Mother’s Day has now become a worldwide holiday, in which children celebrate the love and respect they feel, for their mothers. There is a wide variety of facts and fun trivia that surround this much loved holiday. This trivia can make a classroom lesson very enlightening, or you can use some of the trivia to make Mother’s Day that much more special, for your mom. Here is some interesting trivia about Mother’ Day-
- Historians report that there were celebrations that honored mothers in ancient times. Many of these pagan celebrations focused on Rhea, who was known as the Mother of the Gods. The celebration also spilled over to focus on mothers and their contribution to their societies, as well.
- Mother’s Day first originated in Great Britain, where the holiday was known as Mothering Sunday. The original form of Mother’s Day was meant to honor the church and other spiritual power. Today, there are still places in England where both Mothering Sunday (typically celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent) and Mother’s Day (celebrated on the second Sunday of May), are both observed.
- Mothering Sunday was quickly given up by the early colonist who were too busy working on simply surviving.
- The original purpose of Mother’s Day was to raise awareness of women’s cause and involve women in the peace process. Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic, called for women to rise up and demand peace.
- Most countries in the world, celebrate some form of Mother’s Day. Even the far flung countries of Iran and Mongolia, each have a day to honor mothers
- The most popular gifts that are given to mothers are perfume and flowers. Perfume retailers and florist report nearly a 70% increase in sales, with jewelers following a close second in Mother’s Day sales.
- While the majority of Mother’s Day celebrations are held in May, there is a Mother’s Day celebration being held somewhere in the world, almost every month of the year.
- Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia became the originator of Mother’s Day, when she was looking for a way to honor her deceased mother. She felt that children did not appreciate their mothers in the way they needed to while they were alive. Because of this she initiated a letter writing campaign to businessmen, congressman and even ministers, urging them to designate a day for mothers. The first observance of Mother’s Day was held in a church in Grafton.
- The first official Mother’s Day occurred in 1914, when then U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, signed a declaration, naming the second Sunday in May, Mother’s Day.
- There is a long standing floral tradition that is associated with Mother’s Day. People are urged to wear a red carnation if their mother is living, and don a white carnation if their mother is deceased. In addition, the giving of spring flowers such as: tulips and daffodils are also associated with Mother’s Day.
- Mother’s Day has been referred to as a “Hallmark Holiday”. This is due to the commercialization of the holiday. It is interesting to note that Anna Jarvis, founder of Mother’s Day, once lodged a lawsuit to express her displeasure, over the commercialization. She lost the suit and remained upset, for the rest of her life, that Mother’s Day was not a quiet religious day of introspection and reflection about mothers.
- The most interesting Mother’s Day has been referred to as the Yugoslavian celebration that has children tying up their mothers, and making her promise to give them sweets and other presents, for her release!