Tradition

How did Mother's Day begin?

Many countries have special days to remember mothers. In America, the second Sunday in May is set aside to honor mothers. On Mother's Day, children of all ages show their love for their mothers. Many people also remember their grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, or other women who have been like mothers to them.

History Of The Holiday
Mother's Day may have come from a custom in England called Mothering Sunday. This was a day in the spring when servants went back to their homes for a visit. Many of these servants were young, so they were glad for a chance to see their families. Some might pick flowers or bring a small treat for their mothers if they could. Because it was Sunday, they also would attend their home church, or "mother church," as it was called. That was how Mothering Sunday got its name. Other people do not think this holiday was the start of Mother's Day, even though it is similar in some ways.

The idea for Mother's Day came from Anna Jarvis. After Jarvis's mother died, Jarvis wanted to have a special day to remember mothers. Jarvis then came up with the idea for Mother's Day. Jarvis's church in Grafton, West Virginia, held the first Mother's Day services on May 10, 1908. Soon other states began to celebrate the day. By 1912 all 48 states were celebrating Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day a national holiday in 1914.

Celebrating Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a time to let mothers know how much they are appreciated. Most people give their mothers cards or gifts. Flowers and candy are popular gifts. More flowers are sold for Mother's Day than for any other day of the year. Some children serve their mother breakfast in bed. They might also take her out for a meal at a restaurant. Children who live far away usually visit or call their mothers on this special day.

Children also can honor other women besides their mother on this day. They can give gifts or cards to the women in their lives who love and care for them. These women may be relatives, stepmothers, neighbors, or anyone else who is important to them.

To remember a mother who has died, Jarvis suggested wearing a white carnation. Carnations were her mother's favorite flower. Wearing a pink carnation shows that a person's mother is still living.

Source Citation:
"Mother's Day." Kids InfoBits Presents: Holidays of the World. Thomson Gale, 2007. Reproduced in Kids InfoBits. Detroit: Gale, 2009.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBitsDocument Number: BX3201341075