Get a Jump on Mother's Day 2009 Shopping

Mother’s Day 2009 is Sunday, May 10th.

Anna Jarvis, as a memorial to honor her mother, created this relatively modern holiday on May 12th 1907 – the second anniversary of her own mother’s death. Jarvis worked tirelessly to establish Mother’s Day as a national holiday and later as an international holiday. Her efforts were not in vain, as Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates all over the world.

Before Jarvis, women’s peace groups marked an earlier version of “Mother’s Day” after the American Civil War by mother’s who had lost sons in the conflict.

There were even earlier precursors to the holiday we celebrate today, such as “Mothering Sunday” which was celebrated in the 16th century in the United Kingdom and also ancient holidays to honor mothers such as the spring festivals of the Greeks honoring Rhea, wife of Cronus and mother of the gods and goddesses. A Mother's Day-like festival was celebrated in ancient Rome dedicated to the worship of Cybele, a mother goddess. These ceremonies to honor Cybele began some 250 years before Christ was born. Known as Hilaria, this Roman religious celebration lasted for three days - from March 15 to 18.

Through the efforts of Anna Jarvis, the holiday was officially declared by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to fly the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
- Abraham Lincoln

Buy great gifts for mom here: