Mother's Day  . You would be surprised to know that Mother's Day has been celebrated since time immemorial.  The earliest Mother's Day can be traced back to the spring celebrations by the ancient Greeks in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.  . The ancient Greeks, being the people behind THE civilization of their day, soon had other civilizations and communities celebrating this day which was later celebrated in honor of all mothers as well. . During the 1600s, on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading to Easter), England celebrated Mothering Sunday honoring all mothers of England.  On this special day, servants who worked and lived far away from home were given the day off and encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers.  A special mothering cake was often brought along to add a festive touch. . As Europe embraced Christianity, the celebration changed to honor the Mother Church, the spiritual power that gave them life and protection.  Over time, the festival blended with Mothering Sunday celebration and people began honoring their mothers as well as the church. . In the United States in 1872, Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic, suggested Mother's Day as a day dedicated to peace. . In Philadelphia in 1907, Ana Jarvis persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May.  Mother's Day was celebrated in Philadelphia the very next year. . By 1911, Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state in the US.  In 1914, Ms Jarvis and her supporters succeeded in establishing a national Mother's Day, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. . Thanks to them, many countries now officially celebrate their own Mother's Day.  Countries celebrating Mother's Day on the 2nd Sunday of May include Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium while some others celebrate Mother's Day at different times throughout the year.