This Page is dedictaed to my beloved Mom & all the loving moms of the world.

Mothers Day A short history

Motherhood has been celebrated through the ages.

It is only in recent years, however, that we've set aside a day to recognize and honor our mothers! Read on for a short history of Mother's Day...

Mothers as the Sacred Source of Life

In ancient times, it was believed that only women had the divine ability to create a new life. Men, for their part, were thought useful only for their hunting skills and for defending the mothers and children!

Consequently, ancient myths and religions featured a woman -- not male! -- Creator, worshiped for her life-giving and sustaining powers.

Mothering Sunday

In the 18-19'th centuries, Mothering Sunday was a popular tradition that originated with the Roman Catholic custom of visiting the "Mother Church" on Mid-Lent Sunday to make an offering.

In England, this tradition evolved into the practice of "Mothering" -- going to visit your parents on Mid-Lent Sunday. Children would bring their parents "...a present of money, a trinket, or some nice eatable" on Mothering Sunday.

Mother's Day in the United States

Our modern Mother's Day holiday can be traced back ninety years to Anna Jarvis, a Sunday school teacher from Pennsylvania. Anna wanted to honor the memory of her mother by setting aside one special day each year.

Anna convinced church leaders in Philadelphia to extol maternal virtues during services held on May 10, 1908. Next, Anna founded the Mother's Day International Association, which succeeded in having the second Sunday in May proclaimed a day of national observance by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

The Meaning of Mother's Day Carnations

Anna also promoted the wearing of her mother's favorite flower - a white carnation - as a symbol of filial devotion. As the years passed, this custom has evolved. Today, pink carnations are often worn to represent love for a living mother while white carnations are worn in respect for those who are no longer living.