Good morning, welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: October 16th, 2021. Take a look at the Holidays being celebrate today and let me know which Holiday you most want to celebrate and why. For Charlie and I we can’t wait to celebrate Sweetest Day but we do use a Dictionary in school. Do you children use them as well?
Dictionary Day is in honor of Noah Webster, who is considered the Father of the American Dictionary. Noah Webster was born on October 16, 1758.
The objective of this Holiday is to emphasize the importance of dictionary skills, and to show you how to improve our vocabulary.
Webster began to write his dictionary at the age of 43 and it took him 27 years to finish the dictionary! In addition to traditional English vocabulary, the dictionary contained uniquely American words.
Celebrate Dictionary Day by reading the “Good Book”……the Dictionary! We challenge you to learn new words today.
History and Origin of Dictionary Day:
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this Holiday but we know the “What”, “Where” and the “Why”. But, we do not know the “Who” or the “When” about this Holiday.
There is some reference to this as a “National” Holiday but we did not find any documentation confirming this to be a “National” Holiday and we found no congressional records or presidential proclamation.
Sweetest Day – third Saturday of month
Here is a Holiday you and your sweetie can really get into. This Holiday exists as an opportunity for you to recognize that sweet and special someone. It doesn’t matter who that person is, or what their relation to you. They just have to be “sweet” in order to get a little recognition.
While most people celebrate Sweetest Day, by giving chocolates and or sweets to their “Sweetie”, the original intent of this day was something quite different.
Herbert Birch Kingston, a Cleveland, Ohio philanthropist and candy company employee started Sweetest Day. Herbert Birch Kingston wanted to bring happiness to orphans, shut-ins and under-privileged. Herbert Birch Kingston intent was to show these people that they were not forgotten. In 1922, Herbert Birch Kingston started this Holiday by giving candy and small gifts. Movie stars, most notably Theda Bara and Anna Pennington, joined in giving boxes of candy to people in Cleveland. Baragave 10,0000 boxes of candy to patients in Cleveland hospitals.
The popularity of this Holiday quickly spread. and, the traditions altered. Today, people give candy and osweets to loved ones and friends. which is perfectly fine.
However, we encourage you to follow the original selfless intent of this Holiday. Find ways to give candy and small gifts to those in need. It will bring a smile and a little happiness to someone who is ill or in need and you’ll be glad that you did!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
