Mother's Day History

In addition to the popular Mother's Day holiday in the United States, many cultures celebrate a Mother's Day:

• Mother's Day in Britain -- or Mothering Sunday -- is the fourth Sunday in Lent....read more

• the second Sunday in May is Mother's Day not only in the United States, but also in other countries including Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium. By the end of Anna Jarvis' life, Mother's Day was celebrated in more than 40 countries.

• in Spain, Mother's Day is December 8, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, so that not only mothers in one's family are honored, but also Mary, mother of Jesus.

• in France, Mother's Day is on the last Sunday of May. A special cake resembling a bouquet of flowers is presented to mothers at a family dinner.

• the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Women's Action for Nuclear Disarmament, the League of Women Voters and other organizations still organize protests on Mother's Day: The Million Mom March, protests at nuclear weapons sites, etc.

Mother's Day: What You Need to Know

• Ancient Celebrations of Mothers and Motherhood
• Mothering Sunday in Britain
• Mothers' Work Days
• Julia Ward Howe's Mother's Day
• Anna Jarvis and Mother's Day
• Carnations, Anna Jarvis, and Mother's Day
• International Mother's Days Today
• Mother's Day Statistics
• Mother's Day Proclamations
• Famous Mothers
• Quotes on Mothers and Motherhood
• Ideas for Mother's Day (in the spirit of the originals)
• Motherhood in History
• Mother's Day - Index

  Text copyright 1999-2005 © Jone Johnson Lewis