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THE HISTORY OF MOTHER'S DAY
Historians claim that the holiday of Mother's Day emerged from the ancient festival dedicated
to mother goddess.
In the ancient Greek empire Rhea, wife of Cronus, and mother of Gods and Goddesses.
In Rome too,
Cybele, a mother Goddesses, was worshipped, as early as 250 BC. It was known as Hilaria, and it lasted for three days, from
March 15 to March 18.
England observes "Mothering Sunday", or the "Mid-Lent-Sunday, on the fourth
Sunday in Lent. It is quite identical to the modern celebrations. Historians say that there are reasons to believe that the
Mother Church was substituted for Mother Goddess by the early church. Some say the ceremonies in honor of Cybele were adopted
by the early church to venerate the Mother of Christ, Mother Mary. People attended the mother church of their parish, laden
with offerings.
In the 16th century, people who used to work for others, brought gifts to their mothers on Mothering
Sunday. Typical gifts were cakes, little mementos, and furmety, a preparation of wheat, milk, sugar and spices. However, in
northern England and in Scotland, the preferred refreshments were carlings - pancakes made of steeped peas fried in butter,
with pepper and salt. In fact, in some locations this day was called Carling Sunday.
In the United States, Anna
M. Jarvis (1864-1948) is credited with bringing in the celebration of Mother's day. She was greatly attached to her mom Mrs.
Reese Jarvis, who was a teacher in the Andrews Methodist Church of Grafton, West Virginia.
She died in May of 1905. Anna
missed her mother Greatly, along with her blind sister Elisinore. Two years after her mother's death (1907) Anna Jarvis and
her friends began a letter-writing campaign to gain the support of influential ministers, businessmen and congressmen in declaring
a national Mother's Day holiday. She felt children often neglected to appreciate their mother enough while the mother was
still alive. She hoped Mother's Day would increase respect for parents and strengthen family bonds. As a result of her efforts
the first mother's day was observed by a church service honoring Late Mrs. Reese Jarvis, in Grafton, West Virginia, and in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 10, 1908.
Carnations, since they were Mrs. Jarvis's favorite flowers, were supplied.
Later, Red carnations became the symbol of a living mother, while the white one for the lost.
The first Mother's
Day proclamation was issued by the governor of West Virginia in 1910. Oklahoma celebrated Mother's Day that year as well.
By 1911 every state had its own observances. By then other areas celebrating Mother's Day included Mexico, Canada, China,
Japan, South America and Africa. The Mother's Day International Association was incorporated on December 12, 1912, with the
purpose of furthering meaningful observations of Mother's Day.
OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION
The House of Representatives
in May, 1913, unanimously adopted a resolution requesting the President, his Cabinet, members of Congress, and all officials
of the federal government to wear a white carnation on Mother's Day. Congress passed another Joint Resolution May 8, 1914,
designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. The U.S. flag is to be displayed on government buildings and at people's
homes "as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country." President Woodrow Wilson
issued the first proclamation making Mother's Day an official national holiday.
MOTHER'S DAY QUOTATIONS
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." -- Abraham Lincoln
(1809-1865)
"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my
life." -- Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
"My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe
to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."
-- George Washington (1732-1799)
"There never was a woman like her. She was gentle as a dove and brave as a
lioness... The memory of my mother and her teachings were, after all, the only capital I had to start life with, and on that
capital I have made my way." -- Andrew Jackson
"Youth fades; love droops, the leaves of friendship fall;
A mother's secret hope outlives them all." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes (1809-1894)
"God could not be everywhere
and therefore he made mothers." -- Jewish proverb
"Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a
mother." -- Lin Yutang
"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find
forgiveness." -- Honore' de Balzac (1799-1850)
"The most important thing a father can do for his children
is to love their mother." --Author Unknown
"In all my efforts to learn to read, my mother shared fully
my ambition and sympathized with me and aided me in every way she could. If I have done anything in life worth attention,
I feel sure that I inherited the disposition from my mother."-- Booker T. Washington
"Woman knows what
man has long forgotten, that the ultimate economic and spiritual unit of any civilization is still the family." -- Clare
Boothe Luce
POEMS
M-O-T-H-E-R
M is for the million things she gave me, O means only that she's growing old, T is
for the tears she shed to save me, H is for her heart of purest gold; E is for her eyes, with love-light shining, R means
right, and right she'll always be, Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me.
