Mother'sDayisatimeofcommemorationandcelebrationforMom.Itisatimeofbreakfastinbed,familygatherings,andcrayonscribbled"ILoveYou"s.

　　TheearliestMother'sDaycelebrationscanbetracedbacktothespringcelebrationsofancientGreeceinhonorofRhea,theMotheroftheGods.Duringthe1600's,Englandcelebratedadaycalled"MotheringSunday".Celebratedonthe4thSundayofLent(the40dayperiodleadinguptoEaster),"MotheringSunday"honoredthemothersofEngland.

　　DuringthistimemanyoftheEngland'spoorworkedasservantsforthewealthy.Asmostjobswerelocatedfarfromtheirhomes,theservantswouldliveatthehousesoftheiremployers.OnMotheringSundaytheservantswouldhavethedayoffandwereencouragedtoreturnhomeandspendthedaywiththeirmothers.Aspecialcake,calledthemotheringcake,wasoftenbroughtalongtoprovideafestivetouch.

　　AsChristianityspreadthroughoutEuropethecelebrationchangedtohonorthe"MotherChurch"-thespiritualpowerthatgavethemlifeandprotectedthemfromharm.OvertimethechurchfestivalblendedwiththeMotheringSundaycelebration.Peoplebeganhonoringtheirmothersaswellasthechurch.

　　IntheUnitedStatesMother'sDaywasfirstsuggestedin1872byJuliaWardHowe(whowrotethewordstotheBattlehymnoftheRepublic)asadaydedicatedtopeace.Ms.HowewouldholdorganizedMother'sDaymeetingsinBoston,Masseveryear.

　　In1907AnaJarvis,fromPhiladelphia,beganacampaigntoestablishanationalMother'sDay.Ms.Jarvispersuadedhermother'schurchinGrafton,WestVirginiatocelebrateMother'sDayonthesecondanniversaryofhermother'sdeath,the2ndSundayofMay.BythenextyearMother'sDaywasalsocelebratedinPhiladelphia.

　　Ms.Jarvisandhersupportersbegantowritetoministers,businessman,andpoliticiansintheirquesttoestablishanationalMother'sDay.Itwassuccessfulasby1911Mother'sDaywascelebratedinalmosteverystate.PresidentWoodrowWilson,in1914,madetheofficialannouncementproclaimingMother'sDayasanationalholidaythatwastobeheldeachyearonthe2ndSundayofMay.

　　WhilemanycountriesoftheworldcelebratetheirownMother'sDayatdifferenttimesthroughouttheyear,therearesomecountriessuchasDenmark,Finland,Italy,Turkey,Australia,andBelgiumwhichalsocelebrateMother'sDayonthesecondSundayofMay.