|
The earliest Mother's Day celebrations have been traced back to Greece. These celebrations were in honor of Rhea, whom was considered Mother of the Gods. During the 1600s, England adopted “Mothering Sunday” to honor the mothers of England. It is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Here in the United States, Mother's Day became an official national holiday in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that Mother's Day would be held each year on the 2nd Sunday in May. The idea of Mother's day in the U.S. originated with Anna Jarvis. Anna Jarvis, a young mother, began organizing what was called “Mother's Work Days” back in 1858. The purpose of this was to promote health-improvement for mothers in the Appalachia region, where Jarvis lived. Although not considered “Mother's Day,” it was this idea and the love of Anna Jarvis that inspired her daughter, Ana Jarvis, to pursue the establishment of “Mother's Day.” In 1907, two years after her mother's death, Ana Jarvis, persuaded her mother's church to celebrate “Mother's Day.” This service was held on the second anniverary of Anna Jarvis' death, the 2nd Sunday in May. Soon similar services were being held in many other cities and towns in honor of mothers everywhere. In 1914, after many letters to politicians, ministers, and highly-influential business people, the daughter of the late Anna Jarvis was granted her wish. “Mother's Day” was now an official national holiday. Today, and for many years in the past, mothers have been given many gifts on Mother's Day. Children present these gifts to show their affection and appreciation for their ever-loving mom. Popular Mother's Day gifts include: cards, flowers, candy, hand-made items, home décor, jewelry, perfume, and artwork. When choosing the “right” gift for Mom, try not to be too conventional. Choose a gift that will reflect your mom's personal tastes and passions, yet something she would not normally buy for herself. Whatever you decide, your mother will cherish the gift because it was given with love. |