On the recordMay 7, 2010
this Sunday, May 9, is Mothers Day in the United States. Many European nations have long observed ``Mothering Sundays,'' which are also part of the liturgical calendar in several Christian denominations. Catholics observe Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, in honor of the Virgin Mary and the ``mother'' church. Some historians believe the tradition of sending flowers on Mothers Day grew out of the practice of allowing children who worked in large houses that day off to visit their families. The children would pick wildflowers to take to their mothers on their way home for the visit. The ancient Greeks celebrated the Vernal Equinox with a springtime festival devoted to Cybele, a mother of many Greek gods. The ancient Romans dedicated the March holiday Matronalia to Juno, mother of the gods, and gave gifts to mothers on that day. In the United States, the origins of Mothers Day are rooted deep in the West Virginia hills. Anna Jarvis, the daughter of Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, was born in Webster, WV, on May 1, 1864. Her family moved to Grafton during her childhood. On May 12, 1907, 2 years after her mother's death, Anna Jarvis held a memorial service to honor her mother's memory. From that small event began Anna Jarvis' eventually successful campaign to institute ``Mothers Day'' as a recognized U.S. holiday. Today, the International Mother's Day Shrine, located in Grafton, continues to commemorate Anna Jarvis' accomplishment.
