Mothers around the world on Mother's Day

Mother's Day was established on the second Sunday in May by Anna Jarvis after her mother passed away. Former United States President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the inaugural Mother's Day in 1914.

"Miss Jarvis thought Mother's Day should be a day you spend with your mother, or a day when you do something special for her like fix her dinner or repair her broken stairs," said an archivist at Mary Baldwin College. "Mother's Day has nothing to do with candy," said Jarvis, "It's really a shame to waste flowers for Mother's Day."

This year again, the American congress approved the observance and requested the president to call upon citizens to partake in the time honoured recognition of this tradition. "I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 10, 2009, as Mother's Day. I urge all Americans to express their love, respect, and gratitude to mothers everywhere, and I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities."