Posts filed under 'Cause for Celebration'
April
April is a rainbow month,
Of sudden springtime showers.
Bright with golden daffodils
and lots of pretty flowers.
Just when you thought you’d get away with not having to learn about Easter, along comes Tulips Talk with some fun facts, trivia and Easter History.
For instance, did you know…?
The Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny is not a modern invention. The symbol originated with the pagan festival of Eastre. The goddess, Eastre, was worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit.
The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter rabbit to America . It was widely ignored by other Christians until shortly after the Civil War. In fact, Easter itself was not widely celebrated in America until after that time.
The Easter Egg
As with the Easter Bunny and the holiday itself, the Easter Egg predates the Christian holiday of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by Christians.
From the earliest times, the egg was a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, if you were a peasant, colored brightly by boiling them with the leaves or petals of certain flowers.
Today, children hunt colored eggs and place them in Easter baskets along with the modern version of real Easter eggs — those made of plastic or chocolate candy.
Easter Monday egg rolling, originally a European custom, has become a tradition on the lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C. Many of these eggs have been signed by famous people, including the athletes, astronauts, musicians, and celebrities from film, television, and theatre who visit the White House during the year.(Source: The Holiday Spot.com)
Other Easter Symbols ~
The full moon determines the date of Easter. The holiday is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon.
The white lily, the symbol of the resurrection, is the special Easter flower. Other popular flowers of Easter include Asiatic lilies, alstromeria, daffodils, tulips, heather, wax flower, larkspur and sweet william.
During the Octave of Easter in early Christian times, the newly baptized wore white garments, white being the liturgical color of Easter and signifying light, purity, and joy.
Easter baskets evolved from the Catholic custom of bringing Easter dinner, such as ham, cheese and bread, to mass, to the priest so he could bless the ingredients. Easter Baskets later became a popular tradition with children as the Easter Bunny left them baskets filled with jellybean, chocolate eggs, stuffed chicks and other Easter goodies.
(source Suite101.com)
Read the History of Easter http://www.edenflorist.com/article_info.php?tPath=2&articles_id=29
To order your Easter holiday centerpiece and baskets, visit Eden Florist today or call 800-966-3336!
April 8th, 2009
Today is Cherry Blossom Day ~ On March 27, 1912, 1st Lady Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador planted a cherry tree on the bank of the Tidal Basin. This started a hundred plus year tradition in Washington D.C. known as the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Over the next 7 years more than 3,000 trees were planted which had been grafted from trees on the bank of the Arakawa River in Adachi Ward (Tokyo). Cherry Treas are one of the most prominent symbols of the U.S. capital today. In fact, visitors from around the globe travel to Washington, D.C. every spring to see the Cherry trees in bloom
Cherry blossoms can be used in teas such as Sachura Tea (made by pouring hot water over a salted cherry blossom, or in teabags containing dried flowers), deserts such as Sachura Mochi (filled with anko, or sweetened red bean paste) and as flavorings for other foods.
Cherry blossoms are a popular adornment for floral decor and used by florists everywhere.
March 27th, 2009
You may have heard about the marriage proposal that took place Saturday (Feb 28) on the Brooklyn Bridge ~
According to Jill ”My brother proposed to his girlfriend on the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday. The plan was to have people hand balloons to her as they walked across the bridge, each with a note from my brother attached. It was so cute. We had a few friends help but mostly recruited strangers as they walked in their direction. She said yes!”
Getting Married in South Florida? Give Heidi a call at Eden Florist – 954-98… to help you plan YOUR BIG DAY.
March 1st, 2009
Saint David was recognized as a Catholic saint in 1120 as the patron saint of Wales. After the Protestant Reformation, Saint David’s birthday, today, March 1, became a national festival. It is celebrated by schools and cultural societies throughout Wales. One of the customs during Saint David’s Day is to wear a leek or a daffodil (two of their national emblems).
March 1st, 2009
January 2oth had been designated as National Disc Jockey Day.
So my staff and I created a Tropical Disc Jockey Bouquet.
Here it is:
Each “record” in the arrangement is imprinted with ”National Disc Jockey Day ~ January 20, 2009″
If you’d like to order this bouquet, call us at 954-981-5515 or 800-966-3336 today!
January 20th, 2009
One of my good friends Teresa Morrow of Key Business Partners shared this with me last year.
