In Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, lots of young people crammed 10,000 flower shops to buy their mothers a bunch of carnation.

Mr. Yuan at his 30s said he knew the day three years ago and he bought his mother carnation each year since on. A flower shop girl said her shop had sold 300 carnation in the morning, whose dense petals symbolize mother's care and love.

Yu Shang, a university student in Wuhan, sent an E-mail of regards to his mother in neighboring Jiangxi Province.

On the Internet, words of best wishes were sent to mothers: Happy Mother's Day, Love Mummy and Sweet Love to Mum.

Though Mother's Day was originated in the United States, people in China take it with no hesitance because it goes in line with the country's traditional ethics -- respect to the elderly and filial piety to parents.

Local enterprises and newspapers in Wuhan Sunday launched a program to collect 10,000 people's signature under the theme -- " for mother's smile."

Universities and colleges in Wuhan campaigned to raise money to help poor mothers. Luo Pei'en, a social science professor with the Wuhan University, said the popularity of the day is significant to carry forward Chinese traditional ethics of respecting parents and inspiring love between mother and children.

An award ceremony for ten distinguished mothers was held on the eve of Mother's Day at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing.

Before the ceremony, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Li Peng, and Vice-Chairwomen Peng

Peiyun and He Luli, met with the 10 mothers, who have made remarkable contributions to their families and society and were cited as "China's Most Outstanding Mothers."

Project Happiness, one aimed at helping poor mothers, was launched in 1995 by the China Population Welfare Foundation, Family Planning Association of China and China Population News.

The project is set to help mothers in China's poverty-stricken areas out of poverty, illiteracy and poor health conditions.

In 1997, the organizing committee set Mother's Day as the day to help poor mothers, reminding people of those poor mothers in rural areas, who need help.

Wang Guangmei, chairwoman of the organizing committee, said, "I have a mother and I am also a mother. Mothers in poor areas work hard and need help which can change the fate of their families."

Over the past five years, nearly 100 million yuan has been spent, under Project Happiness, to help 65,000 poor mothers in 337 counties across the country, benefiting more than 300,000 people.

Wang said 60 percent of the relief programs were carried out in China's west, and this trend would continue as China's west development strategy is moving on.

(People’s Daily 05/14/2001)