History of Mother’s Day
While Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom is arguably where the original concept of Mother’s Day stemmed from, the United States is the birthplace of the modern celebration. A labor of love from two pioneering women, Julia Ward Howe and Anna Jarvis, resulted in the holiday as we know it today.
In spite of efforts from Julia Ward Howe to have an annual celebration of mothers, Anna Jarvis is the holiday’s true founder. Anna and her supporters wrote countless letters and lobbied tirelessly for Mother’s Day to become officially declared as a holiday. On May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated Mother’s Day as the second Sunday in May.
History of Mother’s Day Gifts
The tradition of giving gifts to mothers on Mother’s Day began in the early stages of the holiday. Anna Jarvis’s mother was passionate about carnations, and Anna set out to pay tribute to her by giving out white carnations as a Mother’s Day souvenir.
Before long, giving cards, flowers, and other gifts became tradition. Carnations remained the focus of Mother’s Day and are still considered the holiday’s official flower.
Five Unique Gift Ideas
A gift voucher for a spa treatment, especially when packaged with luxury items such as lotions, bath bombs and candles, makes an excellent gift. Presenting the gift voucher in a unique way will make it stand out from gift certificates tucked in cards.
Customized jigsaw puzzle collages are perfect for mothers who enjoy putting puzzles together. When your mother completes the puzzle, she can frame it on the wall. These puzzle collages are a fun, unique alternative to traditional photo collages.
A small gardening kit in a clay pot is a special gift for mothers who are environmentally conscious. Best of all, your mother might take up gardening as her new hobby. Instead of just buying a bouquet of flowers, include a kit that will grow those same flowers all over again.
If you are looking for a more extravagant gift and the weather is right, take your mother on a sailboat or a hot air balloon. The bravest mothers might even enjoy a zip line tour or a skydiving adventure. A package like this is truly unforgettable and just might be the most unique package of all, but drop hints before making reservations just in case your mother would rather stay home.
