Wouldn't it be nice if there was a holiday that celebrated general love, kindness and respect for the world around us; a day where people thought of and did things for others that made them say, "That was so sweet of you!"
Herbert Birch Kingston, of Cleveland, certainly believed so. One Saturday during the Great Depression, Kingston, an employee at a candy company, hoped to put smiles on the faces of the city's orphans by handing out candy and gifts. He also gave presents to those who were sick, homeless, or unable to get around.
Kingston's generosity that particular day in 1930 has led us to commemorate "Sweetest Day," which is being observed on Oct. 19 this year.
According to Hallmark.com, Sweetest Day has gained tremendous popularity throughout the United States, although it is celebrated more frequently in certain regions than others. Detroit, Buffalo and of course Cleveland have more Sweetest Day celebrations than anywhere else in the country.
Although some are skeptical about the holiday, many are still planning on celebrating it this year.
"I thought Sweetest Day was pretty much a holiday made up by Hallmark to get people to buy gifts and stuff from their stores," said Josh Martin, an undecided sophomore. "But, I've had my eye on this girl for awhile and I think I'm going to use Sweetest Day as an excuse to let her know how I feel."
Rachel Goodman, an employee at Hallmark Crown Shop in the Easton Mall, said small tokens of appreciation are the way to go this year.
"The point of Sweetest Day is not to go out and spend an exuberant amount of money," she said. "Besides cards, we have some nice gifts here that range from $5 to $25 that are perfect for letting someone know that you're thinking about them."
Michelle Ballman, a senior in business, plans to acknowledge Sweetest Day by sending small gifts, such as chocolates or homemade cookies, to her family in Cincinnati.
"I like Sweetest Day because it's not a holiday about romantic love. It's a day for people to come together and show that they simply care about each other," she said.
So, if you want to spread around a little extra sweetness this year, do so by showing consideration to those around you. Everyone, including neighbors, friends, family and even strangers could use a touch of kindness.
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