The History of Mother's Day (cont'd)

Finally, in 1907, Anna Jarvis began the journey to establish the day we now know as Mother’s Day. It was her own mother’s dying wish to establish a day on which all mothers, living and dead, were honored. She began her crusade by passing out 500 white carnations to members at her mother’s church, one for each mother in the congregation. In 1908, the first church held a service honoring mothers per Jarvis’ request. Also that year, John Wanamaker joined in the fight to establish an official Mother’s Day. The first bill was presented to the US Senate that year and was declined 33 to 14. The following year, 48 states plus Canada and Mexico were celebrating Mother’s Day with special church services. Jarvis continued to push for an official holiday, eventually quitting her job to spend all of her time writing letters to legislators and any group who may have influence in Washington. Her efforts finally paid off in 1914 when the US Congress passed a Joint Resolution establishing Mother’s Day as an official holiday.

Jarvis became increasingly despondent over the commercialization of Mother’s Day, however, and spent the rest of her life protesting various Mother’s Day celebrations and businesses, especially florists, who marketed the holiday for financial gain.

Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world on various days. In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday in May, just as it is in many other countries, including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. In Spain, Mother’s Day is actually celebrated as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when all mothers are honored, especially Mary, the mother of Christ. France celebrates the holiday in late May when families eat a special cake resembling a bouquet of flowers. Great Britain re-instituted “Mothering Sunday” after WWII.


Gift Ideas for Moms
There are so many different mothers, which presents many gift ideas to choose from. Traditionally, flowers, especially carnations, are given to the mother or worn as a corsage. White carnations are worn to honor a mother who has died, while pink carnations honor mothers still alive. Most moms will receive a phone call from their kids: Mother’s Day boasts the highest number of long-distance calls on any one day of the year. Moms often get to leave the kitchen on Mother’s Day too: most restaurants report that Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year.

Want to do something special for Mom this year? Make a personal card for her and include a letter telling her how much she means to you. Purchase and plant a tree or shrub in her yard that she can enjoy for years to come. Whatever you do, make sure you let her know how important she is to you. One last thing: don’t forget YOU are a mother too! Take some time to spend with your children and enjoy the blessings that motherhood brings to your life. Most importantly, let this be a day of love and family: for without these things, we are truly nothing.

Historical information provided by About.com