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Mother's Day Turns 100 Save Email Print
Posted: 12:21 AM May 11, 2008
Last Updated: 4:20 AM May 11, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: News@wsaz.com

A | A | A

GRAFTON, W.Va. (AP) - On this 100th anniversary of Mother's Day, the woman credited with creating one of the world's most celebrated holidays wouldn't want flowers, candy or gifts.

In fact, before she died in 1948, Anna Jarvis fought against the increasing commercialization of Mother's Day because she felt it should be "a day of sentiment, not profit."

The idea for Mother's Day came to Jarvis after she overheard her mother say it would be nice if someone created a memorial to mothers. Jarvis' mother died in 1905, and three years later Jarvis organized the first official mother's day service in Grafton.

West Virginia became the first state to recognize Mother's Day in 1910. President Woodrow Wilson approved a resolution in 1914 marking the second Sunday in May a nationwide observance.

The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend $15 billion this year honoring their mothers. Dining out is expected to be the number one expense.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 83 million mothers in the United States.

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Posted by: Bev on May 11, 2008 at 11:03 PM
Happy Mother's Day to my Mama Jo and all the Mama's in my family. I love you all.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 11, 2008 at 12:10 PM
happy mothers day to my mom and all the moms that dont have thier kids with them on mothers day that CPS has taken from them with unfounded words

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