www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, May 5, 2010 · 20 Happy Mother's Day Discover the History of Mother's Day The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600s, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday," on the fourth Sunday of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter). "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch. As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" -- the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their mothers as well as the church. In the United States, Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote Isn't it about time you gave PRIVATE & the words to the "Battle Hymn of her the one thing she's always GROUP the Republic") as a day dedicated LESSONS wanted - Dance Lessons? With a partner to peace. Ms. Howe would hold or without organized Mother's Day meetSPECIAL OFFER Swing · Mambo · Tango · Samba ings in Boston, Mass. every year. OFFER 10 Sessions 10 Sessions In 1907, Ana Jarvis, of Waltz · Fox Trot · Latin For... for... Philadelphia, began a campaign HAMILTON OAKVILLE 1092 Main Street W. 225 Lakeshore Rd. E. (2nd Floor) to establish a national Mother's * between Dunn St. and George St. near Cline Ave. www.fredastaire.ca New Students Only 905 522-3237 905 815-3237 Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her England. During this time many of England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mother's church in Grafton, West Va., to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the second Sunday of May. By the next year, Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessmen and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful, and by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the second Sunday of May. While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mom deserves nothing but the BEST $20 Mother's Days at different times throughout the year, there are some countries, like Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium, that also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. · Thorough, consistent and reliable home cleaning · 100% satisfaction guaranteed · Regular and occasional service · Spring Cleaning · Gift Certificates e-mail: anderson@mollymaid.ca www.mollymaid.ca Contact us today for a free, no-obligation, in-home estimate: (905) 681-7484