MOTHER’S DAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 April 1938, Page 9

MOTHER’S DAY

OLD ENGLISH CUSTOM REVIVED. OBSERVANCE IN NEW ZEALAND ON MAY 3. Sunday, May 8, is Mother’s Day, a day now set apart every year for the expression of love and respect towards the mothers of the world. In its modern form of a gift day, it is a United States conception though actually it really revives with a new flavour the old English institution of Mothering Sunday, when sons and daughters returned to their mothers at home, there to give tangible expression of love and devotion —a custom that was associated with the eating of a peculiar kind of Lenten pudding or cake. An Ohio school teacher revived the celebration of this day of remembrance more than 50 years ago, first for the benefit of the mothers of her own pupils, but later as a day of wider significance. On the death of this teacher, a Miss Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, continued to champion the work and eventually interested the Federal Government, which gave the day national and official status in the United States of America. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day, and ordered Government officials to display the American flag on all public buildings on that day. The people, too, were asked to hang out flags and a white flower — usually a carnation —was adopted as an emblem. From the United States, the observance of Mother's Day spread round the world and this year it falls on May 8, when gifts of love will again be presented to mothers —a simple act, but one reflecting deep and thankful sentiments.