Mother's Day
The figure of the mother has always been and remains one of the most revered in many cultures. No wonder the calendar has a special day dedicated to mothers. However, as cultures differ, so do the motives behind this special date! In the Middle Ages, those who had moved away from where they grew up used to return to their home or 'mother' churches on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It was not uncommon for children as young as 10 years old to leave home to work at the time; thus this was an opportunity for families to reunite. In the United Kingdom, this is known as Mothering Sunday. The date of Mothering Sunday varies each year, much as the dates of Lent do. Although it is commonly referred to as Mother's Day in the United Kingdom, it is unrelated to Mother's Day in the United States. On May 12, 1907, a woman named Anna Jarvis held a tiny memorial service for her own mother in America, which sparked the idea. Soon after, most of the US observed the day, and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson declared it a national holiday on the second Sunday of May. Moreover, Mother's Day is celebrated in many other nations at various dates throughout the year. Check it out in your country!