By SUE ELLEN ROSS – Staff Reporter

The origins of Mother’s Day can be traced back to the 1600s. At that time, England celebrated ‘Mothering Sunday’ on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter.)

This special day honored all the mothers of England.

During this period, many of England’s poor people worked as servants for the wealthy. They didn’t live close to their workplace, so they stayed in the house of their employers, while their family resided elsewhere.

On Mothering Sunday, these servants were given the day off, and encouraged to go home to see their mothers. They usually took a ‘Mothering Cake’ with them, to add to the special day.

The holiday was changed to honor the ‘Mother Church’ as Christianity was accepted throughout Europe. The people believed that the Mother Church was the spiritual power that offered them life and gave protection from harm.

Over the years, the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday festivities, and people began honoring their mothers as well.

Mother’s Day in the United States was first brought to public attention by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. Howe was also the author of the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

She suggested the day be recognized as a dedication to peace. Howe held organized Mother’s Day meetings in Boston, Mass. each year.

Ana Jarvis, a Philadelphia, Penn. Resident, is credited with beginning a campaign to initiate a national Mother’s Day holiday.

Jarvis succeeded in having her proposal accepted by her mother’s Grafton, West Virginia church on the second anniversary of her mother’s death. This was the second Sunday in May.

Jarvis continued her quest, aided by many supporters, writing to politicians, businessmen and ministers.

Her hard work won out.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially announced Mother’s Day as a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May.

This special day for moms is said to be the busiest day of the year for restaurants, as well the most profitable (next to Christmas) for greeting card companies and retail businesses.

It is estimated that $10 billion will be spent this year on Mother’s Day gifts.