Goodreads

Home

1 06, 2026

Wedding Traditions

By |2026-05-30T09:21:00-05:00June 1st, 2026|Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

It’s June, the most popular month for weddings. What makes June so popular for weddings?

First, the month is named for the goddess Juno, protector of women, especially in marriage and childbearing. A wedding in Juno’s month provides a providential start.

The second reason comes from the Celtic calendar.

On the Cross-Quarter Day of Beltane, May 1st, young couples would pair off to court for 3 months then be wed on the next Cross-Quarter Day, which was Lammas Day, August 1. Impatient couples shortened that to mid-June, and thus June became the month of weddings.

Another contributing factor is June’s pleasant weather, which makes it easier for guests to travel to your wedding.

Sunday used to be the most popular wedding day until the Puritans strict adherence to no festiveness on the Sabbath stopped that.

In the United States, Wednesday used to be considered the luckiest day for weddings. Friday was avoided as the “hangman’s day.” Now Saturdays are by far the busiest day for weddings.

Brides seem to ignore the old rhyme:

“Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all; Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.”

Wedding Party Traditions

Traditionally, only an unmarried woman could be the maid of honor, and only the brother, best friend, or father of the groom could be the best man.

In the past, bridesmaids were used as “stand-ins” for the bride to protect her from evil spirits. They would look and dress much like the bride to fool the spirits until the wedding.

Another theory is that bridesmaids were necessary as witnesses at a wedding. That one comes from the fact that ancient Rome required at least ten witnesses to get married.

Still, another reason for the bridesmaid and best man was to help capture a runaway bride or recover a bride kidnapped by a rejected suitor. They also made sure she got to the church on time and kept hostile family members away.

These days, bridesmaids usually help the bride with dressing. The groomsmen usher guests to their seats, and the best man carries the ring and offers a toast at the reception.

Flower girls were once meant to protect the bride from the Devil with their shield of virginity. Today, a girl, a boy, or even a dog can be seen as the ring bearer and/or flower girl.

Why Be Given Away?

This tradition evolved from the days when men bought brides from their fathers. Today, brides may ask either or both parents to walk them down the aisle. Or not.

The Wedding Vows

The declaration of vows symbolizes the moment when a couple officially becomes one, though the wording varies by religion. Or couples can write their own vows.

The most often used vow is the traditional version.

Wedding Rings

At most wedding ceremonies, the exchange of rings follows the vows and seals those promises. The ring symbolizes the unbroken circle of love, and, at many ceremonies, more vows are spoken as rings are exchanged.

While at some religious ceremonies only one partner receives a ring, many couples choose to have a double-ring ceremony. A practice that became popular in the United States after World War II.

Throwing Rice

Wedding guests usually toss rice or birdseed as the couple leaves the ceremony. The practice predates Christianity and signifies the guests’ and family’s wishes for good fortune, a prosperous marriage, and children if they desire.

Interesting that the ancient Celts tossed grains to appease spirits and ask for blessings and fertility for the couple. Ancient Romans used wheat. Italians toss candies or sugared nuts. The Polish use rice and place coins at the couple’s feet to ensure prosperity. In Morocco, it’s dried dates or figs, and in Eastern India, the tradition is a rain of flower petals.

Why A Diamond Engagement Ring?

Before 1477, engagement rings held different stones. The diamond engagement ring was first used in Austria when Archduke Maximilian presented Mary of Burgendy with a diamond. After that, the diamond became the symbol of love.

Read More
25 05, 2026

MEMORIAL DAY and a Wedding Anniversary

By |2026-05-17T16:00:27-05:00May 25th, 2026|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

Today is Memorial Day, a day established for reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military.

From 1868 to 1970, the official date for the holiday was May 30, whichever weekday it fell on, not the fourth Monday of the month. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which passed in 1968, created three-day holidays. In 1971,  Memorial Day began being celebrated on the last Monday in May.

There’s a reason I remember those obscure facts.

Many, many years ago, my husband and I chose Memorial Day for our wedding ceremony. For years, we celebrated the holiday along with our wedding anniversary. Not anymore, because now Memorial Day changes its date. Our anniversary doesn’t.

Why did we pick that date? Back then, we were financially strapped college students. Time off from work for a honeymoon was out of the question.

That particular year, Memorial Day, aka May 30th, fell on a Thursday, which meant we only had to take one unpaid day off work to prepare for our wedding.

To save more expense, I wore my mother’s wedding dress, which she’d worn twenty-five years earlier.

My mother is in the dress in the picture on the top left.

I’m in the picture below her, wearing the dress with an altered neckline and a let-out hem.

The larger picture is our daughter in the same dress for her wedding, twenty-five years later. We added lace to the hemline and around the neck.

Otherwise, the dress, made by my grandmother from imported French Alençon lace, is exactly as it was when my mother wore it. Now safely stored in my mother’s cedar hope chest.

Memorial Day was set up to mourn and honor our nation’s fallen service members. It’s evolved into the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of travel and discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers.

Today will be filled with happy thoughts of our wedding, coupled with deep sadness for friends and family we’ve lost in military service. There are so many families out there that don’t have loved ones around to celebrate their wedding anniversaries with.

Join me at 3 p.m. for the National Moment of Remembrance to give them some silence, to say a little prayer, and acknowledge their ultimate sacrifice.

