英语沙龙:Mother's Day and Father's Day
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
People in the United States honor their parents with two special days：Mother’s Day，on the second Sunday in May，and Father’s Day，on the third Sunday in June．
Mother’s Day was proclaimed a day for national observance by President Wood row Wilson in 1915．Ann Jarvis from Grafton，West Virginia，had started the idea to have a d ay to honor mothers．She was the one who chose the second Sunday in May and also began the custom of wearing a carnation1)．
In 1909，Mrs．Dodd from Spokane，Washington，thought of the idea of a day to honor fathers．She wanted to honor her own father，William Smart．After her mother died，he had the responsibility of raising a family of five sons and a daughter．In 1910，the first Father’s Day was observed in Spokane．Senator Margaret Chase Smith helped to establish Father’s Day as a national commemorative2) day，in 1972．
These days are set aside to show love and respect for parents．They raise their children and educate them to be responsible citizens．They give love and care．
These two special days are celebrated in many different ways．On Mother’s Day people wear carnations．A red one symbolizes a living mother．A white one shows that the mother is dead．Many people attend religious services to honor parents．It is also a day when people whose parents are dead visit the cemetery3)．On these days families get together at home，as well as in restaurants．They often have outdoor barbecues4) for Father’s Day．These are days of fun and good feelings and memories．
Another tradition is to give cards an d gifts．Children make them in school．Many people make their own presents．These are valued more than the ones bought in stores．It is not the value of the gift that is important，but it is “the thought that counts”．Greeting card stores，florists5)，candy makers，bakeries，telephone companies，and other stores do a lot of business during these holidays．
母亲节和父亲节
美国人民以两个特殊的日子向父母表示敬意：这便是每年五月第二个星期日的母亲节和六月第三个星期日的父亲节。
母亲节作为一个全国性节日是伍德罗·威尔逊总统于１９１５年宣布的。西弗吉尼亚州格拉弗顿区的安·贾维斯女士首先想到应有一个特殊的日子向母亲致意。是她选择了五月的第二个星期日，也是她开始了佩戴康乃馨的习俗。
１９０９年，华盛顿州斯波肯区的多德夫人想到应为父亲设一个特殊日子以示敬意。她想向自己的父亲—威廉姆·斯马特表示感激之情。她母亲去世后，是父亲担起了养活五子一女的责任。１９１０年，第一个父亲节在斯波肯区诞生。参议员玛格丽特·切斯·史密斯于１９７２年帮助把父亲节推广成为全国性节日。
这两天是儿女向父母表示一片爱心和敬重之情的日子。父母们把孩子们带大，教育他们成为有责任感的公民，并给予他们爱心和关怀。
人们用各种形式来庆贺这两个特殊的日子。在母亲节那天，人们佩戴康乃馨。佩戴红色康乃馨表示母亲依然健在，佩戴白色康乃馨则表示母亲已经去世。许多人参加宗教仪式以向父母致意，或去公墓缅怀逝去的父母。在这两天，家家都会聚在餐馆或家中。人们也常在父亲节那天举办露天烧烤聚会。这是充满欢歌笑语、美好情感和无限深情的日子。
另一传统习俗是赠送卡片和礼物。孩子们在学校亲手制作，许多成年人也自制礼物。这些亲手制作的礼物比那些花钱买来的更有价值。礼物的贵贱并不重要，“重要的是对父母的拳拳之心”。贺卡屋、花店、糖果店、面包房、电话公司，还有许多其他商店在节日里会大做生意。
NOTE 注释：
1. carnation n. 荷兰石竹, 康乃馨
2. commemorative adj. 纪念的
3. cemetery n. 墓地, 公墓
4. barbecue n. 吃烤烧肉的野餐
5. florist n. 花商; 花店
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