| Mothers Day is a very special holiday that is | | | | cause better than anyone else. When she died her |
| celebrated all over the world to honor mothers | | | | daughter (who had the same name as her |
| and show how much they are appreciated. In | | | | mother) Anna Jarvis started up a campaign that |
| America, it is celebrated on the second Sunday of | | | | was designed to memorialize her mother and all |
| May every year. It is the day that millions of | | | | the work she had done. |
| people take their Mothers out to eat and buy | | | | The first service was held in a church located in |
| them special gifts that shows their love. But | | | | West Virginia. It was held in the year 1908 on |
| where and why did it all begin? | | | | May 10th. At this service she gave out a white |
| It began with ancient cultures that started with | | | | carnation which of course, was her mother's |
| the Greeks. Once every spring they dedicated a | | | | favorite. To help continue with these services |
| celebration to Rhea, who was considered the | | | | each year she enlisted the help of important |
| mother of Gods. The Romans, British Isles, Celtic | | | | businessmen and politicians to support her |
| and Europe also made offerings to their "Great | | | | campaign for honoring mothers everywhere. |
| Mother of Gods". The fourth Sunday in "Lent" | | | | After five years the House of Representatives |
| was set aside by the Christians to honor Mary | | | | accepted a decree saying that a white carnation |
| the mother of Jesus Christ. Eventually, England | | | | should be worn by administrators of the federal |
| took this holiday and named it "Mothering Sunday" | | | | government on this day that became known as |
| and made it to include all mothers, instead of just | | | | Mothers Day. |
| Mary. | | | | Mothers Day became official in 1914 when a bill |
| Following in the tradition of this English holiday a | | | | was signed by Woodrow Wilson declaring this a |
| woman in the United States named Julia Ward | | | | national holiday. It has been know as Mothers Day |
| Howe set aside a day in which she asked | | | | every since. For a while everyone followed the |
| mothers to rally together for peace. She even | | | | tradition that Anna Jarvis had started and honored |
| wrote the "Mothers Day Proclamation". She was | | | | their mothers at church with flowers. Before long |
| considered to be a suffragist, pacifist and was | | | | sending cards and letters were added and people |
| also recognized as a poet. However, her efforts | | | | began calling their mothers to show their |
| failed and she could not get formal recognition for | | | | appreciation for all they do throughout the year. |
| a holiday consisting of mothers for peace. | | | | After awhile people began giving gifts for Mothers |
| Almost 150 years ago (after the attempt of Julia | | | | Day, which was very upsetting to Anna Jarvis |
| Ward Howe) a woman named Anna Jarvis set | | | | because, she felt like it was becoming too |
| aside a special day to make people aware of the | | | | commercial and the true meaning of this day was |
| health condition residents in her community | | | | getting lost in all the hype. Soon she began |
| suffered from. She called it "Mothers Work Day" | | | | regretting the fact that she had even starting this |
| because she felt like mothers could support this | | | | holiday. |