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Mother’s Day – History, Church & Gifts

Mothers have been celebrated throughout the centuries, with deep ties to Sundays, church & gifts. Those traditions continue today as mothers are recognized with presents and homemade gifts every Motherā€™s Day.

The Origin of Motherā€™s Day…and Gifts That Show You Care

Decorative pink and white dobosh torte on a white platter, with a slice displaying the many layers, and fruit garnish.

Itā€™s the thought that counts. For centuries, cultures around the world have celebrated mothersā€¦and Motherā€™s Day in the U.S. recently passed its own century mark. Honoring the sacrifices mothers make for their children is a tradition that has stood the test of time.

Each family celebrates the occasion in its own way. Many head to church in their Sunday best, or restaurants for Motherā€™s Day brunch, and some lucky moms get treated to breakfast in bed. Flowers, cards, and presents of all kinds are often bestowed on moms who spend the day appreciating many kind words and expressions of love and thanks.

Breakfast gift of a red mixing pitcher filled with a spatula, pancake mix, coffee, sweet bread, sausage links and syrup.

Origins of Mother’s Day

The connection between Mother’s Day and the church has its roots in the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.” This observance originated in the United Kingdom during the 16th century and was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, which falls roughly three weeks before Easter.

Mothering Sunday was a time when people returned to their “mother church” or the church in which they were baptized. It was also a day when children, particularly those who worked as domestic servants, were given a day off to visit their mothers and bring them small gifts.

Over time, Mothering Sunday became associated with honoring mothers and motherhood more broadly. In the United States, the modern-day celebration of Mother’s Day can be traced back to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, who began campaigning for a national holiday honoring mothers in the early 20th century.

Yellow spring flower towers with boxes displaying a beef log, cheese, chocolates, mixed nuts, candies and more.

History of Mother’s Day

In 1908, families gathered in a quaint church located in Grafton, West Virginia, for the first official Motherā€™s Day celebration in the United States. Anna Jarvis, the founder of Motherā€™s Day, selected the second Sunday in May to commemorate the life of her own mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, who herself worked to create official days honoring mothersā€™ work.

Prior to the Civil War in 1861, the elder Jarvis started ā€œMothersā€™ Day Work Clubsā€ to teach local women how to properly care for their children and improve sanitary conditions. After the war ended, she organized ā€œMothersā€™ Friendship Dayā€ in 1868 to promote reconciliation between former Union and Confederate soldiers. This mothers movement inspired other activists to create similar events to honor mothers in the spirit of promoting world peace.

However, it was Annā€™s daughter, Anna Jarvis, who first conceived the idea to connect florists with her inaugural event, where she handed out 500 white carnations for mothers to wear because it was her own motherā€™s favorite flower. Anna Jarvis also partnered with a prominent department store in Philadelphia, which held an in-store Motherā€™s Day event on the same day as the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church event in West Virginia. Thus, the commercialization of Motherā€™s Day was born.

Other states followed suit by adopting Motherā€™s Day as an annual holiday. It eventually became so popular that President Woodrow Wilson officially signed a proclamation in 1914 to establish the second Sunday in May as Motherā€™s Day. Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated in countries around the world, often with church services and other special events.

On May 15, 1962, the church was renamed the ā€œInternational Motherā€™s Day Shrine,ā€ paying tribute to mothers everywhere and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

candy trio sampler

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

An interesting fact about Motherā€™s Day is that more people go out to eat and make phone calls on this day than any other during the year in the U.S. Outside of Christmas Eve and Easter, Mother’s Day boasts the third highest day of church attendance than any other holiday. And, that’s no surprise,9 given that Mother’s Day basically began in a church!

While spending money on gifts is perfectly acceptable, a gift from the heart holds much value, as do homemade gifts. Offering to do all the laundry and dishes for the day is a nice treat for busy moms who need a break from daily chores. Homemade soaps or scented candles are easy DIY presents any mom would enjoy receiving.

A great gift is one that you know the recipient will value. If you know your mom never treats herself to a massage, pedicure, or even a movie in a theater, then get her a gift certificate for an activity she would never purchase for herself. Maybe she likes to decorate and would enjoy a cute pillow expressing phrases of love.

Likewise, do you know what her favorite food is? Offer to make her dinner, or purchase a box of chocolates, candy, or some other little sweet treat she can easily stash away for a special indulgence. There are plenty of Mother’s Day food gifts you can order online.

Moms will welcome any gesture that says ā€œthanksā€ for raising thoughtful children.

Comments (6)

Received my box today from my family. I wish you would let them know how delicious and pleased I am with their choice of chocolates and delicious coffee cake. Yummy.

Delighted to hear you enjoyed the chocolates and coffee cake, Charlotte! Your family’s choice was delicious.

Those are really nice gift ideas and I liked them very much.

Excellent way of explaining, and nice piece of writing to get data regarding my presentation subject matter, which i am going to deliver in school.|

We received a gift box and appears to be a about a $49 dollar gift. But we do not know how to find out who sent it. There was a note that appears to be put in all your gifts saying to go “SwissColonythankyou.com”. I go to that site and there is no way for me to send a thank you note and to find out who sent it. Can you help? This seems to be the only way I can communicate with you.
Ed Hetherington 210 Enfield Main Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850.

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