Scramble and Share
Rearrange (scrabble) the following 10 words that evoke the holiday (or use ones that have meaning for you). eg Thanks could be hksnat, Giving could be gnviig and so forth.
thanks
turkey
giving
family
celebration
communicating
holiday
apple pieYou present the scrambled words (individually) to everyone on a chalkboard or printed and handed out to everyone one at a time. Ask them to raise their hands to say if they know the word. If they do know the word and they guess it correctly, then they get to share a special memory to them that describes that word. Don’t worry if you don’t to make it to all 10, if the conversation gets so great after 4, then let it be.
Just a few more days to order your holiday centerpiece at Eden Florist.
November 26th, 2008
Scrolls of Thanks
Create and print out a scroll for each member of your family, and tie each one with a piece of ribbon. Set your family scrolls in a place everyone will see between now and Thanksgiving, so that each family member is reminded, day by day, of this small love responsibility.
Tell them something like this:
“Inside each of these scrolls is a very short story. Each story is about one thing someone in our family gave to you which made you happy. The only rule is: it can’t be a thing. It has to be something someone in the family did for you.”
That’s it. Stress that there’s no writing involved– only speaking, at Thanksgiving Dinner, at the appropriate moment. Tell them there’s no rush at all. And that the story is fine even if it’s very short. It just has to be true. Then, at Thanksgiving, each family member symbolically unwraps his or her story, and tells it, in the warm, quiet palace of love. (Source: FamilyEducation.com)
Order your flowers for Thanksgiving from Eden Florist.
November 25th, 2008
Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest withTthanksgiving ceremonies.
Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.
Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.
The Greeks
The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of corn (actually all grains) was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.
On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made – gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter’s gratitude would grant them a good harvest.
The Romans
The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of corn (from which the word cereal comes). The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.
The Chinese
The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch’ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special “moon cakes”, round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit – as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.
The families ate a thanksgiving meal and feasted on roasted pig, harvested fruits and the “moon cakes”. It was believed that during the 3 day festival flowers would fall from the moon and those who saw them would be rewarded with good fortune.
According to legend Chung Ch’ui also gave thanks for another special occasion. China had been conquered by enemy armies who took control of the Chinese homes and food. The Chinese found themselves homeless and with no food. Many staved. In order to free themselves they decided to attack the invaders.
The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this victory.
The Hebrews
Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth has been celebrated for over 3000 years.
Sukkoth is know by 2 names – Hag ha Succot – the Feast of the Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif – the Feast of Ingathering. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish year.
Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert.
When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days, the Jewish people build small huts of branches which recall the tabernacles of their ancestors. These huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the branches are not driven into the ground and the roof is covered with foliage which is spaced to let the light in. Inside the huts are hung fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the families eat their meals in the huts under the evening sky.
The Egyptians
The ancient Egyptians celebrated their harvest festival in honor of Min, their god of vegetation and fertility. The festival was held in the springtime, the Egyptian’s harvest season.
The festival of Min featured a parade in which the Pharaoh took part. After the parade a great feast was held. Music, dancing, and sports were also part of the celebration.
When the Egyptian farmers harvested their corn, they wept and pretended to be grief-stricken. This was to deceive the spirit which they believed lived in the corn. They feared the spirit would become angry when the farmers cut down the corn where it lived.
(source:beamto.com)
November 22nd, 2008
Today is World Hello Day – - Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people. This demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace. People around the world use the occasion of World Hello Day as an opportunity to express their concern for world peace.
Beginning with a simple greeting on World Hello Day, their activities send a message to leaders, encouraging them to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts. As a global event World Hello Day joins local participation in a global expression of peace. In fact, 31 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize are among the people who have realized World Hello Day’s value as an instrument for preserving peace and as an occasion that makes it possible for anyone in the world to contribute to the process of creating peace. (source: http://www.worldhelloday.org)
What can you do to honor World Hello Day? Pick up the phone and call people! Just call your family, friends, customers and say Hello. Imagine what would happen if you did! You can bet the staff of Eden Florist will be calling our customers today!
November 21st, 2008
Baby Photos
Have everyone bring a baby photo of themselves. Put the photo on a board and number them. Hand out a piece of paper and ask each person to try to guess who it is. This works best when you have family and friends together who may not have seen one another as a baby.
There’s still time to order flowers for your holiday celebration. Check out our brand new website at EdenFlorist.com today.
November 17th, 2008
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