Although the date varies from year to year, Mother’s Day is celebrated all over the world, on one day or another. But have you ever wondered how it all began?

We’ve been doing a little digging and have discovered that in the 1600s ‘Mothering Sunday’ was celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent, in England. It was the only day during Lent when the fasting rules were relaxed. Small gifts were given, and a special dessert called Simnel cake was served.

Now you’re probably wondering what Simnel cake is? Basically it’s a fruit cake with a flat layer of marzipan on top. It’s decorated with 11 marzipan balls representing the 12 apostles minus Judas, who betrayed Christ.

It appears that the more modern version of ‘Mother’s Day’ was created by Anna Jarvis in Grafton, West Virginia, as a day to honour mothers and motherhood with a focus on family relationships, in 1907.

She began a campaign to create a national holiday honouring mothers. After writing to ministers, businessmen and politicians, she was finally successful in 1910, when West Virginia became the first state to recognize the new holiday. 

The nation followed in 1914 when President Wilson declared the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. Jarvis used white carnations as a symbol for mothers as they represented sweetness, purity and the endurance of mother love.

So there you have it – the story behind Mother’s Day. Don’t forget to check out our selection of gifts for mothers and be sure to bag the perfect present.