Many folks know that Mother’s Day was made official when President Woodrow Wilson signed a Joint Resolution on May 8, 1914 which designated that the second Sunday of every May would be known as Mother’s Day. To most Americans, this is the official beginning of Mother’s Day, but the actual roots of Mother’s Day began so much earlier than 1914.
According to the website www.mothersdaycelebration.com, Mother’s Day originated in ancient Greece when a spring festival was dedicated to honoring maternal goddesses. Ancient Romans also participated in their own festival honoring mother goddesses. (Isn’t THIS a nice new way to address Mom!) In England, circa 1600’s, a tradition known as “Mothering Sunday” was established on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor the Virgin Mary. On this day, children typically brought their mothers small gifts and flowers to honor them.
In the United States, two women particularly stand out in helping to bring the Mother’s Day movement along into our collective conscience. Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis were two women who lived during the 1800’s who publicly spoke in honor of mothers and the work they tirelessly perform every single day. Anna Jarvis, childless herself, would send Carnations, her mother’s favorite flower, to her church in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her own mother, Anna Marie Reeves Jarvis, a social worker who also championed to have a specific day to honor all mothers.
While there is no official record that Anna Jarvis’ gift of Carnations was the beginning of the tradition of presenting flowers to Mom on Mother’s Day, it is indeed heartwarming that it continues. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in several countries all over the world, including Australia, Turkey, Italy and Mexico. Surprise Mom this Mother’s Day by teaching her the history of Mother’s Day – and make it complete with a beautiful selection of Carnations from Globalrose. With so many beautiful colors to choose from – red, pink, white, yellow, and bi-color – surprise Mom by the armful with delightfully lacy Carnations to brighten her day – and let her know just how much you appreciate all she does for you.