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Play:
M-O-T-H-E-R
Spring
The
Story of Mother's Day
The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back
to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of
Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England
celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday."
Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period
leading up to Easter), "Mothering Sunday"
honored the mothers of England.
During this time many of the England's poor worked as
servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far
from their homes, the servants would live at the houses
of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants
would have the day off and were encouraged to return home
and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake,
called the mothering cake, was often brought along to
provide a festive touch.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration
changed to honor the "Mother Church" -- the
spiritual power that gave them life and protected them
from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the
Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their
mothers as well as the church.
In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in
1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the
Battle Hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace.
Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in
Boston, MA, every year.
In 1907 Anna Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign
to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis
persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia,
to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of
her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next
year, Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to
ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to
establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as
by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every
state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the
official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a
national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd
Sunday of May.
While many countries of the world celebrate their own
Mother's Day at different times throughout the year,
there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy,
Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate
Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.
Celebrating
Mother's Day
One the best way to celebrate Mother's Day is to give
your mom the day off. Let her take it easy and relax
while the rest of the family does the work.
Many families begin Mother's Day with breakfast in bed.
Usually Dad and the Kids will let mom sleep late as they
go into the kitchen and prepare her favorite meal. A
Mother's Day breakfast can consist of anything your mom
likes.
After the food is cooked arrange everything nicely on a
tray. Don't forget the vase with a single flower. With
spring here, the children can pick a tulip or daffodil
from the garden outside.
When everything is ready carefully carry the tray and
mom's favorite sections from the newspaper up to her
bedroom. Cards and small presents from the children can
be placed on the tray before it is presented to mom in
bed.
Many families make a special Mother's Day dinner or take
mom out to her favorite restaurant for a meal. It is a
good day to let your mom relax and let her see what a
wonderful family she has!
QUEEN FOR A DAY!!
Special Mother's Day
Recipes!
Mother's Day Brunch
Recipes
Presidential Mother's Day
Proclamation
Mother Of The Year Awards
Ceremony
Anna Jarvis -- First
Mother's Day
Prairie Home Companion
Mother's Day Skit
Go back to Homespun-Country
Kitchen.
This
page was last updated April 26, 2005.
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