Mothers have been revered throughout history, from ancient pagan celebrations to church holidays to present-day Mother’s Day.

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This year spend a healthier and happier Mother’s Day at a state, provincial, or nationalark. (Credit: tpwd.state.tx.us)

Many countries throughout the world devote a day to honor their mothers. The tradition dates back to pagan celebrations in ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the mother of the gods. In Rome, too, Cybele, a mother of goddesses, was worshipped as early as 250 B.C.

In the 17th century, England celebrated a day called “Mothering Sunday” on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

The tradition of Mother’s Day began in the United States 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. Although the holiday didn’t catch on at that point, Howe held organized Mother’s Day meetings in Boston, Massachusetts, every year thereafter.

It wasn’t until 1907 that another crusade to implement Mother’s Day began. Anna Jarvis, from Philadelphia, had lost her mother two years earlier and, believing that children tend to neglect their mothers until it is too late, she began to campaign for a national observance of Mother’s Day.

Jarvis and her supporters began a letter-writing campaign to ministers, businessmen, and politicians in their quest to establish a national Mother’s Day. By 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state.

Officially designated a national holiday in 1914 by President Woodrow Wilson, Mother’s Day is now celebrated in 70 countries around the globe. In the United States and Canada, Mother’s Day is observed annually on the second Sunday in May.

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Devils Waterhole in Inks Lake State Park, Texas (Credit: tpwd.state.tx.us)

Today, Mother’s Day is the third-largest card-sending holiday in the United States, and the second-most gift-giving day in the country. A total of about 139 million greeting cards will be purchased for Mother’s Day this year.

Consumers are expected to spend an average of $152.52 on Mother’s Day gifts, up about 8% from $140.73 last year, according to a survey conducted on behalf of the National Retail Federation, with total spending expected to be around $18.6 billion, CNBC reports.

To get a feel for what was really important on this special day, Child’s Play Communications polled 70 moms. The results offer some insight into how moms think.

Despite the fact that moms so often say they are overworked, totally stressed, and desperately in need of personal time, Mother’s Day is clearly not the day they want to take it. Fifty moms said they wanted to spend that time with their families rather than on their own.

This year, spend a healthier and happier Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13) at a state, provincial, or national park.

These parks offer an affordable and wholesome way to celebrate holidays, such as Mother’s Day, and spend time with family and friends.

Several state park systems have scheduled organized events including guided nature trail hikes, wildflower bicycle tours, learning to camp events, and Mother’s Day Breakfast or Brunch. Or you can take mom fishing, go mountain biking, or rent a canoe.

Texas State Parks has removed much of the guesswork by providing easy-to-make recipes for your picnic basket ^[3] and by featuring a variety of special events at many of the state’s 94 state parks and historic sites.

A sampling follows:

Inks Lake State Park: Breakfast with the Birds

Enjoy a light breakfast snack and coffee as you cruise around Inks Lake in an electric boat. Cost $20 per person. Pre-registration required.

When: Saturday, May 12, 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Location: 9 miles west of Burnet on SR 29 to Park Road 4; go south 3 miles to the park headquarters

Phone: (512) 793-2223

Website: tpwd.state.tx.us ^[4]

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway: Wildflower Bicycle Tour

Join park interpreter for a bike ride on Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway to observe and identify wildflowers.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 9:00-10:30 a.m.

Location: 4 miles east of Mineral Wells on US 180 or 14 miles west of Weatherford on US 180

Phone: (940) 327-8950

Website: tpwd.state.tx.us ^[5]

Brazos Bend State Park: Sunday Morning Bird Watching Hikes

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Brazos Bend State Park, Texas. (Credit: tpwd.state.tx.us)

Take a 1-mile hike with park naturalist to learn more about birds of southeast Texas.  Meet at 40 Acre Lake Restrooms at 8:00 am. Bring binoculars.

When: Sunday, May 13, 2012, 8:00-10:00 a.m.

Location: From Houston, take US 59 south to the Crabb River Road or SR 288 south to FM 1462 west to FM 762 north

Phone: (979) 553-5124

Website: tpwd.state.tx.us ^[7] and brazosbend.org ^[8]

Mother Neff State Park: Noble Woman-Worthy Cause

Bring your mother and come learn why Pat Neff called his Mother “the noblest and best woman” in an exhibit about Isabella Neff who bequeathed a part of her homestead as a park, now called Mother Neff State Park. After viewing the exhibit, hike the trails, see the wildflowers, fish the Leon River, or just sit back and relax with a picnic lunch.

When: Sunday, May 13, 2012, 7:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; exhibit available 9 a.m.-4: 00 p.m.

Location: From I-35, take exit 315 to SR 107 west to Moody; continue 6 miles west on FM 107, then take SR 236 for 2 miles to the park (16 miles from I-35)

Phone: (254) 853-2389

Website: tpwd.state.tx.us ^[9]

Worth Pondering…

Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

—Anon

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