| |
Sweetest Day - A Midwestern Tradition
By Ken Asselin
If you have never heard of Sweetest Day, you're not alone.
This Midwestern Holiday has been a tradition primarily in the Great Lakes region of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana for over 60 years, but is not observed in many other states. Observance of the day is increasing in popularity however, as people move from these states to other parts of the country, and take the tradition with them. Sweetest Day is always celebrated on the third Saturday in October.
Sweetest Day observance originated in Cleveland in 1922, when a candy company employee and philanthropist by the name of Herbert Birch Kingston, decided he would distribute, with the help of some friends, candy and small gifts to underprivileged and less fortunate people in his community. His intent was to show these people that they were not forgotten. Soon other good Samaritans in the city were getting involved, and Sweetest Day was born.
Local Celebrities such as Ann Pennington, a movie star in the early 1930s, gave 2200 boxes of candy to Cleveland newspaper boys in appreciation of their Public service, and Theda Bara, another movie star of that era, distributed 10,000 boxes of candy to patients at Cleveland hospitals. The idea caught on, and over time became a day when small gifts, candy, greeting cards, and flowers were given to family, friends, and lovers.
Sweetest Day has grown in popularity over the past few years, and celebration of the day is rapidly spreading throughout the country. The selection of Sweetest Day cards from Hallmarks has grown from 48 cards available in 2000, to 142 cards in 2005. The Holiday is most popular in Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, followed by Texas, California, Florida, and many of the Northeastern States, You wont find Sweetest Day on many calendars today, but with the rapidly growing popularity of the Holiday, most experts agree it wont be long before it is celebrated throughout the country.
Sweetest Day has evolved over the years into a day when you can express your love to that special person in your life, or show appreciation to dear friends. Since for many people, showing appreciation has taken the form of gift giving, Sweetest Day is the perfect time to give flowers, gifts, candy, or greeting cards.
If Sweetest Day is not celebrated in your City or State, now is the perfect time to start. You have the opportunity to show a friend or lover, how much you care, by being the first to share with them, this lovely tradition.
About the Author
Ken Asselin, Waterford, MI, USA
Visit Buds Best Flowers & Gifts at:
http://www.flowers.budsbestbuys.com
Ken Asselin is webmaster for the "Buds Best" series of online shopping websites. His 40 plus years experience in retail marketing, bring a fresh outlook to website development and promotion. You can visit his Buds Best "Shopping Sites" at: http://www.shopping.budsbestbuys.com
mailto:ken@shopping.budsbestbuys.com
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/12632.html
| If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/12632.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked. |
| Some other articles by Ken Asselin | |
| |
|
