Modern Mother's Day grew out of ancient springtime festivals celebrating fertility and mother goddesses. For example, the Phrygians of Asia Minor honored Cybele, the mother of all Phrygian gods with an annual festival; the ancient Greek springtime event was dedicated to their mother goddess, Rhea.

Romans celebrated the Magna Mater with the three day festival of Hilaria, which began each year on March 15th, a date that also concurs with the Roman Vernal Equinox observance. During the Middle Ages, with only one day a year, excepting major Christian holidays, allotted for personal time, a custom of working children returning home on the fourth Sunday of Lent to visit their mothers and pay homage to Mother Church became prevalent in England and Scotland.

The tradition outlasted the harsh conditions of the time and turned into Mothering Sunday, celebrated in Great Britain to this day. While some may still believe that Mother's Day is a Hallmark holiday created to boost flower, chocolate, and greeting card sales, it was first observed in the United States after the example of Mothering Sunday on May 10, 1908.

By the time it was proclaimed a national holiday and the second Sunday in May set aside for its observance by President Woodrow Wilson in May, 1914, a Mother's Day commemoration existed in each of the fifty states.

To venerate and appease their goddesses, ancient people made sacrifices and offerings at alters and temples built in their honor. Likewise, the people of Great Britain would each attend the church in which their baptism was held with abundant contributions. It was also customary for children for bring gifts specifically for their mothers upon homecoming.

These were often baked goods, called 'mothering cakes' for the occasion. Sometimes the delicacy was furmety, a dish of wheat grains cooked in sweet milk, then covered with sugar and spices. In other parts of the region, pea pancakes called carlings were preferred.

Food gifts were most practical, especially during hard times, but the tradition of giving food lives on through the American custom of serving mothers breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. Flowers, cards, drawings, notes, poems, as well as the completion of the occasional household chore are the most common ways in which mothers are thanked for everything they do on a daily basis.

Do something special to express your gratitude and admiration for your mother's unparalleled role and involvement in your life. Keep what would really please her in mind and celebrate your mother, on Mother's Day and every day of the year!

The first observance of Mother's Day in the United States were church services held in Grafton, West Virginia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania dedicated to the deceased mother of Anna Jarvis, whose letter-writing campaign resulted in the national adoption of Mother's Day.

Mother's Day is currently celebrated in approximately forty different countries, thanks in part to the Mother's Day International Association, which was established in December of 1912 to promote significant and appropriate celebrations of Mother's Day and to disseminate the idea of the holiday.

Carnations are the flower associated with Mother's Day, and were present at the first celebration thereof. White carnations were chosen to represent a mother that has died and red gradually became a symbol of a living mother.

So to make this years Mothers Day celebrations easier for you this year, try sending free e-cards. As these e cards have become the new fast, affordable way to thank your Mother or whoever.