gillsherryauthor
SAVE THE TURTLES! Gill Sherry
When I was a child, Mother’s Day was a big event. My sister and I would make a card for our mum, present her with a bunch of flowers and ensure she felt special. Father’s Day was also a ‘thing’ but it was minor in comparison. As a family, we always celebrated Pancake Day (of course) on Shrove Tuesday, my favourite being served with the traditional lemon and sugar topping. Saint Valentine’s Day didn’t appear on my radar until I reached my teenage years and I suddenly became desperate to receive an anonymous card through the door!
As I grew older, I became aware of other ‘days’ being acknowledged, some more worthwhile than others. National Siblings Day and Teacher’s Day, for example, seemed to make sense. National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, less so.
The sceptical side of me put the sudden invention of these celebratory days down to commercial exploitation, large monetary enterprises encouraging the public to spend their hard-earned income on gift cards, cookies, or whatever else they wanted to sell for a quick, often significant, profit. I mean, who else could possibly benefit from National Sticky Toffee Pudding Day?
As a result, I refused to be taken in by National Fish and Chip Day, International Waffle Day or Ice Cream for Breakfast Day (seriously?). Other days of celebration, however, have begun to catch my attention. I could easily be persuaded to part with my cash on International Polar Bear Day and Bat Appreciation Day if it meant I was helping these particular mammals.
8
MAY 2022
