Mother's Day

Mother's Day is set apart every year in honor of motherhood. On the second Sunday in May, many families and churches make a special point of honoring mothers. Many people follow the custom of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. A colored carnation means that a person's mother is living. A white carnation indicates that a person's mother is dead.

Mother's Day, first observed in 1908, was recognized officially by Congress and the President in 1914. It is celebrated in honor of the nation's mothers on the second Sunday in May. Mother's Day is one of the holidays that have been designated by Presidential proclamations.

As far back as the 1600s, there was a day called "Mothering Sunday" when servants in England were given the day off to spend with their Mothers. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday in May to be a nationally observed "Mother's Day" in the United States. Throughout the world their are many countries that honor Mothers on similar days,

Jarvis, Anna M. (1864-1948), founder of Mother's Day, born Grafton, West Virginia,

Anna Jarvis of Grafton, W. Va., and Philadelphia, began a campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother's Day. She chose the second Sunday in May, and began the custom of wearing a carnation. On May 10, 1908, churches in Grafton and Philadelphia held Mother's Day celebrations. The service at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton honored the memory of Anna Jarvis' own mother, Mrs. Anna Reeves Jarvis.

 

Mother's Day received national recognition on May 9, 1914. On that day, President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint resolution of Congress recommending that Congress and the executive departments of the federal government observe Mother's Day. The next year, President Wilson was authorized to proclaim Mother's Day an annual national observance.

 

 

 

Proverbs 31:
 Verse 10: Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Verse 28: Her children arise up, and call her blessed.

 

 

 

 

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."