母親節(jié)和父親節(jié)

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 and 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.

　　美國人民以兩個特殊的日子向父母表示敬意：這便是每年五月第二個星期日的母親節(jié)和六月第三個星期日的父親節(jié)。

　　母親節(jié)作為一個全國性節(jié)日是伍德羅·威爾遜總統(tǒng)于1915年宣布的。西弗吉尼亞州格拉弗頓區(qū)的安·賈維斯女士首先想到應有一個特殊的日子向母親致意。是她選擇了五月的第二個星期日，也是她開始了佩戴康乃馨的習俗。

　　1909年，華盛頓州斯波肯區(qū)的多德夫人想到應為父親設一個特殊日子以示敬意。她想向自己的父親---威廉姆·斯馬特表示感激之情。她母親去世后，是父親擔起了養(yǎng)活五子一女的責任。1910年，第一個父親節(jié)在斯波肯區(qū)誕生。參議員瑪格麗特·切斯·史密斯于1972年幫助把父親節(jié)推廣成為全國性節(jié)日。

　　這兩天是兒女向父母表示一片愛心和敬重之情的日子。父母們把孩子們帶大，教育他們成為有責任感的公民，并給予他們愛心和關懷。

　　人們用各種形式來慶賀這兩個特殊的日子。在母親節(jié)那天，人們佩戴康乃馨。佩戴紅色康乃馨表示母親依然健在，佩戴白色康乃馨則表示母親已經(jīng)去世。許多人參加宗教儀式以向父母致意，或去公墓緬懷逝去的父母。在這兩天，家家都會聚在餐館或家中。人們也常在父親節(jié)那天舉辦露天燒烤聚會。這是充滿歡歌笑語、美好情感和無限深情的日子。

　　另一傳統(tǒng)習俗是贈送卡片和禮物。孩子們在學校親手制作，許多成年人也制作禮物。這些親手制作的禮物比那些花錢買來的更有價值。禮物的貴賤并不重要，“重要的是對父母的拳拳之心”。賀卡屋、花店、糖果店、面包房、電話公司，還有許多其他商店在節(jié)日里會大做生意。