Mothers Day

The second Sunday in May is mother appreciation day. England was one of the first countries to establish a Mother's Day. In eighteenth century England, people who worked as household servants, mainly girls and women, for the rich lived in their employer's home. They were given a "Mothering Sunday" to return home to be with their mothers and usually took a treat called "mothering cake." After the Industrial Revolution, there was no longer a need for this day. In the twentieth century, Mother's Day was established and it is celebrated the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The tradition of Mother's Day in the United States is said to have originated with Anna Jarvis. After her mother died, she asked the minister of her church to give a special sermon to honor her mother who had passed away. Anna Jarvis then wrote to congressmen and asked them to set aside a special day to honor mothers. The governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day in 1910. Other states followed the tradition the next year.

On Mother's Day sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews honor those who are mother figures for them. Gifts and cards are given. Mothers are treated to breakfast in bed with clean-up done by the children and dad. Some are taken out to dinner. Children who live in different states or countries call home or send gifts by mail. If their mothers are deceased, they may take white flowers to place on their graves. When I was growing up there was a tradition of wearing flowers when we attended church services on that day. Both men and women would wear a red flower if their mother was still living and a white flower if their mother had passed away.