What is the Origin of Mother’s Day?

Mother’s Day hasn’t always been a celebrated holiday, although it probably should have been. Like many holidays, it began in one area and grew from there.

The official holiday cam about in the early 1900s. After her mother’s death in 1905, Anna Jarvis conceived of Mother’s Day to honor the sacrifices mothers make for their children. She received financial backing of a department store owner in Philadelphia and in May 1908, the first official celebration of this holiday was held at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Virginia. Many people in Philadelphia also attended an event celebrating mothers at one of the retail stores owned by the person backing Jarvis’s efforts.

Persistence turns into success

Jarvis was adamant that the holiday should be added to the national calendar in America. She began a massive letter-writing campaign to newspapers and politicians to adopt this day. It didn’t take long before many areas unofficially adopted this holiday, and by 1912, many states, towns, and churches had held celebrations honoring mothers. Jarvis established the Mother’s Day International Association to support her cause, which paid off. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed the documentation establishing the holiday on the second Sunday in May.

What are some of the top traditions of this holiday?

A holiday that celebrates mothers and their commitment and sacrifices to their children comes with some amazing traditions. Here are a few of them:

Breakfast in bed

It might sound a little cliché, but it’s a classic tradition to allow the mother in the house to rest and relax the morning of Mother’s Day. Children and husbands often serve the mother breakfast while she stays in bed and relaxes. Sometimes, this meal is hard to eat, but there’s a certain level of effort put into it to make it special for the mom.

A little shopping never hurt

One of the nicest things you can do for your mom is to take her shopping and let her indulge in a little pampering. Many stores and service centers might not be open on the holiday, which means you should take your mom out for this gift before the day. Let her pick out a new outfit for the day, get her hair and nails done, and make her feel pretty.

Spend time with family

Some families have many moms and it’s always fun and enjoyable to get them together with their spouses and children to celebrate Mother’s Day together. This opportunity to enjoy family time and do what mom wants to do during the day. This could be enjoying a movie, sharing a meal, or just relaxing by the pool.

Give the gift of plants

If your mom loves to garden, some new flowers or a couple of trees could be the ideal gift for her to enjoy the special day. Moms and their families can go out in the garden and put some new flowers in the ground and get the gardens ready for the summer months. This is a great day to grow together and spend time playing in the dirt.

Cards are a wonderful tradition

Let mom know she’s appreciated for all her efforts with handmade Mother’s Day cards that show your creativity and that you’ve put a little extra effort into it. This is a great way to express your feeling and give you mom a special message for Mother’s Day. Cards typically accompany gifts that moms can enjoy and cherish for many years.

Give mom flowers

One of the best items to accompany the card you give your mom is a lovely bouquet of flowers. This makes a great gift from children who aren’t able to be with their mothers on this special day. Look for flowers that are her favorite color or type, and let her know you appreciate everything she’s done for you during your life.

Give mom some time to herself

Once the breakfast is over and mom has her gifts, the best thing many people can give to their moms for Mother’s Day is a day off. You can give her the alone time she deserves by taking the kids, pets, and other distractions away for a few hours. You could send her for a day out or leave her in peace at home.

Mother’s Day is a special holiday that celebrates mothers everywhere and what they mean to the world. Many families will start this day at church with blessings and prayers and then find various ways to make mom feel special and pampered throughout the day.