Reading Skills for Today's Adults

Most U.S. holidays celebrate famous people or events. However, there are two U.S. holidays that honor more commonplace folks. You probably spent many years with them when you were younger. You still may see them every day!  

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Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are times to say “thank you” and “I love you” to parents or other special adults. You often hear the phrases, “Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!” and “Happy Father’s Day, Dad!” on these holidays.  

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The second Sunday in May is Mother’s Day. It is a day to thank mothers for their hard work and love. People give cards and flowers to their mothers and grandmothers. Some give gifts of candy and jewelry. Being served breakfast in bed is a special treat for many moms! Mother’s Day is mom’s day off. She gets a break from her regular mom duties. Other family members do mom’s work on this holiday. It is a day for moms to relax.

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Mother’s Day began because of Anna Jarvis, a woman from West Virginia. She first thought of Mother’s Day. It was her idea to use flowers to honor mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a U.S. holiday.

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Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June. Family members give gifts to their fathers and grandfathers. Some dads receive cards, books or clothes. Others are treated to a special Father’s Day meal at a nice restaurant. Breakfast in bed is a wonderful gift for dads too!

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A woman from Washington first thought of Father’s Day. Her name was Sonora Dodd. Her mother died when she was a young girl. Her father raised five sons and a daughter by himself. Ms. Dodd wanted to honor her father for his hard work and love. In 1910, she started the first Father’s Day. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day an official U.S. holiday.