Eighty-five years ago Herbert Birch Kingston, inaugurated Sweetest Day in Cleveland, Ohio by distributing candy and gifts to orphans, shut-ins and other forgotten souls. Over the years Sweetest Day has evolved into a second Valentine’s Day of sorts, with signs of affection to lovers the most common variation (versus the do-gooder theme of early days). Following are 10 things you can do for your sweetie:
- Brighten your Sweetie’s day by uploading a favorite photo of the two of you as a screen saver.
- Forget a drive – take your Sweetie on a fall color tour via a train or horse-drawn carriage.
- Ask the new sandwich/coffee/smoothie shop in town to name a menu item after your Sweetie. You’d be surprised at how many will agree to do so.
- Surprise your Sweetie by surrendering a whole day to their favorite activity, regardless of how much you despise it. Play video games until your fingers throb, go antiquing until you sneeze yourself silly, or sit together in side-by-side pedi chairs.
- Request an autographed nameplate from your Sweetie’s favorite author and slip it into a newly released or age-old favorite book by that author.
- Register a star named after your Sweetie and gaze at it together, sealing the deal with a smooch.
- Build an ever-lasting bouquet by purchasing a life-like silk rendering of your Sweetie’s favorite flower. One bud for every month (or year) you’ve been together should do it.
- If your Sweetie keeps a journal, sneak a paragraph or two into it about how much you love and appreciate your relationship. Having those sentiments recorded in your handwriting is a tangible reminder of your bond.
- Ask a musician friend to compose a song for your Sweetie and be sure the performance ends with a copy of the musical score and lyrics.
- Let nature do your talking: trace a loving message into the sand on the beach ahead of your arrival together, or chalk a message onto a large rock or tree in the woods.
Sweetest Day is celebrated on the third Saturday in October. Though the celebration is catching on nation-wide, the most concentrated Sweetest Day observers are located in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, California and Florida.
Whether it’s your first or fortieth Sweetest Day together, make it individual and beautiful. And be sure to kiss. A lot.
