January 21st - Sweetest Day

 

 Today I’m celebrating a holiday that is probably unknown to most people outside of the Great Lakes Region.  The holiday is Sweetest Day, and it traces its roots back to Cleveland, Ohio, where a group of 12 men lead by candymaker C.C. Hartzell created the holiday in 1922.  Because of it's ties to confectionery companies, it is often seen as a completely commercial holiday with no real value.  I would have to disagree.

 The 12 Men behind "Sweetest Day"...not exactly Willy Wonka

Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of October was originally said to be intended as a day for people to be charitable and kind to others.  This meant donations to shelters, volunteering time at different community organizations, and generally being a more pleasant person to those that you might normally overlook.  Nowadays, it has morphed into a “second Valentine’s Day” for many couples in the Great Lakes region, and is now seen as an opportunity to remember friends and family who have been helpful and kind throughout the year.

Critics may blast today's holiday as another way for people to spend money in lieu of actually caring.  But I chose to go against this cynicism and celebrate Sweetest Day as it was intended to be celebrated.  I gave money to homeless people that I saw on the street, and I made donations to the local Goodwill.  I was more pleasant to the bad drivers that I came into contact with on the roads, waving with all five fingers instead of my usual one.  And I spent most of today unpacking and decorating an apartment that isn’t mine.  Anyone that has been through this experience knows that this right there would be enough to showcase the spirit of Sweetest Day.

All kidding aside, I really liked the idea of this holiday.  Because commercialism has bastardized so many facets of our society, it’s kind of nice to take this one back from the corporations.  Who cares if a bunch of candy giants created the day in order to sling more chocolate to the masses?  I think the idea of remembering those that society has forgotten is a noble one, and a good idea is a good idea no matter who comes up with it. 

So for the rest of the day, let's all be a little nicer to each other.  Let's allow the smiles come easily to our faces, and let's enjoy each others company more.  Let's be kinder to strangers, and more helpful to those that really need it.  Sweetest Day can be more than a greeting card holiday, and I think that's worth celebrating.