The Story of Mothers' Day: Its Emblem a White Carnation — Why Not One Day for All?

... It is an American innovation, and from America it made its way to Europe and then to the Arab countries. Mothers' Day was fixed, and remains, the second Sunday of May — so why did the Arab League decide to celebrate it on March 21, and certain other Arab countries in April?! It is a lofty idea, and there is no harm, since we are borrowing it, in borrowing its date as well...

On the second Sunday of the month of May every year, people in many parts of the world celebrate Mothers' Day. The day is counted a holiday, and people go out wearing on their breasts a carnation, in salute to their mothers!!

The history of Mothers' Day goes back to the year 1907, when Mrs. Anna Jarvis, of the district of Philadelphia in the United States, rose to call on the people of her town to express their love for their mothers by a special prayer service to be held in the local church. She fixed the prayer for the second Sunday of the month of May, and stipulated that the worshipers should wear white carnations on their breasts. When the appointed day came, the church was thronged with worshipers of every kind and every age; the success of the call left a happy mark, and the idea spread throughout the United States. Black and white took part in it, men and women, old and young, answering the noble call whose aim is the glorification of the most sacred bond in life.

In 1922 a supreme world committee was formed to organize Mothers' Day, in which members from all the countries of the world took part; and thanks to this committee's efforts, the National Council petitioned the head of the government of the United States, its ministers, and the members of Congress to make Mothers' Day a national feast of the state, on which the flags would be raised over the houses of government — and the petition was granted.

And from America the idea made its way to Europe, and here it is now, finding in the East hearts open to receive it.

The most widespread of all gifts on Mothers' Day is the picture of the mother by the great artist Whistler; the copies printed of it are reckoned at more than five million, distributed in America, Sweden, Norway, England, Italy, and Japan. Sons and daughters of every people, race, and religion have flocked to buy it in remembrance of this day, which unites hearts, souls, and purposes: the peoples of the world join together in honoring their mothers, living and dead.