Put a Ring on It - Mother's Day

Just in case it has slipped your mind; consider this your friendly reminder - this Sunday is Mother's Day!  And, of course, jewelry is a perfect gift for the Mom in your life!  


So what makes the perfect Mother's Day gift?  That's a good question and and I can tell you...any of my Feature Friday Q&A interviewees would be perfect for any Mom.  If you're looking for something a little more traditional and historical, then consider the classic 'Mothers Ring.'

Vintage 10K white gold Mother's Ring with 5 stones on eBay, starting bid $9.99.

Mothers Rings were originally introduced as a two wedding bands, attached mutually by birthstones. They were introduced by a jewelry company called John C. Nordt Co. in 1959.  Standard birthstone rings feature the birthstone of the ring's wearer, but Mother's Rings include the birthstones of all of the children.  In some cases the birthstones of the parents are also set in the ring.  Some are also personalized with the names of family members, or the family name.

Vintage 10K yellow gold gemstone Mother's Ring  but CoatsnMore on Etsy $193.

Similar rings, often featuring the birthstones of both a Mother's children and grandchildren, are sometimes given to Grandmothers as well.  These rings are popular Mother's Day gifts and are often given to a Mother or Grandmother upon the birth of a new child or grandchild, both as a new ring or to replace an old one.

Vintage 10k solid white gold Mother's Ring on eBay, $99.95.

But the history of the holiday is centuries old and dates back to the ancient Greeks, who held festivities to honor Rhea, the mother of the gods.  The early Christians celebrated the Mother's Festival on the fourth Sunday of Lent to honor Mary, the mother of Christ.  Later on, a religious order stretched the holiday to include all mothers and called it "Mothering Sunday."  When the English colonists settled in America, they discontinued the tradition of Mothering Sunday because of a lack of time.  But in 1872, Julia Ward Howe organized a day for mothers that was dedicated to peace.  It is a milestone in the history of the evolution of today's Mother's Day.   

Estate 9K yellow gold birthstone gemstone Mother's Ring on eBay, $149.

It was in 1907 though that the Mother's Day as we know it really evolved.  Anna M. Jarvis (1864-1948), a Philadelphia schoolteacher, began a movement to set up a national Mother's Day in honor of her mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis. She solicited the help of hundreds of legislators and prominent businessmen to create a special day to honor mothers.  The first Mother's Day observance was a church service honoring Anna's mother. Anna handed out her mother's favorite flowers, the white carnations which represent sweetness, purity and patience.  Anna's hard work finally paid off in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as a national holiday in honor of all mothers. 

Vintage ring 10K white gold gemstone Mother's Ring from FairyTaleTreasures on Etsy, $150.

Slowly and gradually, Mother's Day became very popular and the giving of gifts increased and flourished in the United States.  And now, many countries throughout the world celebrate Mother's Day at various times during the year, but some such as Denmark, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Australia and Belgium also celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday of May.

So what are you giving your Mom for Mother's Day?


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