--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)
WHAT IS A MOTHER?
A Mother has so many things to do,
From
washing, ironing, cleaning to tying a shoe.
She scrubs, she mends, she cooks and sews,
She bathes the children and
washes their clothes.
When they forget to wash their faces clean,
And their clothes are the muddiest you've ever seen,
Who repairs the clothes and scrubs them like new?
Of course, that is what a Mother will do.
Who becomes the doctor
or the nurse when they are ill,
Applying a bandage or giving them a pill?
Who becomes a teacher when a child has homework?
She must never her duty shirk.
Who becomes a detective to find a toy or a book?
For missing things she must look
and look?
Who becomes a listner to every heartache,
To every accompolishment that a child makes?
Who scolds their
children when they are naughty,
Or remind them of God when they are to haughty?
Who tends her family with love and
patience, too?
Of course that is what a Mother will do.
~~Author Unknown.~~
MOTHER'S LOVE.
Her
love is like an island
In life's ocean, vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
'Tis bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by
Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro' the changing scenes of life
I
find a haven there.
~~Author Unknown.~~
RECIPES
Mother's Moon Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup butter or margarine,
softened
1 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
1 Sift together flour, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and salt. Stir in
condensed milk, vanilla and soft butter. Blend well and fold in chopped nuts. Chill well.
2 Preheat oven to 375 degrees
F (190 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with foil.
3 Roll the dough pencil thin and form in crescent shape. Arrange cookies
on the cookie sheet.
4 Bake on top rack of the oven for 12 minutes until set, do not brown. Let the cookies cool on pan.
While still warm roll the cookies in leftover powdered sugar.
Easy Pie
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 stick butter, melted
1 can peaches (or any favorite fruit), drained
In a
bowl, combine sugar, flour and milk. Pour mixture over
butter, stir and press into pie pan. Add peaches. Cook in
bottom
of oven at 450 degrees until brown.
Star Cookies
1-1/4 cups (300 mL) granulated sugar
1
cup (250 mL) Golden Crisco Shortening
2 eggs
1/4 cup (50 mL) corn syrup or
regular pancake syrup
1 tbsp (15
mL) vanilla
3 cups (750 mL) all-purpose flour
(plus 4 tbsp [60 mL] divided)
3/4 tsp (3 mL) baking powder
1/2
tsp (2 mL) baking soda
1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt
Decorations:
(your choice) granulated sugar, coloured sugar crystals,
frosting,
candies, chips, decorating gel
1. Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium
speed
of electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, syrup and
vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy.
2. Combine
3 cups (750 mL) flour, baking powder, baking soda
and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until
well
blended.
3. Divide dough into quarters. Wrap each quarter of dough with
plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
Keep refrigerated until
ready to use.
4. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Place sheets of foil on
countertop for
cooling cookies.
5. Spread 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of flour on large sheet of waxed
paper. Place one quarter of dough
on floured paper. Flatten
slightly with hands. Turn dough over and cover with another large
sheet of waxed paper.
Roll dough to 1/4-inch (6 mm) thickness.
Remove top sheet of waxed paper. Invert dough onto ungreased
baking sheet.
Cut out star shape 6 inches (15 cm) wide with a
small sharp knife. Cut out additional stars in same manner, leaving
2
inches (5 cm) between stars. Remove dough from around star
shape. Roll out remaining dough.
6. Sprinkle with granulated
sugar or coloured sugar crystals, or
leave plain to frost or decorate when cooled.
7. Bake one baking sheet at a time
at 375°F (190°C) for 8 to 9
minutes. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Cool 2 minutes on baking
sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool
completely, then frost and
decorate if desired.
