Have you ever wondered why Mother's Day is celebrated the second Sunday of every May? Do you want to know some things you can do to make Mother's Day extra special? Read on for the answers to these questions and more.
Did Mother's Day begin in the United States?
No. Long, long, ago, in ancient Greece, the people paid tribute to1 Rhea, the Mother of the Gods, each spring. A little later in history it is noted that England paid homage to2 mothers on “Mothering Sunday,” the fourth Sunday of Lent3.
In 1872, Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) suggested the idea of Mother's Day, but it was Miss Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948), of Philadelphia, who began a letter-writing campaign to a variety of influential people that made Mother's Day a national holiday.
Why did Miss Jarvis think it was so important to have Mother's Day?
Miss Jarvis was very close to her mother Mrs. Anna Reese Jarvis. Anna's mother died in May of 1905, when Anna was 41 years of age. Anna was not married and from the time of her mother's death cared for her blind sister, Ellsinore. Anna missed her mother very much and felt that children should appreciate their mothers more while they're still alive. Anna hoped Mother's Day would increase respect and love and strengthen family bonds.
So when was the first Mother's Day?
In 1907 Anna persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary4 of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year, 1908, Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.
In 1910 the first Mother's Day proclamation5 was issued by the governor of West Virginia. Oklahoma celebrated Mother's Day that year also. By 1911 every state observed Mother's Day. The Mother's Day International Association was incorporated6 on December 12, 1912, with the purpose of furthering meaningful observations of Mother's Day.
Many people give roses on Valentine's Day, is there a particular flower I should give my mom on Mother's Day?
Miss Anna Jarvis's mother's favorite flower was the white carnation7. This flower was chosen to represent the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother love. However, the red carnation has since become the symbol of a living mother while white signifies that one's mother has died.
Do many other countries celebrate Mother's Day?
You bet8 they do! Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium celebrate Mother's Day on the same day as the United States. Other countries celebrate Mother's Day as well, though not on the same day.
What can I do to make Mother's Day special for my mom?
There are all kinds of things you can do to make Mother's Day special for your mom. Here are a few suggestions:
★Make mom breakfast in bed.
★Do secret acts of kindness, this might include doing one of mom's chores9 for her.
★Be obedient.
★Do your chores, without being asked.
★Get along with your brothers and sisters.
★Leave a love letter for mom on her pillow.
★Check out some great ideas to make mom a homemade GIFT.
Spice up the Mother's Day festivities with an activity or two.
Interview your mother and/or grandmother. Ask questions about her birth, childhood, and what she did when she was a teenager. Find out her favorite subjects in school, how she met your father or grandfather. Inquire about her favorite job. What were circumstances and events like when you were born? End the interview by expressing your love for her.
Get together with a few other families and play the Mother/Child Game. Divide into four mother/child teams. Ask the mothers to leave the room while the children sit in chairs. Ask the same four or five questions to each child about their mothers. Bring in the mothers and ask them the same questions. Will the mother and child have the same answers? Switch places and see how well the mothers know the
想过为什么母亲节要在五月的第二个星期天庆祝吗？想知道你怎么做可以让这一天格外特别吗？往下看就知道答案了，你还可以知道更多呢。
母亲节始于美国吗？
否。很久很久以前，古希腊人每年春天都要祭拜众神之母Rhea。根据史料记载，其后不久，英国人在“探亲日”即四旬节后的第四个星期天表达对母亲的敬意。
1872年，朱丽叶·沃德·豪威（即the Battle Hymn of the Republic的词作者）提出设立母亲节，不过母亲节成为全国性节日却始于费城的安娜·M·贾维斯小姐（1864-1948）给各类有影响人士写信的壮举。
设立母亲节为何如此重要？
贾维斯小姐与安娜·丽丝·贾维斯夫人母女情深。1905年5月，母亲去世，当时安娜（贾维斯小姐）41岁。安娜没有结婚，母亲去世后她就照顾双目失明的姐姐埃尔斯诺。安娜非常想念母亲，觉得儿女们在母亲健在时应该更好地孝敬她们，她希望母亲节能加深亲人间的敬爱和凝聚力。
那么母亲节始于何时呢？
1907年，安娜说服了西弗吉尼亚格拉夫顿她母亲所属的教会在母亲去世第二周年纪念日、 5月的第二个星期天庆祝母亲节。到1908年，费城也加入了庆祝母亲节的行列。
1910年西弗吉尼亚州州长宣布庆祝首个母亲节，同年俄克拉荷马州也加入其中。到1911年，各州都庆祝了母亲节。1912年12月12日，母亲节国际协会成立，旨在使母亲节的庆祝意义更加深远。
情人节送玫瑰，母亲节呢？
安娜·贾维斯小姐的母亲最喜欢白色的康乃馨，因此人们选定白色康乃馨代表母爱的甜蜜、纯洁和永恒。不过红色康乃馨后来成了母亲仍然健在的象征，而白色康乃馨则表示母亲已身故。
许多别的国家也庆祝母亲节吗？
当然！丹麦、芬兰、意大利、土耳其、澳大利亚和比利时都在这一天庆祝母亲节，其他国家也有母亲节，不过庆祝的时间不同。
我能做些什么让妈妈度过特别的一天呢？
要让妈妈过个特别的节日有许多事你都可以做，给你一些小小的建议吧：
★让妈妈坐在床上享受早餐。
★悄悄地做些好事，这也包括帮妈妈做家务哦。
★听妈妈的话。
★把自己分内之事做了，别等着妈妈提醒。
★和兄弟姐妹和睦相处。
★在妈妈的枕边放一封表达爱心的信。
★看看能否找到一些灵感自己动手给妈妈做一份礼物。
为母亲节增添情趣的活动
采访你的妈妈和（或）奶奶，问问她的生日、童年以及她十几岁时做过的事情，看看她念书时最喜欢的科目是什么、她又是什么时候遇到你爸爸或爷爷的。再问问她最喜欢的工作、你出生那个年代的情况。结束采访时别忘了表达你对她的爱。
几个家庭聚在一起玩母与子的游戏。组成四个母子队，妈妈们离开房间，而孩子们坐在椅子上。向每个孩子问四到五个相同的、有关他们妈妈的问题。让妈妈们进来再问她们相同的问题。母子答案会相同吗？交换位置再来看看妈妈们对孩子们的了解又有多少。最后为优胜母子队颁发一枝红色康乃馨。
1． pay tribute to 向…表示敬意
2． pay homage to 向…表示敬意
3． Lent [lent] n． (基督教的) 四旬斋，四旬节 (指复活节前的40天为纪念耶稣在荒野禁食)
4． anniversary n． 周年纪念日
5． proclamation n． 宣布
6． incorporate v． 合并，组成
7． carnation n． 康乃馨
8． You bet 对了! (同意别人意见时常用的口语)
9． chore n． 家务杂事