A Celebration In Honor of All Mothers 

So here for your entertainment are some fun Holiday things for you, your mom and your family. We've got some stories to read , some music to enjoy, some pictures for the kids to color, and a chance to add YOUR MOM to our celebration! So bring your kids and tell your friends. And please stop by again. Don't forget to sign our Guestbook before you leave.

Mother's Day will be celebrated on Sunday May 13, 2001 (in the U.S.).

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter*), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.
*(For more information on Lent/Easter check out - Easter on the Net)

During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration . People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.

In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass ever year.

In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

Celebrating Mother's Day

One the best way to celebrate Mother's Day is to give your mom the day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the rest of the family does the work.

Many families begin Mother's Day with breakfast in bed. Usually Dad and the Kids will let mom sleep late as they go into the kitchen and prepare her favorite meal. A Mother's Day breakfast can consist of anything your mom likes.

After the food is cooked arrange everything nicely on a tray. Don't forget the vase with a single flower. With spring here, the children can pick a tulip or daffodil from the garden outside. When everything is ready carefully carry the tray and mom's favorite sections from the newspaper up to her bedroom. Cards and small presents from the children can be placed on the tray before it is presented to mom in bed.

Many Families make a special Mother's Day dinner or take mom out to her favorite restaurant for a meal. It is a good day to let your mom relax and let her see what a wonderful family she has.

Father's Day

A Celebration In Honor of All Fathers

Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad. It is a day to not only honor your father, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers."

It is a time of burnt toast and breakfast in bed, family gatherings, crayon scribbled "I Love You"s and, of course, that lovely new tie!

So buckle up, turn up the radio and get ready for a Father's Day ride with some fun Holiday things for you, your family, and your Dad.

We've got stories to read, music to enjoy, puzzles and games to play, pictures for the kids to color, and a chance to honor YOUR DAD at our celebration! So bring your kids and tell your friends. And please stop by again. Don't forget to sign our Guestbook before you leave.

Father's Day is celebrated in the US on Sunday, June 17, 2001. Other Countries celebrate throughout the year.

The Story of Father's Day

Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell more cards. In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed there were no Father's Day cards!

Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various towns and cities across American other people were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all be honored on Father's Day.

Celebrating Father's Day

Everyone celebrates Father's Day a bit differently, but if you are looking for something a bit different then here are some things/ways you might consider

• Flowers - Yes flowers! How many ties does 1 dad need?!
  If you know your dad has a special flower then a bunch would be a nice gesture. If you are unsure what type of flower, then the elegance of a single rose will let him know you care

• Homemade Card/Picture - It doesn't matter if you're 8, 28 or 48, a handmade card or note from the heart speaks more of your feelings than the store bought variety. If your artistic ability is a bit lacking check out our selection of Father's Day pictures that you can print out and color

• Home cooking - Give mom the day off as well and invite them both over for a good home cooked meal. But remember today is not the day to test out that new recipe. Play it safe and stick to dads favorite

• Dinner - If your not the home cooking type - then nothings better than being treated to a tasty meal at a nice restaurant surrounded by the ones you love. It doesn't have to be anywhere fancy, depending on your dad it could be the neighborhood diner or even the locale pizzareia

• Munchies - Does your dad have a sweet tooth? A plate of those homemade cookies or his favorite pie tastes even better when he knows it comes from your heart