Mother’s Day, as celebrated today, has its roots in ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans, who held festivals honoring mother goddesses like Rhea and Cybele. However, the modern iteration of Mother’s Day can be traced back to early Christian traditions in Europe. During the 16th century, the holiday was called “Mothering Sunday” in the United Kingdom, where people returned to their mother church, the main church or cathedral in their area, for a special service. This tradition gradually evolved into a day for children to honor their mothers with small gifts and flowers. The modern celebration of Mother’s Day in the UK owes much to the efforts of social activist Ann Reeves Jarvis in the United States during the 19th century. Her work inspired her daughter Anna Jarvis to campaign for a national day to honor mothers. While Mother’s Day in the US was established in 1914, its UK counterpart continued to be observed on Mothering Sunday.