Mother’s Day is observed in different forms throughout the world.
Have you ever wondered how we came to celebrate mothers, with a day devoted specifically to them? I have, being a mother myself, and in my professional life I’ve spent much time sourcing gifts, taking orders, creating and delivering beautiful things for other mothers, all in support of their special day. Let me share with you some of what I’ve learned. Originally, Mothering Sunday was celebrated by Catholic and Protestant Christians in some parts of Europe, mostly the UK and Ireland, falling on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Mothering Sunday was also known as Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules for Lent were relaxed that day. It was a day when children, usually daughters, who had gone away to work as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their families and mothers. It was quite common in those days for children to leave home for work once they were ten years old! In the 16th century, most Sundays in the year churchgoers in England worshiped at their nearest parish or 'daughter church’. Inevitably, the return to the 'mother' church became an occasion for family reunions when children who were working away as domestic servants and apprentices returned home. So each year in the middle of Lent, everyone would visit their 'mother' church - the main church or cathedral of the area. Historians say that the returning children, as they walked home along the country lanes, would pick wild flowers or violets to take to church or give to their mother as a small gift. The North American incarnation of Mother's Day was created by the childless Anna Jarvis in 1908 to honour her own hardworking mother, Ann. It became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 celebrated on the second Sunday of May - although Ms. Jarvis later renounced the holiday due to her feeling that the event was becoming over-commercialized. “Mothers need to be celebrated!” President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed May 9, 1914. He asked Americans on that day to give a public "thank you" to their mothers and all mothers for their love and care of their families. Presently, Mother’s Day gifts can include a sweet card, maybe breakfast in bed, lunch out, a posy, or some chocolates to say “Here’s to you Mom!”
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The tiara story began a few years ago when I wanted to give my Mum a gift for
Mothers’ day and, at 90, she didn’t really want for anything. Mum was born in London the same year as Queen Elizabeth, so she’s always felt a kinship with her. I decided to make her a tiara with some flexible aluminum wire I used to work with in my previous floral design days. I created the simplest little wire crown spelling out “Mom” with a few rhinestones stuck on which I then gifted her. After first saying, “oh no I couldn’t” my Mum wore it out to the restaurant and looked cute in it, where staff and patrons smiled at her and commented on it. The 2nd tiara that I made 6 months later was for my friend Jayne for her 60th birthday party. Buying wire and random beads in her favourite colours, I twisted together a pretty tiara and packed it in tissue and a box to bring to the party. It was an instant hit! Jayne loved it, wore it all night, had photos taken and comments on it and she stood out in the crowd. I knew that night I was onto something and would love to sell them if possible. A few years later that became a reality in my gift store Little Bird in Duncan. Over 14 months since opening I’ve made several hundred tiaras - custom orders, or ready-to-wear! Handmade with shiny colourful aluminum wire, glass flowers, metal and ceramic charms, each one is unique and the best thing is they are customizable with many colour combinations, names, words and ages. They have been worn by -1 year olds to 95+ year olds and are size adjustable. I’ve made a fun 2 tier “Queen of the Jungle” crown for a woman’s twin baby shower and added a life size silver fluttering butterfly to a 70th birthday tiara for a woman having her first birthday since becoming a widow. Sweet moments. Recently a customer reminded me of a “Princess” tiara I made for her elderly mother-in-law, who apparently “wore it on the way out” when she passed away. I'm not sure exactly what that meant, but I felt honoured to have made it nonetheless! Our tiaras have been enjoyed locally, as well as mailed and carried all over the world. It’s February, and once again Valentines’ Day is just around the corner...a day which can strike fear into the hearts of men young and old. What to do for a gift? What to buy, what size, price, colour, scent...etc. May we suggest the gift of a box of great quality chocolate? Generally considered a woman’s favourite treat, chocolate is not only sexy to look at and smell, but it can also make you feel sexier when you eat it! There’s a biological basis for chocolate’s sexy effects. Dark chocolate possesses substances that affect our mood, energy, and sexual function in truly remarkable ways. Stimulating and elevating your mood, chocolate is known as a super libido food partly because it is a rich source of PEA, or phenylethylamine, sometimes referred to as the "romance chemical." As a stimulant and mood elevator, PEA can induce sensations of euphoria—and it’s naturally released by your brain when you’re in love. This chemical enhances feelings of well-being, joy, and pleasure. Acting as an energy booster, chocolate really packs an aphrodisiac punch because it also contains a compound which works on the central nervous system, causing us to feel stimulated and excited. Wahoo! Dark chocolate is also a heart-healthy food, lowers blood pressure, helps prevent plaque buildup in the arteries, improves blood flow through the heart (and the rest of the body), lowers cholesterol, and helps prevent memory decline, heart disease and stroke among many other benefits.
All that while satisfying a deep inner urge to indulge in delicious chocolate! Another major benefit to giving the gift of great chocolates to your Valentine is that it’s easy for them to share with you, so you can both experience the chocolate high! A win win! The perfect accompaniment to your chocolate gift is a beautiful card, to profess your love for your Valentine. Records show approximately 150 million Valentine's Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second most popular card-sending holiday after Christmas. A great card can help you express your love and be a beautiful keepsake to remember that awesome Valentines' 2019! At Little Bird in Duncan we specialize in great Valentines’ Day cards and delicious Rogers’ Chocolates, plus we wrap! Come and see us at 163 Station St. Downtown Duncan. |
Little Bird
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