Mother's Day is intended to be a day to celebrate motherhood. Many churches
and families in the United States recognize the second Sunday in May to honor
mothers. Many years ago, England observed a day to honor mothers in mid-Lent
that was called Mothering Sunday. In the United Kingdom, Mothers' Day is
celebrated in March. The first known suggestion of Mother's Day in the United
States was in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe. She suggested that people observe the
day on June 2 as a day dedicated to peace. In 1908, Anna Jarvis of West Virginia began a
campaign for a nationwide observance of Mother's Day. She chose the second
Sunday in May and started the custom of wearing a carnation. If a person wears
a colored carnation, their mother is living. A white carnation signifies that
their mother has passed away. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a joint
resolution of Congress recommending that Congress and the executive branch of
government recognize the observance of Mother's Day. From:
