Saturday: All Things Sweet

Saturday, October 19 is Sweetest Day 2013

Embrace the Past... 

 

Full page Sweetest Day editorial published in 

The Cleveland Plain Dealer on October 8, 1922
en.wikipedia.org

 The 12 Cleveland committeemen who planned Cleveland's Sweetest Day, 

as published in The Cleveland Plain Dealer on October 8, 1922
en.wikipedia.org

That's when and where it all got started but by whom and why? 

Herbert Birch Kingston, a philanthropist and candy company employee wanted to bring happiness into the lives of orphans, shut-ins and others who were forgotten. With the help of friends, he began to distribute candy and small gifts to the underprivileged.

Empower the Present... 

Even though Sweetest Day is mostly celebrated int he Great Lakes Region and the Northeast that does not mean those are the only areas of celebration. Clevelanders have taken the custom with them as they traveled about the country. Ohio IS still the top state for Sweetest Day sales but it is closely followed by Michigan and Illinois. Texas, California and Florida are among the top 10 states in sales.

Sweetest Day is a special day growing in popularity. Some say it is a romantic day for women to dote on their men much like men do women on Valentine's day. Presently, it has indeed evolved into a day of romance with gifts including dining out at fancy restaurants, giving gifts of fancy chocolates, adorning tabletops with voluptuous flowers, writing or sending greeting cards filled with words of love, etc.

Enrich the Future... 
 

Somehow along the way the original intent of Sweetest Day has been lost. Having become popular during the bleak economic times of the Great Depression, the first Sweetest Day came out of one man's desire to do something "sweet" for Cleveland's orphans and unfortunate residents. Within today's dire economic situation lie many who have no reason to celebrate on this day. To them it is frivolity or simply not a reason to celebrate. 

Make Sweetest Day a special way to give something or do something nice to those less fortunate than yourself. It doesn't matter who that person is or where they reside. There are ways to enrich the celebration without the expenditures, which so many cannot afford. Little kisses, warm hugs, sweet smiles warm the heart and lift the spirit at no monetary cost.

What are your plans for Sweetest Day?