diff --git a/apaxy-configure.sh b/apaxy-configure.sh
index 36bcdb0..7506457 100755
--- a/apaxy-configure.sh
+++ b/apaxy-configure.sh
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ defaultLogFile="$(basename "${0}" .sh).log"
 defaultApacheWebRootPath="/var/www/html"
 defaultInstallWebPath=""
 defaultEnableGallery=false
+defaultHeaderMessage="default header message"
+defaultFooterMessage="default footer message"
 
 workingDirectory="$(dirname "${0}")"
 
@@ -44,6 +46,8 @@ Available optionnal parameters are :
   -d  - set path/to/dir/ directory where apaxy will be installed on the filesystem
   -w  - set path/to/dir/ directory where apaxy will be available on the httpd server
   -g  - enable or disable gallery feature
+  -hm - set the default header message displayed on top of each page
+  -fm - set the default footer message displayed on bottom of each page
   -ll - set the log level
   -lf - set the log file
 EOF
@@ -54,7 +58,7 @@ EOF
  ##
 displayUsage () {
     cat <<EOF
-usage - $(basename "${0}") [-h] [-d path/to/dir/] [-w path/to/dir/] [-g true|false] [-ll logLevel] [-lf logFile]
+usage - $(basename "${0}") [-h] [-d path/to/dir/] [-w path/to/dir/] [-g true|false] [-hm "header message"] [-fm "footer message"] [-ll logLevel] [-lf logFile]
 EOF
 }
 
@@ -113,6 +117,14 @@ while [ "$#" -ge 1 ] ; do
             shiftStep=2
             enableGallery="${2}"
             ;;
+        -hm) # set the default header message displayed on top of each page
+            shiftStep=2
+            headerMessage="${2}"
+            ;;
+        -fm) # set the default footer message displayed on bottom of each page
+            shiftStep=2
+            footerMessage="${2}"
+            ;;
         -ll) # set the log level
             shiftStep=2
             logLevel="${2}"
@@ -159,6 +171,16 @@ then
     enableGallery="${defaultEnableGallery}"
 fi
 
+if [ -z "${headerMessage}" ]
+then
+    headerMessage="${defaultHeaderMessage}"
+fi
+
+if [ -z "${footerMessage}" ]
+then
+    footerMessage="${defaultFooterMessage}"
+fi
+
 if [ -z "${logLevel}" ]
 then
     logLevel="${defaultLogLevel}"
@@ -212,6 +234,8 @@ log 2 "- setting path in html files"
 files=$(find ${installDir} -name "*.html")
 while read -r file; do
     sed -i "s|{FOLDERNAME}|${installWebPath}|g" "${file}"
+    sed -i "s|{HEADER-MESSAGE}|${headerMessage}|g" "${file}"
+    sed -i "s|{FOOTER-MESSAGE}|${footerMessage}|g" "${file}"
 done <<< "${files}"
 
 log 2 "- syncing filesystem"
diff --git a/apaxy.config b/apaxy.config
index 2cb3de2..64d7f41 100644
--- a/apaxy.config
+++ b/apaxy.config
@@ -50,3 +50,9 @@ installWebPath=""
 # please enable it with caution
 #
 enableGallery=false
+
+# set the default header message displayed on top of each page
+defaultHeaderMessage="default header message"
+
+# set the default footer message displayed on bottom of each page
+defaultFooterMessage="default footer message"
diff --git a/apaxy/theme/footer-lightgallery.html b/apaxy/theme/footer-lightgallery.html
index 861a863..fece1b5 100644
--- a/apaxy/theme/footer-lightgallery.html
+++ b/apaxy/theme/footer-lightgallery.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
   <div class="block">
-    You can add your own HTML above or below the directory listing. Simply explore the <code>header.html</code> and <code>footer.html</code> files.
+    {FOOTER-MESSAGE}
   </div><!--/.postlisting-->
 
 </div><!--/.wrapper-->
diff --git a/apaxy/theme/footer.html b/apaxy/theme/footer.html
index 6cd77b8..392af46 100644
--- a/apaxy/theme/footer.html
+++ b/apaxy/theme/footer.html
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
   <div class="block">
-    You can add your own HTML above or below the directory listing. Simply explore the <code>header.html</code> and <code>footer.html</code> files.
+    {FOOTER-MESSAGE}
   </div><!--/.postlisting-->
 
 </div><!--/.wrapper-->
diff --git a/apaxy/theme/header-lightgallery.html b/apaxy/theme/header-lightgallery.html
index 50503ca..1c496cb 100644
--- a/apaxy/theme/header-lightgallery.html
+++ b/apaxy/theme/header-lightgallery.html
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@
 </ol>
 
 <input type="search" id="filter" placeholder="filter contents" />
+
+{HEADER-MESSAGE}
diff --git a/apaxy/theme/header.html b/apaxy/theme/header.html
index 1c30e70..6680f87 100644
--- a/apaxy/theme/header.html
+++ b/apaxy/theme/header.html
@@ -5,3 +5,5 @@
 </ol>
 
 <input type="search" id="filter" placeholder="filter contents" />
+
+{HEADER-MESSAGE}