Mother's Day - May 11

Celebrated every year on second Sunday in May, Mother's Day is the day when every child expresses the thoughts of love and respect that they have for their mother. It is the time to honour one's mother with greeting cards, gifts and flowers and doing something special for her - to make her feel special.

Anna Jarvis, the woman behind the establishment of an official holiday for Mother's Day, gave out white carnations to each who attended the church service in Grafton, West Virginia in memory of her mother. White carnations were chosen because they were her mother's favourites. Anna Jarvis launched a quest for Mother's Day to be more widely recognized. Her campaign was later financially supported by John Wanamaker, a clothing merchant from Philadelphia.

Anna and her supporters tirelessly wrote to ministers, business people, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day to honour all mothers. By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state.

Jarvis also won Mother's Day endorsements from a string of governors and senators; this political backing found fruition in Woodrow Wilson's presidential proclamation recognizing the holiday in 1914. One Congregationalist paper at the time effused over the rising prominence of Mother's Day on the American calendar: "Not Christmas, nor Easter, nor Children's Day has stirred such depth of sentiment.".

Remember your Mom this Mother's Day - be it with a gift, a card, a call home or an unexpected visit. Make her feel extra special this year.