Yea! Even if the weather isn't cooperating, it is almost summer! The one thing I really appreciate whenever I am a student is the blissful end of the spring semester. "No more papers, No more books...." At least for a few months!
The cold, the wind, the rain - nothing matters! I am excited for summer! My second daughter graduates high school in just a couple weeks. That means a graduation party! I love planning parties. We have the DJ all set, the menu is decided, but there is still a lot of work to do. But that is ok, it is work I love to do.
Clean the house, clean the yard, clean the pool (Yea! Swimming!) Even though cleaning is not a favorite of mine, I love sprucing everything up before a party! New curtains for the living room were purchased today, cleaning the cartpets next week, then we will tackle the garage and the basement!
And, even better, I am hoping my oldest will be home from college this summer. This was her last year in the dorms, next year she will be in her own apartment, and will probably stay in Oshkosh for the summer. But for this summer (hopefully) we will all be together! I say hopefully, because there is the slightest chance she will sublet an apartment and stay in Oshkosh this summer. But I am being selfish, and hopeful that she will choose to save the rent money, and stay home one last final summer.
Graduation parties, a wedding to go to this summer, camping, a trip to California to plan - so much to look forward to! So bring it on, Wisconsin weather! The rain and wind and chilly temps don't bother me. I am used to everchanging weather climate that living in the Wisconsin means.
:) Happy Summer, Everyone!!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Not just another Hallmark holiday
Mother's Day was actually a spiritual holiday celebrating Goddesses and symbols rather than actual mothers. Predating christianity, one of the earliest records of a 'Mother's Day' celebration was a yearly festival in ancient Egypt celebrating the goddess Isis. She is considered the Mother of the pharoahs. Oddly enough, she is often depicted cradling her son in a pose not unlike the Mother Mary cradling baby Jesus.
In ancient Rome, the history of Mother's day began with the celebration of Phrygian goddess Cybele (aka Magna Mater or Great Mother) and involved 3 day celebrations. In Greece, they celebrated Rhea as the Mother of the gods. Other societies celebrated similar deities including Gaia, the Earth Goddess and Meter Oreie the Mountain Mother. Celebrations (often lasting 3 or more days) included games, parades, and displays of arts and crafts all in honor of the mother of the gods.
In post christianity Europe celebrations of Mother's Day began as a celebraton to honor the church. The tradition was to travel back to the church one was baptized at to celebrate their "Mother Church". They would decorate the church with jewels, flowers, and other offerings. Finally, in the 1600's a decree was made in England to include real, actual mothers. Held during Lent, servants and trade workers were given the day off to travel to their hometowns to visit their mothers and families. It was called Mothering Day. As an extra perk - this day was held during Lent and a reprieve was granted from the fasting and restrictions of Lent so that all of England could enjoy a family feast with MOM as the guest of honor. Common gifts included cakes, flowers, and of course, visits from their children.
America, being founded by the puritans, put the kabash on most secular holidays, including Mother's Day. They even reduced Christmas and Easter to somber, formal church events that lacked gifts and decorations. It wasn't until 1870 that American women (Julia Ward Howe, to be exact) led the the charge to again celebrate mothers. Howe was the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but following the devastation of the war, she campaigned for all mothers, internationally, to unite in a day of peace. Her plea, in the form of a poem/song, denounced the carnage of war and sons being taken from their mothers, and beseeching women of all nationalities to campaign for peace world-wide. This day ended up being June 2, and was made official in 1873. But it lasted only 10 years. The cause was then picked up again by Anna M Jarvis, in memory of her own mother, petitioned the church where her mother taught sunday school for over 20 years to dedicate a day for her devotion to the children of the church. On May 10, 1908 the first official Mother's Day took place. President Roosevelt later made it a National Holiday, and it is now celebrated on the second sunday in May.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!
In ancient Rome, the history of Mother's day began with the celebration of Phrygian goddess Cybele (aka Magna Mater or Great Mother) and involved 3 day celebrations. In Greece, they celebrated Rhea as the Mother of the gods. Other societies celebrated similar deities including Gaia, the Earth Goddess and Meter Oreie the Mountain Mother. Celebrations (often lasting 3 or more days) included games, parades, and displays of arts and crafts all in honor of the mother of the gods.
In post christianity Europe celebrations of Mother's Day began as a celebraton to honor the church. The tradition was to travel back to the church one was baptized at to celebrate their "Mother Church". They would decorate the church with jewels, flowers, and other offerings. Finally, in the 1600's a decree was made in England to include real, actual mothers. Held during Lent, servants and trade workers were given the day off to travel to their hometowns to visit their mothers and families. It was called Mothering Day. As an extra perk - this day was held during Lent and a reprieve was granted from the fasting and restrictions of Lent so that all of England could enjoy a family feast with MOM as the guest of honor. Common gifts included cakes, flowers, and of course, visits from their children.
America, being founded by the puritans, put the kabash on most secular holidays, including Mother's Day. They even reduced Christmas and Easter to somber, formal church events that lacked gifts and decorations. It wasn't until 1870 that American women (Julia Ward Howe, to be exact) led the the charge to again celebrate mothers. Howe was the author of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, but following the devastation of the war, she campaigned for all mothers, internationally, to unite in a day of peace. Her plea, in the form of a poem/song, denounced the carnage of war and sons being taken from their mothers, and beseeching women of all nationalities to campaign for peace world-wide. This day ended up being June 2, and was made official in 1873. But it lasted only 10 years. The cause was then picked up again by Anna M Jarvis, in memory of her own mother, petitioned the church where her mother taught sunday school for over 20 years to dedicate a day for her devotion to the children of the church. On May 10, 1908 the first official Mother's Day took place. President Roosevelt later made it a National Holiday, and it is now celebrated on the second sunday in May.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!
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