The first celebrations of Mother's Day can be traced back to the ancient Greeks, who worshiped mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele. During the 1600s in England a special day was set apart as Mothering Day, a day of taking small cakes and trinkets to mothers.

In the United States the idea for Mother's Day has generally been credited to Anna Jarvis. The first Mother's Day observance was a church service held at her request in Grafton, West Virginia (the burial place of her mother) on May 10, 1908. Because of her mother's fondness for them, Miss Jarvis wore a carnation to that first service. She went on to play an active role in encouraging the government to establish a national holiday to honor mothers everywhere. By 1911 Mother's Day was being celebrated throughout the United States, as well as in Mexico, Canada, South America, China, Japan and Africa. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as National Mother's Day and asked all Americans to offer their respect and love for mothers publicly.

Mom Deserves to be Pampered

For all the work Mom does throughout the year she deserves to be pampered on Mother's Day.

The Society of American Florists has provided the following tips to make Mom feel extra special:

• If you're planning on taking Mom out to eat, take a plate, bowl, napkin and set of silverware to your florist the week before Mother's Day. Ask your florist to make a floral arrangement in the bowl and include the silverware among the flowers. Then slip in an invitation to her favorite restaurant.

• Invite Mom to brunch or dinner at her favorite restaurant and have a flower arrangement delivered right to your table for all to see.

• For Moms that like to cook, ask your florist to create an herb garden design with several small pots of herbs.

• Make a special tribute to Mom by sending a decorated "Mother's Day Tree." The week before Mother's Day, take several of your favorite family photos to your florist and ask him to attach them to a plant or miniature tree using colorful ribbons. Prepare the photos ahead of time by pasting them onto pretty colored papers or put them in small frames.

• If your Mom is planning on attending worship on Mother's Day, find out what she plans to wear and ask your florist to design a special corsage to match. For a very special twist, choose a new dress or hat for Mom and have it boxed and wrapped with the corsage in place of a bow on the outside.

• Give Mom something to relax with by wrapping a new book and asking your florist to place it into a fragrant flower bouquet with a note that reads "Today is your day to relax!"

• Ask your florist to help you create a special spa kit. A few days ahead of time, bring goodies like nail polish, a loofa sponge, bath crystals, oils and other pampering items to your florist and have him design a basket with the spa items on one side and flowers on the other. You could even add a certificate for a manicure, pedicure, massage or spa treatments at a local day spa or salon.

• If you want to surprise Mom from across the miles, ask a florist in her town to make a floral arrangement and include an airline ticket for a visit to you. Be sure to mail the ticket to the florist well in advance and confirm that he received it.

• Incorporate flowers into a theme gift. If Mom is an avid gardener, ask the florist to create a design that includes gardening goodies such as a trowel, garden gloves, seed packets and tools. If Mom is a bird watcher, how about a design in a bird feeder? An athletic would certainly appreciate a pair of workout shoes - with flowers arranged inside. Tennis balls, golf balls or sport headbands can be a unique addition to any floral arrangement. If Mom loves clothes or jewelry, tie a scarf or drape a necklace around a vase of flowers to make the gift extra special.

For the Kids

• Give Mom a "double feature." Provide your florist with the latest edition of the newspaper movie section, and ask him to include it in a box of flowers. Decorate the outside of the box with movie theater candy and attach a card that tells Mom she gets to see a movie of her choice. Of course, you buy the tickets and the popcorn!

• Let Mom know you think she is your treasure with a treasure hunt! Visit your local flower shop and pick out several pretty stems of flowers. Ask the florist to put water tubes on the flowers. Tell Mom that she is on a treasure hunt and give her clues as to where she can find each of the flowers. At the end of the hunt, have an empty vase ready with a card telling Mom what a treasure she is to you. Then you can arrange the flowers in the vase together.

• Give Mom a kitchen break. Take a cooking pot from your kitchen along with some kitchen utensils to your florist. Ask him to make a floral arrangement in the pot that includes the utensils. Give the arrangement to Mom with a note that tells her she is getting a kitchen break. Then let her sit back and relax while you and Dad prepare dinner.

• Surprise Mom with a home pampering party. When she comes in the door, have rose petals on the floor leading to the bathroom. Prepare a bubble bath and float rose petals in the water. Place small vases of flowers on the edge of the tub with scented candles and a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Then leave her alone to relax.

• Breakfast in bed is a treat that every Mom loves. Dads and kids can prepare a special morning for Mom by greeting her with a homemade breakfast in bed, on a tray adorned with fresh flowers.

• For a very personal tribute, write her a note telling Mom why you're glad she's your mom and attach it to a long stemmed rose.

• Present Mom with a vase of her favorite flowers. On each stem tie a "coupon" for a chore that you promise to do.

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