Mothers Day May 10
Spring, 2009
The first celebrations of Mother's Day can be traced back to
the ancient Greeks, who worshiped mother goddesses Rhea and
Cybele. During the 1600s in England a special day was set
apart as Mothering Day, a day of taking small cakes and
trinkets to mothers.
In the United States the idea for Mother's Day has generally
been credited to Anna Jarvis. The first Mother's Day
observance was a church service held at her request in
Grafton, West Virginia (the burial place of her mother) on
May 10, 1908. Because of her mother's fondness for them,
Miss Jarvis wore a carnation to that first service. She went
on to play an active role in encouraging the government to
establish a national holiday to honor mothers everywhere. By
1911 Mother's Day was being celebrated throughout the United
States, as well as in Mexico, Canada, South America, China,
Japan and Africa. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson
proclaimed the second Sunday in May as National Mother's Day
and asked all Americans to offer their respect and love for
mothers publicly.
Mothers Day Gift Ideas for Kids
Give Mom a
"double feature." Provide your florist with the latest edition
of the newspaper movie section, and ask him to include it in a
box of flowers. Decorate the outside of the box with movie
theater candy and attach a card that tells Mom she gets to see a
movie of her choice. Of course, you buy the tickets and the
popcorn!
•Let Mom know you think she is your treasure with a treasure
hunt! Visit your local flower shop and pick out several pretty
stems of flowers. Ask the florist to put water tubes on the
flowers. Tell Mom that she is on a treasure hunt and give her
clues as to where she can find each of the flowers. At the end
of the hunt, have an empty vase ready with a card telling Mom
what a treasure she is to you. Then you can arrange the flowers
in the vase together.
•Give Mom a kitchen break. Take a cooking pot from your kitchen
along with some kitchen utensils to your florist. Ask him to
make a floral arrangement in the pot that includes the utensils.
Give the arrangement to Mom with a note that tells her she is
getting a kitchen break. Then let her sit back and relax while
you and Dad prepare dinner.
•Surprise Mom with a home pampering party. When she comes in the
door, have rose petals on the floor leading to the bathroom.
Prepare a bubble bath and float rose petals in the water. Place
small vases of flowers on the edge of the tub with scented
candles and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Then leave her
alone to relax.
•Breakfast in bed is a treat that every Mom loves. Dads and kids
can prepare a special morning for Mom by greeting her with a
homemade breakfast in bed, on a tray adorned with fresh flowers.
•For a very personal tribute, write her a note telling Mom why
you're glad she's your mom and attach it to a long stemmed rose.
•Present Mom with a vase of her favorite flowers. On each stem
tie a "coupon" for a chore that you promise to do.
