May/June 2016 Newsletter

Greetings!

Mother's Day and Father's Day are both celebrated in the months of May and June. The inception of these celebrations began as early as the 1900's.

Mother's Day Origin

Mother's Day dates back to the Greeks, to honour the wife of Cronus, Rhea
Christians honoured the Virgin Mary and later on included all mothers, Mothering Sunday
In the 19th century, before the Civil War (1861-65), Ann Reeves Jarvis of West Virginia created "Mothers' Day Work Clubs" to teach local women how to properly care for their children.

Mother's Day Celebrations and Traditions

In Thailand-Mother's Day is celebrated in August on the Queen's birthday
Mother's Day is celebrated in Ethiopia in the fall. Singing songs and eating a large feast is part of Antrosht, honouring motherhood.
In Egypt and other Arab countries, Mother's Day falls on March 21, the first day of spring

Father's Day Origin

In 1908 Grace Golden Clayton of West Virginia wanted to pay tribute to the fathers who had lost their lives in the Monongah Minining Disaster.
In 1910 Sonora Smart Dodd of Washington organized the first Father's Day to honour her father William Smart
In 1916 Woodrow Wilson was the first American President to advocate for making Father's Day an official holiday

Father's Day Celebrations and Traditions

In Finland, Father's day is on the second Sunday of November, and is an official Flag-raising day
Father's Day in New Zealand is on the first Sunday in the month of September.
In Sweden it is celebrated on the second Sunday of November.
In Spain it is known as 'EI dia del padre' in Spanish and celebrated on the 19th of March

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Wee Watch Moms a Happy Mother's Day! And our Wee Watch Dads a Happy Father's Day!!

Sincerely

Leslie Wilson