the 2nd Sunday in May (Universally)

Mother's Day is a time of commemoration and celebration for Mom. It is a time of breakfast in bed, family gatherings, and crayon scribbled "I Love You"s.

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England.

During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church" - the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration . People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.

In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic) as a day dedicated to peace. Ms. Howe would hold organized Mother's Day meetings in Boston, Mass ever year.

In 1907 Ana Jarvis, from Philadelphia, began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. 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. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia.

Ms. Jarvis and her supporters began to write to ministers, businessman, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson, in 1914, made the official announcement proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May.

While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia, and Belgium which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

(From VOA)

The earliest Mother's Day celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece in honor of Rhea(蕾亚，希腊神话中的众神之母), the Mother of the Gods. During the 1600's, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday"(拜望母亲日). Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent(〈宗〉四旬斋) , "Mothering Sunday" honored the mothers of England. 

During this time many of the England's poor worked as servants(仆人) for the wealthy(有钱人). As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday the servants would have the day off(休假) and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe the celebration changed to honor the "Mother Church(基督教会)" -- the spiritual(精神的) power that gave them life and protected them from harm. Over time the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.
In the United States Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (朱莉娅•沃德•豪(1819─1910)美国著名的废奴论者、诗人、妇女参政主义者和人道主义者。)(who wrote the words to the Battle hymn of the Republic(《共和国战歌》)) as a day dedicated to peace. In 1907 Ana Jarvis(安娜•贾维斯), from

Philadelphia(费城), began a campaign to establish a national Mother's Day. Ms. Jarvis persuaded her mother's church to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary(周年纪念) of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. By the next year Mother's Day was also celebrated in Philadelphia. Ms Jarvis and her supporters(支持者) began a campaign by writing to ministers(牧师), businessman and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother's Day. It was successful as by 1911 Mother's Day was celebrated in almost every state. President Woodrow Wilson(伍德鲁•威尔逊), in 1914, made the official announcement(正式公告) proclaiming Mother's Day as a national holiday that was to be held each year on the 2nd Sunday of May. While many countries of the world celebrate their own Mother's Day at different times throughout the year, there are some countries such as Denmark(丹麦), Finland(芬兰), Italy, Turkey(土耳其), Australia, and Belgium(比利时) which also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers around the World.