Makes: About 5 dozen cookies
REMINISCE ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SAYINGS YOUR MOM ALWAYS USED. WE HAVE ALL HEARD AT LEAST SOME OF THE FOLLOWING:
I'm
going to give you until the count of three.
Don't pick, it'll get infected.
I would have never talked to
MY mother like that!
If I catch you doing that one more time, I'll...
Don't use that tone with me!
Someday your face will freeze like that!
What if everyone jumped off a cliff? Would you do it, too?
Look
at me when I'm talking to you.
You're going to put your eye out with that thing!
Do you think your socks
are going to pick themselves up?
Your father is going to hear about this when HE gets home!
Were you born
in a barn? Close the door
Be good -- and don't do ANYTHING to embarrass your parents.
No child of MINE
would do something like that.
I don't know is NOT an answer.
If you don't do it NOW, then when are you
going to do it?
No.
Beauty is as beauty does!
What do you mean you aren't going to eat everything
on your plate? Think of those poor starving children in India.
You can't find it? Well, where did you leave it last?
Money does NOT grow on trees.
You made your bed, now lie in it.
Don't make me tell you again.
Don't go out with a wet head, you'll catch cold.
Am I talking to a brick wall?
Eat those carrots,
they're good for your eyesight. You never see rabbits wearing glasses, do you?
There's no shame in being poor, but
there is shame in being dirty!
Eat your meat.
Did you flush?
I worry about you.
Who
are you going with? Do I know them?
I hate having you drive alone at night.
You can be anything you want
to, if you just set your mind to it.
What would you do if I wasn't here?
Eat the crust of your bread.
It will make your hair curly and your teeth white.
The acorn doesn't fall far from the tree.
Do as I say,
not as I do.
When I was a little girl ...
Act your age.
You must get that from your father's side
of the family.
Two wrongs do not make a right.
Don't talk with your mouth full!
You can pick your
friends, but you can't pick your relatives.
This, too, shall pass.
Pretty is as pretty does.
Sit
like a lady!
It's all fun and games until someone gets hurt.
I'm not just talking to hear my own voice.
As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say.
Put that down! You don't know where it's been!
If you swallow a watermelon seed, a watermelon will grow in your stomach.
Don't run with a lollipop in your mouth.
If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well.
Horses sweat, men perspire, ladies glow.
If
you don't clean your plate, you won't get any dessert.
You can't start the day on an empty stomach.
You
can't judge a book by its cover
It's no use crying over spilt milk.
You can't make a silk purse out of a
sow's ear.
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
If you can't say something nice, don't say
anything at all.
PAMPER THE MOMS! (AND ANYONE ELSE WHO NEEDS IT!)
HAND CREAM
3 T mashed almonds
2 T comfrey root (dried)
1
T chopped parsley
1 egg
1 T honey
1 T glycerin
Mix almond meal, comfrey root and parsley in a small bowl and
set aside.
In another bowl, mix egg, honey and glycerin. Stir in 3 tbsp of the almond mixture. Rub the mixture gently
into your hands, letting it penetrate for 20-30 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Refrigerate mixture between uses.
FACIAL
Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set
for 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with damp washcloth.
CRAFTS
MUMS FOR MOMS
To make the planter, you will need a clean, dry terra-cotta pot and a box of Cray-Pas oil
pastels (available at art supply stores).
Because the oil pastels are permanent, it's a good idea to first sketch your
design on the pot with a pencil. You can then decorate with the pastels.
As a crowning touch, add a flowering plant
to the pot before presenting it.
WASHCLOTH ROSES
Use the thinner washcloths that they have out in great
colors depending on your project.
Take the washcloth and place in front of you diagonally, fold in from the top then the
bottom toward the center, then roll from both top and bottom once again, this should give you the width.
Taking the washcloth,
roll from one side lengthwise letting a point from the end you start come up and continue rolling and pin, glue, or tack with
a needle and thread. (When you roll, roll with the inside rolled piece facing you to the inside.)
