Mother's Day History

Mother's Day, 2^nd Sunday in May, Mother's Day was first observed in 1907. Ana Jarvis, who was 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 2^nd Sunday of May.

Six years later President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May for public observance of Mother's Day. It is now observed in countries all around the world, including England, France, Sweden, Denmark, India, China, and Mexico, where the celebration lasts 2 days. Carnations are the Mother's Day flowers; pink to be worn for a living mother and white if the mother has died. Children honor their mothers on this day with gifts, visits, and the wearing of carnations.

In Queen Victoria's era, Mother's Day was not celebrated although she would have approved of it since she was known as the great-grandmother of Europe and was devoted to her family and her nine children. She would have approved of a tea party to celebrate Mother's Day since she never missed afternoon tea. Bring out your best china, silver and linens to honor the queen of your family - Mom!

A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,

To love us, whatever we do,

With a warm understanding and infinite patience

And wonderful gentleness, too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance

In soothing our small, childish fears,

How tenderly mothers watch over their children

And treasure them all through the years!

The heart of a mother is full of forgiveness

For any mistake, big or small,

And generous always in helping her family,

Whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion

And make all our cares fall away,

She can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter

And make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom

And wonderful insight and skill -

In each human heart is htat aone special corner

Which only a mother can fill!

Katherine Nelson Davis