Parsons Community Matters February 2021

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

February 2021

Encircling the globe in love In the United States, Valentine’s Day has long been associated with gifts of chocolate, candy, flowers and cards. But public expressions of love happen worldwide, and these traditions go back for centuries.

In America, Valentine’s Day is a $14 billion industry, which represents spending on candies and sweets, cards, flowers and a nice dinner in a restaurant. In some cases, the expression of love comes as a bottle of wine, or even a new pet.

While other cultures dedicate a day — or more in some cases — to the enduring tug of love, their traditions often have more dramatic flair than what we typically experience in the U.S. France Lore has it that the first Valentine’s Day poem and card originated in France when Charles, the Duke of Orleans, was captured in the battle of Agincourt and locked away in a tower. The Valentine’s Day card still remains a rich tradition in France. Another tradition known as loterie VALENTINES – continued on page 3

A world of love

COVID-19 updates continue Get the latest updates on visitation status, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website or send an Art is Ageless® greeting to a resident or staff member by visiting ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/ covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes.

Vaccine distribution has begun in our community. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large.

PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones. u

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Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2021

is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: vwhite@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director Victoria White, marketing and admissions counselor

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Valentines– continued

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Fun facts about Valentine’s Day

d’amour — or drawing for love — involved groups of men and women calling out to each other from different houses.

Gradually couples paired up, and eventually the unmatched souls burned photos of those who had wronged them.

Though once a regular part of the holiday, the practice has fallen out of favor.

South Korea Here, the wooing holiday reaches across several months.

Beginning on Feb. 14, women have the opportunity to shower their love interests with gifts of candy and flowers. On March 14, known as “White Day,” the men take their turn giving candies and flowers, with an expectation that they deliver a more substantial gift as well. By April 14, those who remain single commiserate about their status by eating dark noodles made with black bean paste.

Wales It’s not St. Valentine that’s celebrated here, but St. Dwynwen.

Instead of chocolate and flowers, the traditional gift is a wooden “love spoon.” This tradition dates back to the 17th century, when men would carve intricate details and symbols into the spoon and deliver it to their love interest.

China Qixi, or the Seventh Night Festival, is China’s version of Valentine’s. It takes place on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the year. According to lore, the daughter of a heavenly lord fell in love with a lowly cow herder. They married and had twins, but when the father learned of the marriage, he insisted his daughter return to the heavens. His heart softened upon hearing the cries of the newlyweds’ children. He agreed to allow his daughter to revisit her love once each year on Qixi. Today, single women celebrate Qixi by preparing offerings of melon and fruit in the hope of finding a good husband. Couples visit temples to pray for prosperity, and they gaze at the stars Vega and Altair as they near each other in this annual heavenly reunion.

England On the eve of Valentine’s Day, women used to place five bay leaves on their pillows — one on each corner and one in the center. The ritual was supposed to bring maidens dreams of their future husbands. u

❤According to Hallmark, we exchange more than 145 million Valentine’s Day cards annually. This number does not include the multi-packs that children across America give out to their friends and classmates.

❤The National Retail Federation reports that the most Valentine’s spending goes toward jewelry, at $4.7 billion dollars per year.

❤Our furry friends don’t fare too badly on Valentine’s Day, either. People go all out to show their pets love.

GoodHousekeeping.com estimates that 7 million American households with cats or dogs spend nearly $650 million showering their pets with Valentine’s Day treats.

❤Two classic Valentine’s Day gift items are flowers and chocolate. Members of the Society of American Florists arrange 250 million roses for Valentine’s Day, and TheDailyMeal.com reports that in the week before Valentine’s Day, consumers purchase 58 million pounds of chocolate.

❤Finally, Good Housekeeping revealed the gender gap in Valentine’s spending: American men spend an average of $338 on the holiday, whereas women only shell out $64 on average.

❤One old Italian Valentine’s Day tradition had young, unmarried women waking well before the sun. According to superstition, a woman would be destined to marry the first man she saw.

❤Just a little chocolate and flowers for thought! Happy Valentine’s Day.

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3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Art is AgelessÂŽ call for entries underway at Parsons Presbyterian Manor Parsons Presbyterian Manor is seeking artists age 65 and older for is annual juried art exhibit and competition April 6-9, 2021.

Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2022 Art is Ageless calendar.

The exhibit will continue the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica) program, celebrated with the 2021 calendar.

Due to the uncertainty created by COVID-19, Parsons Presbyterian Manor plans to hold its event virtually for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page, and to announce winners during a Facebook live event. Works will be on exhibit at the community for residents only.

Artists may choose to enter works for exhibit only. For the competition, the artist must have been 65 at the time of

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2021

creation and have completed the work in the past five years (since January 2016). There are nine categories, as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 31. To arrange drop-off of artwork, contact Victoria White at 620421-1450 or vwhite@pmma.org.

The Art is Ageless program encourages Parsons Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.

Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA communities to be judged at the systemwide level.

Entry forms and information can be obtained by contacting Victoria White at 620-421-1450 or vwhite@pmma.org, or accessed at ArtIsAgeless.org.u