Mother's day, the auspicious day of celebrating motherhood, originated from the United States of America. Here, the mother's day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, every year. The day has been designated as a national holiday in America. On this day, the national flag is hoisted on every house as well as on all the important buildings, to mark the auspiciousness of the day and celebrate motherhood. Mother's day is the day to pamper your mother for all what she has done for you, over the years. This day is celebrated to pay homage to the most important person in your life who made you what you are today.
Emotions run high on this day, as every child makes use of the opportunity to express love and respect for his/her mother. Looking back, mother's day celebration in US is seen to be about a century old. It was efforts put in by a loving daughter - Ms Anna Jarvis - that led to the creation of such a day. However, the first idea about such a day was given by the writer-poet Julia Ward Howe, in 1872. She had also written a mother's day proclamation, as a call for peace, but failed in her attempts to get a formal recognition for the day. The idea was then employed by Ann Jarvis, mother of Anna Jarvis. She started off with a call for improvisation of sanitary conditions, which she called Mother's Work Days.
Throughout the Civil War, Ann organized women to work for better sanitary conditions, across the borders as well. It was in 1868 that she began to work for the reconciliation of Union and Confederate neighbours. The death of Ann Jarvis in 1905 did not halt the work started by her, as her daughter carried the crusade a little further. In the year 1907, Anna Jarvis ordered 500 white carnations at her mother's church - St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Each mother present in the congregation was presented with one of the white carnations.
Anna chose Sunday to be the mother's day because, she intended the day to be commemorated and treated as a Holy Day. It was her hard work and struggle that made the then President of America, President Woodrow Wilson, declare the second Sunday of May as the official mother's day, on 8th of May, 1914. St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church came to be regarded as the International Mother's Day Shrine, a national historical landmark in America. At the same time, carnations became the flower that represented mother's day.
Today, a trend of wearing carnation on mother's day can be seen. Carnations of different colours hold different meanings. While white carnation is worn by people whose mother has deceased, a red or pink one indicates that the person's mother is alive. On this day, children take up the initiative to make their mother feel special. From the morning breakfast to the evening dessert, mothers are treated with delicacies made by their children. They also give gifts to their mother, ranging from the traditional flowers to the more commercial cards & gifts.
People, especially girls, give spa or hair salon vouchers to visit parlours so that their mothers can have a special makeover. It is just a gesture to make their mums feel special and worth and show them that you are thankful. Celebrating this one day can make your mothers feel special and if you have an idea to thank your mother for her efforts, then this is the right day to present.
Mother's Day Date USA:
2016 - May 08
2017 - May 14
2018 - May 13
2019 - May 12
In USA, Mother's Day commemorates the endless efforts put in by a mom, in raising her children. Explore mother's day celebration in America.