Read More
11 05, 2026

Celebrating Mothers

By |2026-05-10T15:55:44-05:00May 11th, 2026|Holidays|0 Comments

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. The day set aside to honor mothers and motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society.

For many, it was a happy day, spent surrounded by family. For others, the day was probably not so fun. Some of our mothers are no longer with us.

Where did the idea to honor motherhood come from?

Its roots lie in the British Mothering Day, which disappeared when the English settlers came to America.

Then, in 1870, Julia Ward Howe, author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, conceptualized the idea of Mother’s Day in her Proclamation of 1870. Read the poem here.

In 1872, Ms. Howe suggested a “Mother’s Day for Peace” celebration on June 2 of every year. Only a few states bought into Howe’s idea, and eventually the movement died.

However, a West Virginia women’s group headed by Anna Reeves Jarvis adapted Howe’s holiday to be a day set aside to reunite families and neighbors divided by the Civil War.

That Jarvis’s Mother’s Friendship Day evolved into Mother’s Day. And, as they say, the rest is history.

If you forgot to acknowledge Mom yesterday, do it today. She’ll be thrilled to hear from you, no matter what day it is.

Read More
4 05, 2026

Busy, Busy May

By |2026-05-03T16:41:37-05:00May 4th, 2026|Make Me Think Monday|1 Comment

Welcome to May, the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Time to celebrate the return of Spring.

It’s a month filled with graduations, dance recitals, piano recitals, and celebrations, plus other holidays filled with traditions like the maypole dance.

Never heard of a maypole dance?

Many haven’t in today’s world. It’s a way to “bring in the May” by gathering wildflowers and green branches, weaving floral hoops and hair garlands.

Many of us still remember weaving ribbons around a maypole at school to celebrate the return of spring.

From the late 19th century through the 1950s, the maypole dance and festivities were a rite of spring. In the 1960s and 1970s, interest started to wane. Today, you may see a maypole dance in elementary schools as a fun spring activity.

People still decorate bushes and trees in Ireland with colorful strips of cloth.

Called a clottie, the ribbons carry their wishes and prayers, and you can still spot them if you go to Ireland.

The Kentucky Derby on May 1st started the month. The annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, is known as the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports.” The event inaugurates the Triple Crown, a series of three horse races. Watching it is a tradition around our house. Did you watch?

On the second Sunday of May, we honor mothers, grandmothers, mothers-in-law, and all motherly figures. There’s time to plan your celebration.

Then May 25 is Memorial Day. A day we honor those who knew the risks, who accepted the odds, and who marched onward anyway to make the ultimate sacrifice.

A holiday with mixed feelings— sadness for the losses, and anticipation because it signals the unofficial start of summer.

Lots of celebrations, plus school graduations and recitals. May is perhaps as busy as December, don’t you think?

Read More
30 04, 2026

Stress Management Tips-Guest Blogger Jenna Sherman

By |2026-04-22T08:32:38-05:00April 30th, 2026|Guest blogger|0 Comments

Effective Stress Management Strategies for Writers and Freelancers

Freelance life comes with real rewards and real pressure. Tight deadlines, unpredictable income, and a blurry line between work and home can quietly pile up until focus slips and small tasks feel heavy. The good news is that stress becomes more manageable once you know what’s actually driving it.

Know Your Triggers First

Vague stress leads to vague fixes. Start by noticing what sets you off: certain clients, times of day, or tasks like invoicing. When you can name the trigger, you can choose the right response instead of just pushing through.

Six Levers Worth Reaching For

  • Move your body, even briefly. A 10-minute walk after a draft breaks the stress loop and gives your brain a clear transition out of work mode.
  • Try a 3-minute breathing reset before you write. Inhale for 4, exhale for 6, and notice where you’re holding tension. It won’t solve deadlines, but it makes starting easier.
  • Eat for steady energy. Protein, fiber, and color at most meals helps you avoid the crash that turns a normal edit into a doom spiral.
  • Set two daily boundaries: one for starting and one for stopping. “No email before 15 minutes of planning” and “laptop closed at 6:30” is enough to reduce daily decision fatigue.
  • Do a grounded attitude reset once a day: write what’s stressing you and one thing you can do in 10 minutes. Progress beats perfect mood every time.
  • Treat sleep like a productivity tool. A consistent wake time and a simple wind-down routine make stress easier to handle, even when you can’t eliminate it.

Natural Modalities for Stress Relief

Supporting your child’s growth is rewarding, but keeping up with it all can take a toll on parents too. Here are four gentle, natural options worth exploring for your own stress management:

  • Ashwagandha: An adaptogenic herb long used to help the body manage stress and support steady energy levels.
  • Magnesium: A mineral that many adults are deficient in, magnesium supports relaxation, better sleep, and a calmer nervous system.
  • Essential oils: Scents like lavender, chamomile, and bergamot are widely used in aromatherapy to promote calm and reduce tension at the end of a long day.
  • THCa: A non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in raw hemp that many adults are turning to as part of their wellness routines. Check this out for more info.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a perfect system. Pick one lever from this guide, practice it daily, and build from there. That’s how stress management becomes a habit instead of an emergency response.

~~~~~~~~~~

Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She created Parent-Leaders.com to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. Take a minute to visit Jenna Sherman’s blog for helpful tips.

Read More
Goodreads

Copyright 2024 | All Rights Reserved | Created by PetoWeb.com

Go to Top