BYU NewsNet - Mother's Day: more than just a holiday

By KRISTIN WOFFINDEN and MICHAEL MOSS

Carnations, cards and chocolates: all things we associate with Mother's Day today, but originally this holiday started out in the United States with a simple church service to honor women and is celebrated in many different ways throughout the world.

Mother's Day, a fairly young holiday in the United States, was first celebrated on May 10, 1908 in Grafton, W. Va. Anna Jarvis, a local citizen, wanted to pay respect to her mother and suggested to hold a church service to celebrate motherhood. In 1912, Jarvis was recognized by West Virginia Governor William E. Glasscock as the founder of Mother's Day. Then, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May as the official day to celebrate mothers, said Jo Ann Vall, director of tours at the International Mother's Day shrine.

"Anna Jarvis was an influential lady who simply wanted to honor her great mother," Vall said.

Today, the Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church, in Grafton W. Va., where the first Mother's Day ceremony took place, is regarded as a shrine to all mothers. The church offers tours and various other events such as a Mother's Day Tea. Visitors can also purchase engraved plaques with their mother's names and visit date to be placed in the church, Vall said.

Some historians believe that this holiday can be traced back to the times of ancient Greeks, who held celebrations in honor of mother goddesses, according to www.mothersdaycentral.com. Throughout the world, mothers are honored in various ways.

Mexico

Traveling south of the border to Mexico, the festivities are colorful and grand every May 10. Mariachi bands are often found serenading the "madres" as early as 3 a.m. Music plays all day long and food is plentiful.

"All year is important, but that day you show your mom how much you love her," said Victoria Armendariz, a mother of three and originally from Chihuahua, Mexico.

England

Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean brings Mother's Day to the British Isles. Great Britain celebrates Mothering Sunday on the fourth Sunday of lent, held this year on March 18. It is also known as Refreshment Sunday because the fasting rules are relaxed for the celebration. The British traditionally present "mum" with a simnel cake, a fruitcake with two layers of almond paste made from 11 balls of marzipan, according to an article on bbc.co.uk.

France

Taking a ride through the Chunnel brings the maternal celebration to France. The Fête des Mères, observed the last Sunday of May, brings all the wonders of French cuisine to their "meres." Flowers and candy are as required as they are in the United States, and the day builds up to a large family meal honoring the mother, said Chantal Thompson, a BYU French professor.

South Africa

Heading due south for several thousand miles finds a different celebration. Aside from the festivities on the second Sunday in May, South Africa honors women on National Women's day, August 9. The day recognizes the anniversary of a women's march for equal rights in 1956, according to South Africa's official website za.gov. One of the march's rallying cries has become the modern, "You strike a woman, you strike a rock," a phrase representing women's courage in South Africa; however, all readers should beware calling their "moeder" a rock.

Russia

If giving a Matryoshka doll to a mother, the card may read "From Russia with love." There families recognize their "mat" during International Women's Day on March 8. The International Holiday is observed in many countries and finds families honoring their mothers and other female kin.

"It is a day where the women don't do anything," said Roman Kuprov, a 24-year old chemistry major from Rostov, Russia. "They are being pampered by men."