HOLD A MOTHER'S DAY TEA PARTY
Invite all of the residents and their family and friends to a apecial tea party! Have
everyone wear a hat and hold a contest for different categories, funniest, prettiest, biggest, etc. You can make centerpieces
out of the small gift bags. Glue a piece of floral foam to the bottom of the inside of the bag and insert flowers of your
choice, add ribbons, bows. Honor the Mother's with special certificates or little gifts.
HISTORY OF TEA
Of historical
note, tea is nearly 5,000 years old and was discovered, as legend has it, in 2737 b.c. by a Chinese emperor when some tea
leaves accidentally blew into a pot of boiling water. In the 1600s tea became popular throughout Europe and the American colonies.
Since colonial days, tea has played a role in American culture and customs. Today American schoolchildren learn about the
famous Boston Tea Party protesting the British tea tax -- one of the acts leading to the Revolutionary War. During this century,
two major American contributions to the tea industry occurred. In 1904, iced tea was created at the World's Fair in St. Louis,
and in 1908, Thomas Sullivan of New York developed the concept of tea in a bag.
Tea breaks down into three basic types:
black, green and oolong. In the U.S., over 90 percent of the tea consumed is black tea, which has been fully oxidized or fermented
and yields a hearty-flavored, amber brew. Some of the popular black teas include English Breakfast (good breakfast choice
since its hearty flavor mixes well with milk), Darjeeling (a blend of Himalayan teas with a flowery bouquet suited for lunch)
and Orange Pekoe (a blend of Ceylon teas that is the most widely used of the tea blends).
RECIPES
SPICED TEA
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (4 oz) sugar
1 cup (8 floz) water
1 stick cinnammon
6 whole cloves
3 cardamom pods (optional)
2 tbsp tea leaves
4 cups (32 floz) boiling water
juice of 1 large lemon and
2 oranges
ice cubes
iced water or soda water (club soda) to taste
orange and lemon slices to decorate
Method:
1. Boil the sugar, water and spices for 5 mins, then remove from heat. Put the tea in a large pot and pour the boiling
water over, leave for 5 mins.
2. Strain into large bowl, add the strained syrup and leave to cool. Stir in the strained
lemon and orange juice, then add ice cubes and dilute with iced water or club soda to taste. Decorate with slices of orange
or lemon.
Serves: 8-10
CUCUMBER SANDWICHES
Cucumbers
Thin sliced white bread
Whipped
cream cheese or unsalted butter softened
Salt
Peel cucumbers and slice very thin. Sprinkle the slices with a
little salt and lay on paper towels to drain. For each sandwich spread a little cream cheese or butter on two slices of bread.
Layer the cucumber slices on one slice of bread (no thicker than 1/4 inch) Cut crust off sandwiches and then cut into squares,
triangles or other fun shapes using cookie cutters.
BASIC SCONES
2 cups flour
1-tablespoon
baking powder
2-tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon salt
6-tablespoons butter
½ cup buttermilk
Lightly beaten
egg
Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter until mixture resembles cornmeal. Make a well in the center and pour in buttermilk
(you can substitute regular milk).
Mix until a soft elastic dough is formed. Roll the dough into a circle of approximately
1 inch in thickness. With a knife, score the dough into eight wedges. Brush with egg for a shiny, beautiful brown scone.
Bake
at 425 ° for 10 - 20 minutes, or until light brown.
STRAWBERRY ANGEL FOOD CAKE
Batter
16 oz. angel food cake mix
1 1/4 cup strawberry soda
1/4 cup honey
Glaze
1/4 cup reduced fat margarine
-- melted
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tbsps strawberry soda
4 drops red food coloring
Prepare cake mix
according to package directions, except substitute 1 1/4 cups soda and honey for the water. Bake as directed. Remove from
oven and set upside-down until cooled. Meanwhile to prepare glaze, combine melted margarine, powdered sugar, remaining beverage,
and food coloring in a mixing bowl. Mix until smooth and drizzling consistency. Spread top of cake with glaze. Serve with
fresh strawberries.
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