| Mother's Day is a day set apart to express appreciation for mothers. It falls on a different day each year, but it is always the second Sunday in May. The origin of Mother's Day goes back centuries. The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece. As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church." In the 1600's, in England, "Mothering Sunday" was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor mothers in England. Mother's Day in the United States began in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe, as a day dedicated to peace and motherhood. It was celebrated in a few places, but didn't really catch on until 1907, when Anna Jarvis started a campaign for a national Mother's Day. She stirred people up to write to ministers, politicians, and businessmen, until Mother's Day was celebrated in nearly every state. She used white carnations to celebrate Mother's Day, as that was her own mother's favorite flower. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day: Presidential Proclamation, 1914
"Whereas the service rendered the United States by the American mother is the greatest source of the country's strength and admiration; Whereas we honor ourselves and the mothers of America when we do anything to give emphasis to the home; and Whereas the American mother is doing so much for good government and humanity, we declare that the second Sunday of May will thenceforth be celebrated as Mother's Day." At first people observed Mother's Day by going to church, and by writing letters to their mothers. Over time, Mother's Day became an occasion for cards, presents, and flowers. Mother's Day is now the second highest gift-giving holiday in the United States, the busiest day of the year for many restaurants, and the peak day of the year for long distance phone calls, as sons and daughters everywhere call home to honor and express appreciation for their mothers.
Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May in other countries as well, including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium. Other countries have a similar holiday on different dates. But wherever or whenever it is celebrated, Mother's Day is a day to let mothers know how much they are loved. “Mother's Day is in honor of the best Mother who ever lived- the Mother of your heart.”
~Anna Jarvis |
