within their ...
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