Greece celebrates Mother's Day with wishes for better future

Greece marked Mother's Day on Sunday with a series of events held by municipalities to honor motherhood.

Officials and ordinary citizens sent wishes for a better future for mothers and their children in the country which is set to exit an acute eight-year debt crisis this summer.

"This day reminds us of the role of the Mother who brings life and keeps family united... We should never forget that thanks to strong family ties we avoided the collapse of the social fabric during these difficult years," Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in his message for the day.

The celebration of motherhood in Greece has roots in antiquity. Ancient Greeks held spring festivals to honor Rhea, the goddess of fertility and "mother of Olympian Gods," according to ancient Greek mythology.

Mothers who took their children in a central Athens park on Sunday to...